Graduation Trip - Taiwan May 2013 Part 1

Taiwan- one of my dream travel destination. As I am a fans of taiwanese drama eg, Meteor Garden  in my secondary school time, so I am so wanted to travel to this place, sightseeing and enjoy all the foods in night market. Finally, I  been to Taiwan!!! Stil excited.
Some of my english -educated friends complained  me that it was so hard to plan a trip to taiwan bcoz most of the blogs or information are written in chinese. So, by reading my blog, u stil have some idea b4 going 2 taiwan even u don't know chinese.

Taiwan- Planning, Planning & Planning.
             It took me quite a long time 2 plan, to make me trip as perfect as possible.
*better go vt frenz who can speak or read mandarin bcoz everthing is in mandarin!

Travel around Taiwan island is not impossible, but have to consider about time, money & energy. So, most traveller will choose where they want to visit and fr these, decided thee duration of the trip. Besides, the places of interest depends on the seasons of the year.

Top attractions: 1. Taipei - Taipei 101, Museum, Yang ming san,....

                           2.  Nantou - Sun Moon lake 日月潭, 清境农场，Alisan,...

                           3. Taichung - Feng jia night market

                           4. Tainan - historical city

                           5. Kaoshiung

                           6. Hualien - Taroko national park

                           7. Kenting - beach

Transportations among cities/ districts   :

Plane   vs    Train ( taiwan railway & high speed rail)   vs  bus  vs   rental taxi

- Plane - fr taoyuan airport to kaoshiung , Price $$$

- Taiwan railway - is like KTM, cheaper & take  longer time

                         - 3 types vt different speed & price

                               1. Tze-chiang limited express - fastest, more expensive, stop  major city.

                               2. Chu Kuang express - moderate speed & price

                               3. Fu Hsing semi express - cheapest, takes longest duration to reach destination, stop almost every station.

http://www.railway.gov.tw/en/

- High speed rail or bullet train - vt speed abt 360km/hr, vr comfortable but take pricy

      * it only in west coast of taiwan ( taipei, taichung, tainan, kaoshiung)

- Rental taxi- suitable for a group of 6-7 or going vt parents or old ppl

  

Preparation b4 going:

- No VISA needed is stay less than 30 days

- Change more TW$ b4 going, it is so hard to change malaysia ringgit in taiwan. Only 2 banks will accept RM, money changer will not accept RM. Or u can prepare some USD just in case.

- if buy something more expensive, pls use credit card, exchange rate is cheaper.

I went Taiwan on May which is near summer, it is d raining season,  thus umbrella/ rain coat is a must there. 

So, i didn't go to Alisan national park , yang ming san during this trip as d flower blossom season is over. 

I choose 2 visit Taichung, sun moon lake, Tainan besides Taipei in this trip. 10 days 9 nights so it wont b too pack, can walk around vr relax.