Itsy bitsy part of Taiwan

I know I slept through most part of my car trip from Taipei to Puli (where we took our wedding photoshoot), but the rare moments that I was awake a song kept ringing in my head. And that song is none other than Jay Chou's 'ti tian'. The only reason why I would be thinking about this song is because the passing landscape is either beautiful green field of pastures or industrial plants. Well... apart from the obvious fact that Jay Chou is from Taiwan and he was singing about Taiwan, that is. : P

Anyway ... I felt a strong influence of the Japanese here especially when it comes to their tidiness and their friendliness. That may be the reason why I still blogged about my Taiwan trip while Hong Kong only deserved one summarized post. 

#1 View of their manicured garden and pond

#2 Entrance to a small bee farm

#3 Going to the cultural village

#4 The view of the cultural village and its theme park from way up here in the ropeway/cable car 

#5 Omg... Just looking at it gave me heart palpitation. You remember those rides where you go really high up really slow and then it stops at the top and they just free fall really fast??? Well, that is it!!

#6 Welcome to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village

Anyway, we managed to squeeze in some time to visit their Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. Initially I thought it would be a very educational only visit, like look at dances and performances. But it turns out the 'village' contained a theme park!! And it has the tallest freakish free-fall-ride I have ever seen. So I decided to do the I'm-a-girl-so-I'm-allowed-to-chicken-out move... but it didn't work!! 

#7 Finally! Invisible ink for the hand, only seen under UV light. Reduces chances of ugly stains, don't you think?

It was raining when I was forced against my will to go on that ride, all the same then as I now have reason to plot revenge against hubby.(Just kidding la) When the music starts, I decided to swing my leg a bit... act nonchalant as it slowly rises. But when it went past the height of the tree tops, I guess whether I like it or not the legs would shake of its own accord. And then the music ends... OMG and we fell... I could actually see the rain drop even slowing down.... wth?? It means we are moving faster than the force of gravity?!? This chicken deserved to chicken out!! Now, one thing crossed out off my chicken list. Phew... 

Apart from the cultural village, the must go place should be Taipei 101 ba!! We just had to go there!! 

#8 Taipei 101

I am not a very architectural kinda person but then Taipei 101 made it worthwhile. There are lots of things to see, such as their coral display if you get bored feeling amazed about its height. (Pardon me, I have a fear of height). The other thing that is amazing about this place is their elevator, how fast it goes up. Once you enter the elevator under the watchful eye of the guide, it slowly darkens enhancing the star designs on the ceiling of the elevator. There is a panel at the front telling you how fast you are moving... hint: pretty fast. :P 

#9 Thanks for shopping!!

#10 We are this HIGH UP~!

#11 Such an intricate coral carvings

Well, it happens that when we reach the 88th floor, we were supposed to go down via staircase to see the damper. Once we exit the staircase, we were meant to turn to the left which was the entrance to the damper but somehow we totally missed it! So we went one round, back to the elevator. We tried to asked the security guard whether this was the right direction but I guess he handled too many people that day or was tired that he didn't listened to a word we said and sent us back down the elevator. When we realized we were back on the 5th floor (i.e. the entrance to the observatory), we were pissed. Lucky for us, the lady guard were much more attentive and sensitive to us and let us go one more time to the 88th floor. Whee... So one ticket two rides? That sounds like value for money for me. lol... 


So the other thing that was ringing in my head during this travel is FOOD!! Glorious glorious food... omg... Must thank God for strengthening my tummy that I did not suffer through indigestion as I often did in Malaysia, Singapore, China and Australia. For a person who was tweeting a week ago that I lost my appetite, it all came back to me the week in Taiwan. 


I was like... EAT ALL THE FOOD!! And it was so cheap, some part of me wanna giggle uncontrollable. 

#12 Hawker stall at every corner

#13 Natural honey. He showed me how honey was naturally produced, just put it in a centrifuge wa... It was actually very yummy. Too bad can't bring honey into WA

One of the biggest dilemma I had was what can I stuff in my tummy... Who am I kidding? Even with my appetite back on, it was a losing battle of my tummy versus food. There was just too many of them!! Thank God once again for sampling booth...

#14 Deep in consideration which one would fit in my tummy

#15 But there are soo many to choose from... 

#16 I was like... I want this one and this one... o wait!! There are MORE!! 

#17 Din Tai Fung

Ok... Din Tai Fung didn't really originate from Taiwan but I missed out on Din Tai Fung in Hong Kong so I decided to give it a chance here in Taiwan. The service is so much better here as compared to ... you know where. 

#18 Xiao Long Bao~! 

Let me stop here first, because it is getting long. There are so many pics to post, I have to wait till the next time. So take care till then~! Have fun and stay happy~! ;)