Day 2 (25 Oct): Lavender Cottage at Shinshe

Our 2nd day started off with our driver Uncle Chen, whom we got to meet him randomly along the street. He charged us NTD2000 which i think still alright since the shuttle bus to Xin She was fully booked and it's more convenient.


Our first stop: The very local cafe for our breakfast. It was damn cheap. The most expensive food in the menu was the scramble egg with onion, which only cost NTD20!!! and the Meat Bun cost only NTD13! Goodness! Actually all the foods here are so tasty! Freshly made and brewed 米浆 and 豆浆 at NTD10. FAT just cant resist buying extras to eat only the way!!!


Our 2nd stop was the Sinshe Summit Resort 新社庄园. Actually there is nothing much here. The place is very huge but their maintenance wasn't that good, as i could see algae growing alongside the pond and rocks, and spiderweb almost every corner and the water was so murky! I'm not sure if there is a season to visit, but i will not recommend this a place to visit. I would rather skip this and spend more time elsewhere. And this place need entrance ticket! NTD250 per adult, but in return they gave you food voucher worth NTD250. So still alright. Just that they want you to spend in their restaurant.

Actually NTD250 cant buy much except for a drink.... We were given 1hr to explore the whole place, but we completed within 25mins, and spent the remaining time at the restaurant drinking.


Next, our 3rd stop: The Mushroom Hut. Erm... actually this was not the mushroom hut that i saw in the web, anyway it doesnt matter since i don't really fancy mushroom nor interested in plucking. But still we spent quite a lot here buying the dried mushroom. Not too bad, it was nice afterall.




While we were on our way to our next destination 安妮公主花園, we drove passed this 百菇莊! LOL! The one that i found on the internet. So we dropped by here and take a long. Surprisingly, we spent more than an hour here!! haha... This mushroom hut is much bigger and it has more foods and souvenirs as well.



It just all about mushroom....... Honestly it was quite nice although i don't really like mushroom.


FUN TIME!! Spend some time and paint your very own mushroom! It's only NTD100!


We were quite behind time as we spent quite some time at both the 百菇莊! hahaha...
Our next 4th destination was 薰衣草森林 (Lavender Cottage).


This is what you get to see when it's not in the season. LOL. Typically the lavender season starts around November.... Well, this is better than none! haha!! Anyway, there are more to see other than the lavender la... i guess is more of photo taking.. lol.


They have a souvenir shop where you can buy the lavender soap, biscuit, sweets, tea, hand lotion, moisturizer etc etc... just all about Lavender.


We went into the lavender hut...


and when we got nothing to do.....


Of course, never forget to try their famous lavender ice-cream! They are located up the slope!!


And if you go further up, you will find a 'stairway to make a wish' LOL!!!


Back to the ground we found this, DIY soap! It only cost NTD200 to make the soap of your choice! How much it cost in SG?! Definitely more than that. So we decided to make one! Just for FUN! hahaha!! It was just like cooking class... so easy to make! All you need is the soap base, dye, and the fragrance (of coz we chose Lavender la). Melt the soap base and add all ingredients into the melted soap base, and pour into the mould... and tadaaaa~~~ We got our hand-made lavender soap! LOL!!


As we need to wait for about 1hr for the soap to get solidify, so we decided to try their lavender milk shake and waffle! LOL! Never tried before. Soooo.... yes we eat again. The waffle was nice!! Very crispy and it has a tinge of lavender taste. Very creative. Can TRY!
BUT not for the Lavender MilkShake! It just taste WEIRD!!!


And now, we are really so late, and Uncle Chen gonna knock off soon!! So our next destination was the 安妮公主花園. Nothing much and special except for phototaking! Haiz... and again this place need entrance fee, just like the summit resort, they gave us food voucher! YES WE ARE ALWAYS EATING!!! Practically, we tried all the food at different destination!! :(

This place is actually about Princess Annie and Prince got together on 10-10-2010!! Well... coincidentally, our 'get-together' date was 10-10-10 as well..... Soon.... We took a very funny and fictitious pictures.... LOL!


