ASM: May 2013

It's been a long time since we travelled as a family. The last trip was to Bali trip 3 years back with all my relatives. So we thought that this would be a great way to take the time off work to recharge ourselves. Initially, we thought of going to South Korea or Bangkok. But it came to our mind that Korea would be freezing cold in April and my mum wouldn't be able to take it. Whereas Bangkok is more of a shopping place for youngsters. In the end, we chose Taiwan where there is not much language barriers or culture conflicts.

First time on board TransAsia airlines and we thought that it was a pretty good experience. TransAsia is a Taiwanese airline. It was just an 4-hour flight to Taoyuan Int'l Airport. We didn't really catch a good sleep as you know...it is not possible to find a comfortable sleeping posture on the plane.

Departure: 0100
Arrival: 0530

It was communicated beforehand with the minsu owner that the driver would be there at the airport to pick us up. So we were expecting a person to hold up a board with our names written on it. However, when we were at the exit, there was no such sight hahaahaha. After a while, we went to call the driver but we couldn't reach him. We ended up calling the minsu owner to get the plate number of the van.

While looking for the van, a person approached my sister and asked whether we were from Hong Kong and were going to the 'The Designer's House'. My sister said no and walked away, leaving the guy with an anxious expression. Not long after, we saw the van and started waving vigorously. Then we realised that the driver was actually the person who approached my sister earlier on. Then we were there laughing out loud because firstly, he said 'Hong Kong' and secondly, we came to realise that the minsu that we are staying at is called '設計師的家‘。 haahahah. 真是个大乌龙！

We started the day trip straight after we alighted from the plane as going to the minsu first to put our luggage would be a waste of time.

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DAY 1: 宜蘭

First breakfast in Taiwan. 小籠包，鍋貼，豆漿 and kopi-c hahaha (my mum and sister can't live without coffee). Even before the trip, my mum was asking this question almost everyday '台灣有沒有咖啡?' and she even wanted to bring 3-in-1 coffee from SG.

外澳海景

our Yilan chauffeur, 陳先生

My sister jumping high while trying to maintain her *act excited* facial expression hahahaha

伯朗咖啡城堡

After trying hard to see something spectacular through the binoculars, my sister said 'chehhh need to put money one' hahaahah

Although it doesn't work without inserting coins, everyone still like to take a glance through the binoculars hahahaha

蘭陽博物館

After taking the photo, we realised that we got the direction wrong hahahahah

'this kind of background doesn't come often...need to take more picture set as profile pic!' (self-caption)

金車蘭花園

award-winning photo...camouflage in the surrounding hahahaha

picture with '明星‘ heheheh

五峰旗風景區

'喝泉水'

五峰旗瀑布

my papa's trying to FEEEEEEL the nature~

Then we came to this place to 泡溫泉. It is actually open to the public for free....

礁溪溫泉公園

The water inside there is real hot (68.5 degrees)! The one outside is just 30+ degrees.

my mum's trying to capture the strong wind. but everytime she pushed the button down, the wind stopped, leaving us standing there awkwardly hahahaah

OK THE ONLY SUCCESSFUL PHOTO after umpteen attempts

lunch: 和菜。 In taiwan, they call zi char > 和菜. this meal was really really nice and cheap. not even SGD 30. And their bitter gourd is white! Yummy!

TOMATOES! It is so amazing to see how an identical food/fruit look so differently in different countries.

望龍埤

FRUIT TASTING SESSION #1: PINEAPPLES

I've decided to count the number of fruit-tasting photos as i can spot quite a few in the album with just one glance hahahaha.

shooting stars?

waving to their fans~

????????????

After taking a stroll at the park, it was only 4pm. But we decided to head back to our accommodation and call it a day as we were all tired due to the midnight flight =.= sleepy eyes~

This is our accommodation (minsu) for 2 nights:

設計師的家

looks awesome isn't it?

Quite a number of Taiwanese popular dramas were filmed in this minsu. You guys must be familiar with 花樣少年少女 and 不良笑花.

