Taiwan trip

[jtsky]

Received a few PMs regarding the transport connection and trip detail, so decided to share it here

Taipei-KaoShiong (Day1) --> KaoShiong (Day 2) --> Kaoshiong-JiaYi-Alishan (Day3) -->Alishan (Day 4) --> Alishan-TaiChung-Shuili-Sun Moon Lake (Day 5) --> Sun Moon Lake (Day 6) --> Sun Moon Lake-Taipei (Day 7) -->Taipei-Singapore (Day 8)

Day 1:
Taipei to KaoShiong
We reached Taipei, TaoYuan international airport abt 5pm. As we had already visited Taipei during the previous trip, we decided to travel to Kaoshiong on the same day. We travelled from the airport to Taipei Train station by Freego Bus services , NT$140 pp. From there, we took the high-speed rail to Kaoshiong , NT$1490 pp, the time table is downloadable here . We managed to check in to the hotel at abt 10pm that night. As we have only stay in KaoShiong for 1 day, we decided to book a hotel near the famous night market (Liu He night market)

#28
Estimated time for travelling from Taipei to KaoShiong (ZhuoYing Station)

Day2
KaoShiong

Only have 1 day for Kaoshiong, I decided to book a taxi for a whole day trip. After a few tries, I confirmed a deal a taxi driver at NT$2500 (S$125) for 10 hours unlimited tourist spot for 3 of us. We were lucky that the taxi driver was very friendly and he actually planned the itinerary for us. We visited Lotus pond（莲花池），Qi Jing Feng Zhe Cheng （风车城），TianHou Temple (天后&#23467，XiZhi Wan (西子&#28286，爱河，爱河之心. We started the trip at abt 10am and ended the trip at 10pm at Liu He Night market (六合夜&#24066 near our hotel.

Day 3:
KaoShiong-JiaYi-Alishan

We woke up early that day to rush for the 7am train to JiaYi that morning. If u are trabvelling to Alishan, u need take the Taiwan railway from KaoShiong railway station not the high-Speed rail.

There are a few mode of transport to get to Alishan from JiaYi Train station.

1.Alishan forest train (阿里山森林鐵&#36335

This is the best mode of transport, however the connection can be affected by typhoon. The railway track was under repair during my visit
If it is available, you can try to take this famous Alishan Forest Railway from Chiayi station (the old one, not the new HSR station at Taibao). For one-way, the cost is NTD$400 and it took around 3.5 hours. Entry to Alishan costs NT$150 per person if arriving on public transport, NT$200 if arriving by car, charged on arrival.

2. JiaYi Country bus
This is the cheapest transport mode. The bus station was located near JaiYi Train station. It cost only abt NT$204.

#29
The bus fare table

3. 9-seater Minibus

As I was traveling with my kid, I chose this mode. It cost NT$400 pp ( kids below 6 yrs old free). The traveling time from JiaYi to FenQi Hu took 2hrs, the bus will stop for 1 hour for u to walk around the old town. We took the same minibus to Alishan, the remaining journey took another 1 hour and we were in Alishan.

Day 4:
AliShan

There are a few good site for sunrise in Alishan, one of the site is ZhuShan sunrise. U can take the wooden forest train (NT$100pp) to ZhaoPing Train station (abt 5 to 10 mins journey).
For YuShan sunrise, travelling by bus or mini bus is a must, u can booked the van when u reahed there (NT$300pp), travelling time is abt 3 hours. The trip include star viewing (astrology appreciation), sea of clouds #1 if u are lucky, couple tree, the first light before sunrise #21, the Yu Shan sunrise, #3. Depending on the sunrise time, u may have to wake up at 3am. If u stay only one night there, YuShan is my recommendation.

