Taiwan Trip--preparation

Very happily preparing my Taipei...Wow...its my first proper own planned trip afterall... Heard from friends that vegetarian food is not easy to find there, i make sure i took my printed list of the vegetarian stalls in whole of Taiwan.. Exaggeration!! But that's how nervous I am..afterall, i'm considered the only one in the gang doing homework for this trip! Also, not forgetting another important thing I have to bring...my CONVERSE shoes...this shoes has been to a few places with me, including Great Wall of China...so I shld bring her for this trip.




BTW, see my itnerary...probably u can use the same when you are going there for the first time.

Itinerary
Day 01 Apply youth pass (from immigration, turn right and walk all the way to the end @ Tourist Service Counter). Take bus (arrival passenger receiption area (southwest), Kuokuang line / Taiwan Bus Corp to Taipei main station (台北車站)
Hostel address: Hostelling Interational Taipei (Hi-Taipei), 13F-38, No. 50, Sec 1, Zhongxiao W. Rd, Taiwan Tel: +886 2 2388 0885 (Remarks: This hostel is very well-situated being located opposite Taipei main Station. Price is cheap. Located next to Xin Guang San Yue (星光三越Shopping mall). Buy Easycard for Mrt and Bus (NT500, deposit refundable NT100) at MRT. Take MRT to Jiantan (exit at righthand) to take free Miramar shuttle bus to Miramar Complex(美麗華百樂園) for ferris wheel (NT150, cheaper with youth pass) . Take same bus back to station and head towards Shilin Night Market (士林夜市）for shopping and dinner.

Day 02 Visit Museum of world religions (世界宗教博物館) (10-5, NT150) take MRT to Dingxi station (項溪站)　exit no. 2 and take bus #706, 297, 51 or 243. After that go back to Dingxi Station and take MRT to Xindian MRT station (新店) and take right hand exit to the bus stop outside. Take bus to Wulai (乌来) (40mins, NT40) for hotspring. Stop in front of Wulai hot Spring village. Cross the bridge over the Tonghou river to go to shops, snack stalls and gift sotres. At end of main street, will come to a second bridge over the wider Nanshih River where hot-springs are.
Wulai Spring Resort(乌來名湯溫泉會館) (36 Laka Rd,, NT500 (7am-11pm). 15 mins walk from bus-station. – turn left after the first bridge into Wulai.
Shanggu Qingliu（溫泉會館）(101 Wenquan Street, NT350) just off the road to Wulai falls.
Spring Park Urai Spa & Resort (春秋乌來) (3, Yanti village, NT850 or NT1200/hr for private pool). Bus pass the hotel just before Wulai village about 500m further up the valley. From Nanshih bridge, walk to Wulai falls in 20mins or take miniature railway (NT50-one way). Go back same way. Go National Palace Museum (國立故官博物院) (9-5pm, NT160). Take MRT to Shilin station and look for Zhongzheng Road exit. Take Bus # 304, #255, Red#30 (NT$15), minibus 18 & 19. (optional, can do on Monday morning)
Yangmingshan (楊明山）(Take MRT to Jiantan and catch Red #5, #260 bus, NT15) on Wenlin Road outside the station. Terminate at park Bus station (just beyond 7-11 n starbucks. Take park shuttle bus (NT60 for unlimited ride) 　1) go visitor center to take info.(either walk for exercise or take bus). 2)Yangmingshuwu (2^nd bus stop) See Chiang Kai-Shek home (NT50,9-5)-optional. Twenty minutes walk downhill from Yangmingshuwu to Yangming Park (follow signs to “Flower clock”). Walk back to bus-stop. 3) Jhuzihhhu (bus stop 3) See dried up lake with vegetable and flower farms, best visit in Dec to see calla lilies bloom 4) Siaoyoukeng Recreation Area (5^th bus stop) – for photograph of sulphuric steam vent. 5) Jyuansih waterfall – bus stop and go back to bus station. 6) go hot spring – either International hotel (NT$80, locker $10 or private rom NT990 for 3hrd) (close to bus station) or Yangmingshan Hostel (NT250 or pvt bath NT120 per hr per pax) (10mins walk from bus station).
Take MRT to Danshui (淡水), walk around there. Can go Gongming street for snacks. Take ferry (short walk from MRT station) to Fisherman ｗharf (漁人碼頭) (NT40). Walk around there. Take ferry back to Danshui

Day 03 Take bullet train to Taichung, 7.30am, arriving 8.27am, go to tourist information　counter. Ask about bus to farms. One of the farm is 大菩提生態教育花卉休閒農場　（台中縣新社鄉永源村中和街一段山腳巷55號. Ask from there can go SML(日月潭) directly. Alternatively, take direct bus via Taichung (NT198, 2hr), or to Puli(埔里) (1hr 20min, NT135) and get regular bus to the lake (NT51), Or take train to shueili (水里站) and take direct bus (NT42). Alternatively, go to SML first from Taipei (Green transit; 3hr 30mins, NT300). Then after SML, go farm visiting. Hotel: The Galerie Hotel, No. 242-33. Sec. 2, Cing Hai Rd, Si Tun District, Taichung City.(拓程商旅，407台中市西屯區青海路2段242

Day 04 Take bullet train back to Taipei, departing 7.22, arriving 08.12. From Taipei, take train to Hualien (花蓮). Hire cab to view around. Taroko Gorge (太魯閣峡谷), Cisingtan Beach (七星潭) Cingshuei Cliffs(清水斷崖). If not, join local tour. If got time, can enjoy around the beach before making way back to Taipei. Take train back to Taipei

Shop around depending on time.

Day 05 Take Kuo Kuang (國光客運) bus from main train station (NT92) to Yeliou (野柳). Buses stop on the main highway just outside the village – walk along the road to the right of the harbour, past the seafood restaurants till reach the Geopark (野柳地質公園) (NT50，nt25 with youth pass) a few minutes on the left. Take bus to KEELUNG (基隆). Bus to Keelung is in front of the Convenience store across from where you get off at Yeliou (ard 45mins). In Keelung you have to cross the bridge to the other side to
board bus to Jinguashi (金瓜石)(nt20) . Alot of walking is needed especially if you hit the trails. Lovely scenes and very rustic, Entry NTD100/- to Gold Ecological Park (9-30-6) Forumers tip on getting off at 7/11 and walking down the steps is great too in Jioufen (九份) Buy Tai yang bing, muah chee, tie dan (metal eggs) here.However, do this last before your return trip otherwise, once down, following the road out is residential area and leads to a large temple. There is a bus stop outside for buses that heads to Rueifang ,Keelung or Taipei.Good to eat here first in Jioufen then walk it off before heading to Keelung
Miaokow where you will also find lots of lovely local food as well. In Keelung,getting to Miaokow: Getting off the bus, walk back passed the Sea (Keelung River??)all the way to the otherside to the Macdonalds. Passing the shops in that street,Miaokow is onyour left at the First Junction. Not difficult to find. From Keelung Station you just cross the Street and walk along the Sea

Day 06 If no time to go 故官 on Day 02. Today can go and its shopping on own free time. Can go 101, Ximending etc. Can ask for advise where to shop for cheap stuf