THE INTERIOR~

We actually booked just one room for the five of us. Upon our arrival, the lady boss said that she has opened another room for us to stay in and wanted us to rest more comfortably. The boss and lady boss were so nice and amicable! Super super good service.

It felt like heaven to be able to wake up to this every morning!

At first, we decided to turn in early to replenish our energy for the rest of the trip. The lady boss suggested us to go cycling along the path. The word 'CYCLING' was so tempting that I got myself changed and went to get the bike immediately hahaha.

Day 1 was pretty wet as it was raining on and off throughout the whole morning and afternoon. Luckily, the rain stopped during our cycling venture, making the weather cooler.

So awesome to be able to cycle with the vast sky and abundance of greeneries!

The little boy volunteered to bring us around!

We were so lucky to witness the beautiful sight that marks the beginning of the twilight before sunset. The little boy told us that this is not a common sight that you can see everyday. The sky must be covered with thick clouds and the sunlight must be bright to form the arrays of light shining down. We must be really lucky!

woah woah woah can submit this photo to National Geographic alr hahahah

We got hyped up by the natural beauty and decided to take jump shots. I must say that the little boy has good photography skills! We got to know that he actually learns photography in school.

ahahahah we requested for more jumping shots~ we wanted to take a photo with him but he rejected us :( cool guy. Spot him in the photo above.

ahhaahah weeeee-o-weeee not bad not bad....another potential picture.

SORRY FOR THE PHOTO SPAM...I CAN'T HELP IT. TOOOOOO NICE ALR!! I WANNA SHARE WITH U ALL! MANY MANY MANY MANY MORE TO COME~

Side view of the The Designer's House. The reason why it is called The Designer's House is because the boss himself is a designer. He designed this minsu himself. He also said that he helped Ella to design her 老家 at 屏東.

ahahahh we didn't finish the whole course. The final destination should be a beach but we suggested to take more photos and headed back to minsu. Blame it to stamina limitation!

Then we went to the garden at the backyard of the minsu. They grow crops there! Especially many many 蔥！

BRINJAL!

OMG they also have a basketball court at the backyard! How could we miss this chance to get a hold of the ball. I couldn't remember when was the last time I played basketball.

I was at this position wanting to capture a photo of my sis. And after taking the photo, I was still there preparing to catch the 'air ball' cos i know she can't shoot that far (LOOK AT THE 3 POINTERS) hahaahah. THEN YOU KNOW WHAT MY SIS SAID? SHE ASKED ME TO TAKE A PHOTO OF HER SHOOTING! HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO CATCH THE BALL WHILE TAKING PICTURE??!! haahhahaha i need adequate reaction time to run for my life. The risk of a photographer...

she ended up posing for me before shooting hahaahaa

We ate this 諾貝爾 swissroll cake at night. The driver drove us to buy this in the afternoon. It was actually part of our itinerary as my sis researched online before the trip and there were many great comments.

THIS IS SOOOOOOO SOOOOO SO GOOD! THE MIDDLE IS FROZEN MILK. THE SPONGE CAKE IS SO SOFT! we bought the yam flavour too! didn't get a picture of it.

END OF DAY 1

P.S. MY DAD SLEPT FROM 5PM TILL THE NEXT MORNING HAHAHAHHA

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DAY 2: 宜蘭

Like any other bed and breakfast accommodations, The Designer's House also provides breakfast. THE BEST BEST BEST BREAKFAST! Porridge with dishes. The owners said that all the vegetables in the dishes are self-grown from their backyard.

my papa can't wait to take the food...

HOME-MADE CRANBERRY BREAD~ so niceeeeeeee

ready to start the day~

宜蘭綠色博覽會

only open from 30 March - 19 May. Varies from year to year

在哪里～在哪里～不要隱藏你自己～

FRUIT TASTING SESSION #2: BANANA

YEOBOSEYO?

宜蘭餅發明館（I-Cake）

WHAT TIME IS IT NOW MR WOLF?