Yes, here is our last meal (we thought) at Annie Princess Cafe.... That was the egg pudding, taste not too bad la... BUT we are just very full!!!


Because Uncle Chen has to knock off, we cant visit the Carton King, but actually it was fine, because we found a lot franchise shop in Taichung and Taipei anyway... BUT something you cant just missed was this 東東芋園 that the bloggers are raving for. Erm... even we are VERY VERY FULL!! We still cant resist and bought some back to try. Erm... not too bad, just very chewy.. Can try...


Sooooo... after the busy whole afternoon for Day 2, we really enjoyed ourselves and really seen alot and of course we ate alot alot and he has just become a FAT BEAR!


to be continue at Day 3 (26 Oct): Sun Moon Lake & Aboriginal Village/Theme Park

Day 1 (24 Oct): Traveling from Taoyuan to Taichung

Yeah!! Finally we arrived at Taoyuan, though it was 6am in the windy morning and we didnt sleep well on the plane but we were both so excited!!! :D

It was our first time traveling to Taichung, so intially was quite confusing. It was only then we got to know Taichung HSR and Taichung Train Station are both at totally different location! And our hotel is beside Taichung Train Station.

So upon arrival at Taoyuan airport, we bought the U-Bus Ticket (NTD30) to Taoyuan HSR. Yes, from airport to Taoyuan HSR is quite a distance.


Then from Taoyuan HSR station to Taichung HSR Station is another HSR ticket (NTD 540). Journey to TC station is about 45mins and we had our very first Taiwan breakfast on the train!



My FAV drink!! Papaya Milk and Cha Ye Dan from 7-11!


And Sandwich from MOS burger that we bought at Taichung HSR station.


It was still too early, all the shops are still closed. But we were quite surprised to see the Carton King at the TC HSR!! In another way, it's good to reach early, coz nobody then we can self take!! ahhahaa!



Yes, we were at TC HSR Station, but to get to TC Train station, we need to take the local train. Very easy, from TC HSR Station walk to the New Wurih Train Station, and from there take the train to TC Train Station. Afterall it is quite easy, except for alot of transferring to do. In summary, from TaoYuan Airport, take U-Bus to TaoYuan HSR, then to Taichung HSR, and walk to New Wurih Station, then to Taichung Train station! As easy as ABC now!! LOL :D


Second round of breakkie while waiting to check in to our CityInn Hotel at Taichung. Burger was nice but not the dumplings.
Our hotel is just next to Taichung Station. It is convenient to travel to other attractions like SML, CingJing, Lavender cottage etc via their local long journey bus, 客運.But if to the night markets, you need to take bus or cab, and at peak hours even at 8pm, it can jammed up to 1hr instead of a 20mins bus ride. For all the days at NM, we will go by bus and back by cab.


Lunch at 台中阿水獅豬腳大王! Famous in Taichung for their Lu Rou Fan and braised meat!! Very easy to find, is near the TC train station. Just ask the locals and they will surely know!!



The food was not bad!! Especially the bitter gourd soup!


I just like their drinks so much!! Cheap and Good!


After so long, after we missed so many turns, we were finally here at the Alien Evolution Studio (AES) by the Taiwanese Celebrity Xiao Gui. It looks empty though. Accordingly to the assistant, they said every week there will be replenishment of new stocks, but on the same day many people will queue and grab all! LOL!! Seriously, they like AES so much?! But can see he really spend quite alot on the decor!




Stayreal by MayDay Ah Shin.


FAT's first buy in Taichung!!


YAY!! Out for 12hrs, since we touched down at 6am, we were still very energertic!! We took a bus from the bus stop outside TC Train station. The journey takes about 20mins during off peak hrs. Alight at Fengjia University stop and you will see the FengJia NM. Even before you reach, you can see alot shophouses already!

Feng Chia

Bus no: 5, 22, 33, 35, 37, 45, 68, 79, 81, 125

The Fengjia NM is really good! I find it is even better and bigger then Shilin NM!! There are few stalls i highly recommend!


