Travelogue around Asia Pacific

Taipei - We woke up early to spend a day at Taiwan's theme park - Leefoo Village Theme Park .   We took a bus @ Jing-An station.   This e-go bus goes directly to Leefoo Village Theme Park and we bought the package which is cheaper and includes the entrance fees to the theme park. Leefoo village is the first fantastic theme park combining wildlife zoo and amusement park in Asia.  This 100-hectare park is divided into four themed villages.  It is home to the island's only wildlife park - African Safari, the Wild West, The South Pacific and Arabian Kingdom. We left @ around closing time which is 5pm and took around 1hr to get back to Jing-An Station and then to our Hotel.   We freshen up and took a taxi directly to the airport.

Keelung City - This is Taiwan's northern most city.  Located at the northern tip of the Island and is a busy shipping port, with its downtown huddled around the harbour.   We visited their night market - Miaokou Night Market which is large and many people throng the streets.

Jinguashi - We took the bus from Jiufen town to Jinguashi township.    This town was once a gold mining town but the resouces are now depleted.  Tourist still comes to this town and visit the Gold Ecological Park . The park is free to visitors and open during weekdays 9:30am to 5pm. 1st stop was the Tourism Information Center.   This is in the park's first main building.  It was originally a Taiwan Motor co. bus station.  It provides tourist information and leaflets. 2nd stop :  Four joined Japanese-Style Residences.  This is one of the few remaining Japanese building of this type in Taiwan (during the colonial era it was a domintory for high level Japanese company employees.)  The existing space has been turned into display and living art experience.   We had to queue as only a small number of people are able to enter at anyone time.  Once in, we are ushered to a room to watched a brief documentary ...

Taipei - From Banciao railway station we took the communter train to Ruifang station.  From outside Ruifang station take the bus to Juifen - NT15 per person. Jiufen is famous because of its quaint streets, tea houses and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.  Also many movies were made using Jiufen as the backdrop.  Jiufen is an old hillside town of long narrow alleys, winding stone steps, and restaurants.   so many tourist walking the narrow Jiufen streets Famous yam desert Sweet potato, pearl balls and soya  Yam, sweet potato and soya desert We walked to another store for quick meal.. Soya with fish stuffings Cooked version with fish ball noodles So crowded... Jiufen Post Box What are they looking at? Jiufen Teahouse A curious table for a restaurant

Jiaoxi City - After our breakfast, we walked around Jiaoxi city.  Jiaoxi Visitor centre Jiaoxi Public Hot Spring We walked around Jiaoxi Hot Spring Park. We checked out at 12 noon and catched the 1pm train bound for Banciao station.  Here comes our train.... 

Jiaoxi City - We took the train from Hualien city to Jiaosi about 1hr 40mins.  When we reached this city, just outside the Jiaosi railway station was a hotspring which is used very often by local residents.  This city is famous for hot spring. Jiaoxi Railway Station Jiaoxi station public hotspring We patronise this old lady's titbit store... By that time, it was time for dinner. Our restaurant for dinner We ate lots and lots of dumplings.... Back at the Hotel we swam at the roof top hot spring swimming pool.  hot spring tub in our bathroom