ITS LUNCH TIMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

@ 蘇澳

米糕。滷肉飯。苦瓜排骨湯。魚圓湯

omg this is sooooo nice! PLUM ICE CREAM WRAPPED WITH POPIAH SKIN AND PEANUT CANDY!

蘇澳情人灣

this is facing the pacific ocean...

HAHAHAAHAHAHAH DIVING STYLE~

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

國立傳統藝術中心

We managed to reach here on time just before the show started...

When the show started, this person (narrator) came out with this auto-moving prop. hahahaha

As the show went along, you have to walk and follow the narrator. Its pretty cool!

At every station, there will be a 'surprise'. This was where a character climbed up the wall and there was another time where the fire crackers suddenly popped.

Then the show ended up at the stage...

'hmmmmm let me try the 陀螺‘

'yayyyy i did it'

I failed at it

Then we went cycling @ 梅花湖

This dog approached us while we were eating sweet potato...Then my dad fed it with sweet potato cos he said it tasted nasty haahahaha. The dog smelt it at first and ignored. Smart dog! haahah 識貨的狗。。。

死賴着不走哈哈哈

After we cycled one round, we saw this cool cinderella-style bike. Then we got to know that it operates automatically -________- We wasted so much energy cycling up the slope haahahh next time must try this!

Then we went to one of the 原住民部落。。。The people there speak an unique language.

While we were crossing the bridge, two students passed us. I looked back and saw the guy PEEING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE BRIDGE!!!!!! OMGGGGGGGG

FAVOURITE PART IS HERE: NIGHT MARKET~

羅東夜市

蚵仔煎 (Taiwanese style is wetter and is eaten with sweet chilli)|

魷魚

當歸牛肉麵

臭豆腐！！

蚵餅

抓餅 with kimchi and egg

OVERSIZED POODLE. The common dog in Taiwan is poodle!

END OF DAY 2~

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DAY 3: 宜蘭－台北

spotted Marutaro, the dog!

AHAHAHAHAHA my papa's nose sharp until it is captured in the picture.

WE NEVER GET SICK OF JUMPING~

ahahahahahaha spot the auspicious thing!

hahahhahahaahahahahahhaha

acting like 設計師～

while waiting for the breakfast to be served...

BREAKFAST TIME~

HOME-MADE SOYA MILK

HOME-MADE BUN~ NOT A SINGLE DROP OF WATER ADDED. ALL MADE WITH FRESH MILK

We started the day by going to the lily farm

Saw this cute baby there

海芋

SMELLY? >___<

Then we heard the baby crying loudly. My mum went over and carried him upright and he stopped crying hahahaa.

"how to bring back SG?"

青蔥博物館

went to eat this Yilan's famous dish，卜肉。 Tastes like sweet chicken tender

Then we headed to Taipei. It was an one hour plus ride from Yilan to Taipei. As the sky got smaller and smaller in that sense, buildings became higher and higher and traffic became heavier and heavier, we'd soon reached the capital of Taiwan. Its so different between Taipei and Yilan. One is like a country side village with relaxing atmosphere, the other is a fast-paced city life. I would say I prefer a less crowded place.

Then we bade goodbye to our Yilan chauffeur and headed to our accommodation just above Q Square Mall. It is a self-contained apartment.

Then we got ready again and went to explore the place by public transport.

MRT tokens that look like the tokens used in Mahjong.

Primary/secondary school students' art pieces are displayed on the wall at the train station

台北國家劇院

國立中正紀念堂

In memory of Taiwan's first president: 蔣介石

We learnt a little bit of history from a volunteer there. She told us the story behind the battle between 蔣介石 and 毛澤東 over the state of China. They were actually blood-related family (毛澤東 was 蔣介石's Uncle). We were amazed and could never understand the strong and demanding mindset behind the leaders back in that era...In the end, 蔣介石 lost the battle and brought a troop of people over and started the state called the Republic of China (Taiwan).