First is this Seaside Cottage stall that sell Clams!! Its no joke. Damn fresh, Juicy, Tasty, nice and cheap!! Three Thumbs up for this!! I am alrready missing it!! Especially the Garlic and Ginger one!



This is SHiok!! MUST TRY!!!


Next is the Fried Squid! This really GOOD! I dun actually like squid until this!
Fresh and it was nicely cooked! Even me with braces can easy bite it
off! We had 2 at the same day!! How nice!! Yum!!



In Taiwan, it is a must to try their White Bitter Gourd Drink!! U might not like the taste at first, the after taste can be a bit bitter, but ask them to add little honey or pineapple juice, and the combination is just nice! Bitterly sweet!!


Last but not least, the infamous Smelly Tofu.. LOL!! Though i dun really like it, but i always feel obligated to eat in Taiwan!! hahahah! Anyway, this was quite nice, the taste not so strong, the sauce and the cabbage was just nice too!


Finally... after more than 18hrs out, we were really tired and shag. Thinking the next day we are going off to Lavender Cottage we took a cab and head back to hotel.

To be continue .... Day 2 (25 Oct): Lavender Cottage at Shinshe

Travel: Welcome to Taiwan Nov 2012

Finally manage to find some time for my 11 Days journey to Taiwan in Nov 2012. It was a very fruitful and exciting trip that we had. We had experienced and seen so much things.

From traveling by plane to HSR to Metro train to local feeder bus to boat and to cable car to finally hopping onto the local's car!! LOLz! I took a very long time planning the itinerary, but yet made alot changes to it. Coz some places were either not open or due to time constraint.

Day 1 (24 Oct): Arrival at Taoyuan Airport at 615am. Took HSR to TaiChung.
Day 2 (25 Oct): Lavender Cottage at Shinshe
Day 3 (26 Oct): Sun Moon Lake & Aboriginal Village/Theme Park
Day 4 (27 Oct): Cing Jing Sheep Farm
Day 5 (28 Oct): Taipei Here we Come!
Day 6 (29 Oct): Taipei Jiu Fen / Shi Fen
Day 7 (30 Oct):
Day 8 (31 Oct):
Day 9 (1 Nov): Taipei Fisherman Wharf/Lovers' bridge
Day 10 (2 Nov):
Day 11 (3 Nov): Goodbye Taiwan. :(

Places where we did not managed to explore...
- Rainbow Village 彩虹眷村: Not enough time and also the hotel staffs said that it's nothing special except for a very colourful street painted by an old uncle. Though if i have the time i would still want to take a look.
- Dahu Strawberry Farm 大湖草莓园: Sad to say, we are too early for Strawberry.
- Dajia Sunflower Garden 向日葵農場: It was closed! I was quite disappointed actually. I was hoping to see the legendary big Sunflower! I saw pictures online, it is really as big as your face!! I will definitely go again next time!!
- HeHuanShan for Sunrise at Cing Jing: LOL!! Bcoz firstly, we do not have enough TWD and timing was very packed. Bcoz we went hotspring the night before, and most imptly we can already see Sunrise from our room!! That's so Great!! Like it so much!d
- Wu Fen Pu: I went there before during my first trip and i felt that there isn't much to buy, probably becoz it's winter time? I still prefer those from Ximending and night markets. Though we have skipped a few places but we add on many interesting places!! NICE!!

Dinner at Saveur Purvis Street

Back to Purvis Street... and was suppose to have our dinner at the chix rice shop. But as we walk further, we saw a lot people crowding outside this French restaurant, Saveur waiting to be seated at 6 for dinner. FAT was saying their marketing strategy was good - To fix the dinner time at 6 and to be seated only after 6 - it make use of the waiting patrons to attract more, and give an impression that the restaurant was empty! Lol! Indeed, it works and it attracted us! hahaha!!
However, of coz the restaurant need to be up to certain standard for the patrons to reach early and wait patiently.
Sharp at 6, slowly we were seated and by 630 the restaurant was almost full already!
Looking at the menu, is quite limited, but the choices all look so tempting and prices are reasonable too!