Day 5:
Alishan-TaiChung-Shuili水里-Sun Moon Lake

Travelling from AliShan to Sun Moon Lake, U can either take a bus from alishan to Jiayi. From Jiayi, u can travel by train to TaiChung and take a bus from TaiChung to Sun Moon Lake via Puli. The total travelling time for this self-connecting way will generally take more than 5 hrs for the whole journey.
Or u can booked a personal transport for NT$3000 per MPV maximum 8 passeger (abt 2hrs) is a faster way to travel to Sun Moon Lake. This is what I chose. Along the way, the driver brought us to Shuili (visited vineyard, and farm).

Day 6:
Sun Moon Lake

I was staying in shuieshe side, at Harbour resort hotel (日月潭碼頭休閒大飯&#24215. The same row of hotels are facing the jetty and u will be able to see sunrise from the room balcony. U can take the ferry just in front the hotel for 1 hour tour around the lake, (NT$200)

Day 7:
Sun Moon Lake-Taipei

We travelled by 国光客運to Taipei NT$460. The journey took us abt 4 hours.

Day 8:
Taipei

 

[jtsky]

#30
KaoShiong fish market (高雄鱼&#28207

 

[jtsky]

#31
XiZhi Wan (西子&#28286

 

[ggodetucsamoht]

"We managed to check in to the hotel at abt 10pm that night. As we have only stay in KaoShiong for 1 day, we decided to book a hotel near the famous night market (Liu He night market)"

Hi jtsky

Thanks for your PM reply. your stay in kaohsiung which you book a hotel near LiOHo night market, may i know what is the name and its charges?

Thanks

Thomas

 

[jtsky]

"We managed to check in to the hotel at abt 10pm that night. As we have only stay in KaoShiong for 1 day, we decided to book a hotel near the famous night market (Liu He night market)"

Hi jtsky

Thanks for your PM reply. your stay in kaohsiung which you book a hotel near LiOHo night market, may i know what is the name and its charges?

Thanks

Thomas

We were staying at LiuHe Hotel (高雄六合大飯&#24215, The night market is just downstair, MRT is just few minutes away, Kaoshiong train station is one MRT stop from there. However, according to the taxi driver, it is one of the budget hotel, I think it is too because it only costs NT$980 per night, not very clean, the sound level still acceptable consider the night market downstair runs till 4am.

 

[jtsky]

#32
六合夜市（Liu He Night market)

 

[jtsky]

#33
爱河之心

 

[bruggink]

I like #2 and #13.. Very well taken.

#6 will be better if it's taken from the front of the flower.

Just my opinion. =)

 

[jlpk007]

did you bring tripod for this trip?

 

[nyxx88]

Simply love your photos!! Very beautifully shot! :heart:

 

[jtsky]

I like #2 and #13.. Very well taken.

#6 will be better if it's taken from the front of the flower.

Just my opinion. =)

Thanks for ur time and comment bruggink. I am glad u like them. I have some pic took from the front too. But I was thinking it may be nice to share a flower shot that took from a different angle. Here is the front shot, hope u like it.

#34

 

[jtsky]

did you bring tripod for this trip?

Hi jlpk007. Yes I brought my tripod, bulky and heavy:sweat:. But no regret. Most of the low light scenery shot was took with tripod except for LiuHe night market, it was too crowded. I push up the ISO to 800.

 

[jtsky]

Simply love your photos!! Very beautifully shot! :heart:

Thanks, nyxx88. I am glad u like them, and thanks very much for ur time.

 

[KopiLaiSheng]

#27
Alishan ZhaoPing Train station

So nice to see such great pic..:thumbsup:

 

[jtsky]

So nice to see such great pic..:thumbsup:

Thanks, KopiLaiSheng.

 

[jtsky]

#35
六合夜市（Liu He Night market)

 

[jtsky]

#36
六合夜市（Liu He Night market)

 

[jtsky]

#37
六合夜市（Liu He Night market)

 

[minzhong]

Hi,

Can I ask, did you used flash for the night market shoots? What are the settings used?

 

[nottipiglet]

These are really excellent shots! Love them.