29 Oct 2014 - Taipei Day 6

Day 6 - Yangmingshan (Xiaoyoukeng - Main Peak - East Peak - Lengshuikeng)

Took bus 260 from outside Civic Boulevard. As usual, many old people on the bus, so he had to stand all the way. At Yangmingshan interchange, he took the previous advice, rode bus 108 up to Xiaoyoukeng to start the trek to Main Peak.

Xiaoyoukeng

Smoking sulphur

Heading back out to the carpark for the trail to Main Peak

Love look-backs. The vehicles look like toys. Mountain behind is Mount Guanyin, beautiful undulating terrain.

Path's also smoking. Lots of inhalation of smelly sulphur.

Sneaked another look back. Trying to be brave about it.

Lots of bird feathers on the part of the trail. Someone's lunch?

Is that the Main Peak in view?!

After an awful lot of trudging. And sweat. This was the best he could do, the other hikers were hogging the tablet.

Rested enough and it was time to mount East Peak in the distance.

They're all wearing pants and jackets, while he was clad in berms and t-shirt. Maybe that's why the weird stares.

A little more to the East Peak. A little more.

Final ascent. Steep, use hands for safety.

Looking back on the trail to Main Peak.

Beautiful undulating terrain

Similar shot from the mobile.

What the park staff said in 2012 was right. The silver grass fully blooms in October.

Descended with the intention of going to Lengshuikeng. Met this Taichung auntie along the way, and had a good chat. Helped to take the focus off wobbly knees on the descent. Split off at the junction of Menghuan Lake and Lengshuikeng. However, he decided to head to Menghuan Lake shortly after, since he hadn't been there before. They would split again at another junction to Lengshuikeng.

The Taichung aunties. The one in yellow as surprised to see him again, and exclaimed that it was lucky she wasn't bad mouthing. Haha.

Beautiful silvery blooms

More beautiful silvery blooms

Menghuan lake. This is shot with the mobile, looks much better than the ones on the IXUS60.

Up close with the silvery bloom.

Loving the landscape. The dark patches are side of the mountains that are shielded from wind, while the batch patches are the sides that take the beating of Mother Nature.

Forest trail to the car park. Nice hues.

View from the carpark. To the right is the path to Lengshuikeng.

The mountain was where he just descended from.

Met the Taichung aunties again at the car park. Apparently, they went to the wrong place, and this was the car park that they were looking for. Chat with them over their lunch, and Taichung auntie gave him a bag of "beef tongue cookies" (nothing meat about it), knowing that he was only having Minute Maid's white grape juice and jelly.

Took this from the pavilion at Lengshuikeng Hot Spring Centre. This man was taking pictures of the Sun... maybe.

Like the lens flare that this mobile camera fish-eye attachment gave. Managed to preserve colors too.

Walking towards Lengshuikeng, the familiar stairs just up again (in 2012, came down from Miaopu trail).

Look back

 Filled up water at the Lengshuikeng Visitor's Centre, washed up, and also rested for a bit.

Luckily he swapped boots for running shoes...

Suspension bridge to Qingtiangang.

Hello Kitty tour bus. Many girls would probably like it. Decided to catch the last bus instead of staying around. While 108 was packed, R15 was relatively empty, and he got a seat all the way to Jiantan MRT.

Walked around at Shilin, but nothing whet his appetite. Took a photo outside Jiantan, and then it was back to Taipei Main Station.

Reached Taipei Main Station really hungry, went to have a feast at the underground Taipei City Mall (Sector Y).

Chicken rice (30NT) at sector Y

Dumplings (50NT) and meat ball soup (30NT)

After this, went to the other stall to have bittergourd and pork ribs soup (40NT). The bitter gourd was more pimply that what he was used to, and it was white in color. That summed up the day.

28 Oct 2014 - Taipei Day 5

Day 5 - Wulai waterfall - Bitan - Gongguan night market - Taipei underground malls 

Wulai Waterfalls

Took the train to Xindian, and the bus stop for 849 is along the main road. Almost everyone was either an old man or old woman, so he had to stand for the entire trip.

From the bus stop

Wulai "rapids"

Atayals are watching

Walk on, and enjoy the hilly sights

Tracks used by the "mini-train" to ferry passengers to Wulai Waterfalls.

Not much water today, huh

Nice emerald waters

Falls meet street

Walked on the path toward Neidong Forest. Some parts had huge clumps of faeces. Not too sure man or dog.

Creek has lush greenery

Spotted this hairy bugger along the trail.

More Atayals eyeing you. Jogging appears to be popular in Taiwan. Saw someone jog in the underground malls too.

What poisonous insect did this?

Falls from the platform

Mailboxes also want to pose with the falls

Cable car to the theme park

Stairs that lead to the Waterfall Park uphill. Except for a memorial ground for the aborigines, really nothing much to see.

You may have realized. What happened to Neidong Forest? Didn't go there, reached the tunnel and turned back. Thought of going back for a hot spring soak, but ended up not doing that either.

Bamboo rice (60NT). First shop at Wulai Waterfall Park, the stall with an old couple selling betel nuts and charcoal grilled sausages. The old lady made really good sausages, crispy on the outside (35NT).

Old lady: - Japanese -
Boy: Sumimasen, watashi wa nihon-jin ja-nai.
Old lady: Eh?
Boy: Wa umm si jit poon lang.
Old lady: Eh?

Then she seemed to know a lot about our laws. No chewing gum, rising cost of living, corporal punishments, etc. And, she knows that nobody chews betel nuts over there. Her husband ignored her though.

Temple and the surrounding hills.

Walked on the road on the other side to reach the bridge.

Look-back at the place

Another picture of the bridge and emerald waters while waiting for the bus

Bitan

A promenade just outside Xindian Station where people can jog or cycle, or peddle a boat. Water is emerald, similar to Wulai's. Eagles and gulls were also surfing the wind here. Watch one soar higher and higher in the clouds, until it could no longer be seen. Then he left for Gongguan night market, had stinky tofu for 35NT. Not too bad.

Bitan Bridge

Ponderosa at Gongguan, no longer in Singapore. Nostalgic.

Taipei Underground Malls

Went to recce the exits for Taipei Bus Station and Taipei West Bus Station. Also took the opportunity to walk the areas R, K, and Y.

Glad he did that, as he found some yummy stuff.

This stall was manned by 2 young fellas, and the chaoshou (dumplings) cost 50NT for about 8-10 dumplings. Returned here almost everyday to eat. They also had century egg + tofu (30NT), shredded chicken rice (30NT), and a variety of soups and noodles.

Hongyou Chaoshou

Went further up towards Y28, and found mala duck blood curd. The young lady boss agreed to mix stinky tofu and blood curd for him. A huge bowl came, and it only cost 60NT. Same cost as what he had in Tonghua night market, but a much larger portion. The stall sells other soups too. He would also return here almost every night to try other stuff.

Mala duck blood curd and stinky tofu