Even the foie gras, FAT's favorite cost only 9.90! N he ordered 2, all by himself! For me, I can't take the weird taste n smell!! But according to FAT, the way the foie gras was nicely prepared, soft, and juicy. Unlike those badly cooked foie gras, hard and rubbery. All their foods were nicely presented, and you can feel the chef did put in some effort to do up the dishes.

Soup of the Day 4.90 - Mushroom Soup (Not Coffee) Haha!!

Not really nice. It doesn't taste Mushroomy at all, too creamy. I felt that a tasteful mushroom soup should be thick and with bits of mushroom. I wouldn't pay 4.90 for this during my next visit. Would rather pay a little more for the SALMON!!! <3

Confit of Salmon with Apple and Fennel Salad - 9.90

This is NICE~ AweSome! YummY!! The SALMON, definitely the healthier choice! It's delicately cooked - sweet and juicy. It's not baked nor grilled, guess by Poaching method! Well, is a quick and easy cooking method but of coz with a certain skill level i guess, and i feel is the great way to enjoy the essence of the fish!

Pan Fried Foie Gras with Lentils and Pickled Onions - 7.90

...... well it looks presentable and looks like some delicacy. Indeed it is, for FAT, not for me... :(
LOL!! FAT had them both in his montrous-tummy!!

Pan Fried Foie Gras with Apple infused Port Wine & Vanilla - 9.90


Confit of Duck with Orange Segments and Saute Shittake - 9.90

I had this for my main course. Though the main dish is duck, but i love their sides even more! Their mashed potato is really nice!! Believe me!! I would rather not order main course and order the mashed potato as sides, only $2!! The Saute mushroom, i tried, quite nice... tasty, soft and juicy. FAT says even better than the Table Manners. For the duck, i guess i was already quite full with the potato, so i didn't very much enjoy the duck. Pass on to FAT, as usual! He devoured it immediately! Trust me, the monster inside the tummy is seriously a hidden gourmet, any food that is not well prepared it will just get rejected by those superpowered taste buds!!

Chicken Roulade with Foie Gras Stuffing and Basmati Rice - 9.90

For FAT!! It's really for HIM! the Cheesy rice, so tasty! and portion just nice! FAT says is a Ang-Moh Style Mui-Fan! LOL! But no doubt is very special and nice.
P.S: Don't ask me what's that white frothy thingy! To me, i can only guess is egg whites!

TaaDaaa~~~~~ FiNaLLy!! Special Dessert of the Day - ONLY FOR THAT DAY!
Apple Risotto, Caramel Biscuit Soil, Cheese Yoghurt, Toffee Jelly, Celery and Apple Ice & Cinnamon Pastry - 7.90

Initially when i saw the menu, i tot it's those normal apple soaked in caramel over a sizzling pan or sth like that..... BUT I must say this is indeed a very Special, Unique and Dedicate dessert, which needs lots of skills and preparation time. Just the Apple Risotto, I was really amazed by the taste! And the Apple ice, very refreshing and sweet!! When i have abit of all ingredients, the mixture of the taste was superb!! Just like you have Best of everything!!

逸群鸡饭 @ Purvis Street

Supposed to have Loy Thai (@Shaw Tower) for dinner. But it was closed. So did a last minute googled, and found this Thai restaurant called, First Thai at Purvis Street. On our finding to First Thai, we passed by a few coffeehouses selling chicken rice! Imagine just Purvis Street area, there are 3 coffeehouses selling Chicken Rice!! Tempted by the fragrance of chix rice and the décor. We decided on this very authentic chinese chicken rice restaurant, 逸群鸡饭.  It not those typical under-the-block kind of Kopitiam, nor a high-class chinese restaurant. It retains its very old and traditional décor, from door to tables to even cashiering, they are still using the abacus! And you remember the orangy-kind 10cents payphone!? LOL! 

The foods there were definately satisfying! YUM!! Must definately try their steam chicken! Damn tender and juicy, not those dried up kind of Chicken. Their steamboat was good too. Is more worth it to order the steamboat only if you have more than 2 person. Because it's of standard price and quantity, but is good enough. The soup base was nice, with spinach and seafood, it even make the soup sweeter. NICE!

Note: Remember to ask them to remove the beef if your friend doesnt take beef. :)

Total 5 of us, and total spending only $70! Include half chicken, steamboat, sambal kang kong, fried prawns, fried minced pork with tofu and drinks. Cheap right!!!

Overall, the foods were definately good and fresh and CHEAP!!!
The not-so-good is their Service. Quite angry actually, they dont allow seating until full attendance. Then once seated, the auntie rush us into ordering of food without giving us the menu!! And she still comment that "aiyah, only few choices, nothing much to see" Earlier on before we decide on this 逸群鸡饭 we did briefly browsed through BUT how could we remember right?! Irritating! Haix. It's only that particular auntie, that keep rushing patrons... Very impatient!

But still, i don't mind going back for another round! The freshness there is definately worth another visit.

where we had our Table Manners (TM)

A lazy Monday morning, we went swimming, and again having headache on where to lunch. As usual, FAT always very particular with FOOD, that’s why I always leave it to him.
So we ended up at Changi Point Shopping Centre… where we had our Table Manners for lunch. Was a perfect choice! It's a alfresco pub, but they offer lunch promotion. Is really a good place for gatherings, mini celebrations, or just a chillax session with friends. They occupied 2 units, guess it will be very happening at night since there will be liveband. Maybe the weather, and with the fans above, it's windy, cooling and just nice. Chill....



Saw their menu, and we realized the cocktails are by Bar Stories (@Haji Lane)!! Though is set lunch, and sound like limited choices, as normally restaurants only offer This or That, but TM offer quite a variety of Protein (mains) and Fiber (sides) to mix and match. The price is absolutely reasonable! NICE!
As usual FAT live up to his name! He ordered 2 Proteins and 2 Fibers! Priced at $19!
Baked Salmon with Garlic burre-blanc and Pork Sausage together with Sauteed Mushrooms and Potato wedges.

Comments: The service was good, the waitress even pre-warn us that the Salmon will be slightly undercook as it taste better on the rare side. YES! Indeed! The Salmon was Fresh, Tender and Juicy! It was perfectly well prepared with slightly underdone and the center is still translucent. You can even separate its flakes with a fork!! The rest was not bad too, except for the Mushroon... as its not my FAV.. but according to FAT, the Mushroom was tasty and juicy too! HE FINISHED ALL UP!!!

As for me: 1 Protein and 2 Fiber. Cajun Marinated whole Chicken Leg with Grilled Asparagus Bacon and Mash Potato.


Comments: With $12.50, look What u have?! Needless to say. Look at the presentation!! Everything was so nice!! Nicely cooked and laid. The meat was Moist, Tender and Flavorful!! NICE!! The serving was just right! Even the mashed potato was Delicious, very tasty! THUMBS UP!!

We had add on at $2.50 for the Clam Chowder. Not much, but just nice for me to kick start my lunch and anticipate more. It's not only the soup but you can see the Chunks of carrot, potato and Clams!


Like i say, we realised the drinks are from Bar Stories, well-known for their delicious recipe for Concoction Cocktails. We ordered since it is cheaper $16 as compared to $25 at Bar Stories. Left: Ginger Lemongrass Martini. Right: Honeydew Basil Saketini.


Comments: Hmmm.... just so-so... If you have been to Bar Stories it will be nicer. Hee... :) But you can still try them out, not that bad too.

Like I say, FAT is never enough with one dish, another add-on Truffle Fries at $3.50 after everything! Not wise to order this, there are other better and nicer choice...


Here's the Menu....  the food are resonably priced and nicely cooked and doned! Worth another visit!!