Monday, November 12, 2012

Day 5 Shinshe 新社古堡花園 -安妮公主花園-新社薰衣草森林-新社花海-逢甲夜市 on 12-11-2012 Monday

We took early breakfast as today we are going to Shinshe新社

Breakfast buffet provided by hotel

Our breakfast

After breakfast, we walked to“Feng Yuan(豐原)” bus station, 5 mins walking distance from Taichung Train Station, board bus no 270/276 (豐原客運)『台中-中興嶺-東勢』的班車，在<<新二村站>> 下车, bus fare: NT100, ($4.2)

Bus time table

ShinShe did provide shuttle service 新社协会接驳导 which cost NT250 ($10.6) per pax per day from 09:00 am to 0530 pm. Remember to do an advance booking (預約專線：04-25821058（如有確定日期，請提早預約，並主動電話確認。(兩人以上成行) or prebook by using this form
當抵達台中火車站，背對火車站，面向大馬路，左前方有【豐原客運】，請搭270、276 班次，客運時間：09:10、09:50、10:30、11:30 請告知司機：將在新社【新二村】下車，公車發動後請打電話給小許 0910-956-339 下車後往回走50公尺有【7-11 便利商店】接駁車會在那接您們新社一日遊

We called driver when we reached Shinshe. After 10 mins, two drivers came and discussed with the group where we were heading and each driver will cater for one group.

The first station was 新社花海, but we were 5 days earlier for the festival, 花海 starts 17 Nov - 16 Dec 2012. We are not allowed to enter, as they were preparing for the festival.

新社花海

We saw a stall selling grape while we were walking towards the Shinshe's van

Along the road near 新社花海

We bought one bundle, NT 35, ($1.5), sweet and juicy and cheap.

Next station, 新社古堡花園, Entrance fee: NT250, ($10.5) per person

Entrance Ticket

新社古堡花園 Summit Resort

Next, we went to Princess Annie’s Garden [安妮公主花園] for lunch, Entrancs fee: NT100 ($4) per person, can redeem with any purchase in shop/restaurant

We ordered chicken chop with rice, come with soup and salad, price NT 330 ($14).

Our lunch

Princess Annie’s Garden [安妮公主花園]

Last station, we went to 薰衣草森林 Lavender Cottage, Entrance fee: NT200 ($8.5) can redeem with any purchase in shop

薰衣草森林

Souvenir shop

The souvenir shop has lots of interesting stuffs you can purchase by using the entrance ticket

Souvenir shop

薰衣草森林

We ordered two single scoop of lavender ice cream NT40, ($1.7), we use the entrance ticket to redeem the purchase.

薰衣草森林

Lavender flower season is from November to April.

薰衣草森林

Since this is the last station, they will send us to the bus stop and took the bus to the Taichung Train Station.

Bus to Taichung Train Station

We waited one hour at the bus stop, taking public transport is more troublesome and time consuming. At Feng Yuan(豐原)” bus station, look for another couple to share the cab fare, NT3000, ($130- 4 persons for 1 cab) for whole day from Taichung-Shinshe-Taichung, cut down the waiting time and go for more places in Shinshe.

Transport Expenses from Taichung Train Station to Shinshe ( return ) :NT250 +NT250+NT100+NT100+NT100+NT100= NT900 ($38 for 2 persons )

Next we went to 逢甲夜市-FengJia Night Market, the largest and popular night market in Taichung

逢甲夜市

逢甲夜市-Our Dinner

We took bus 33 or 35, bus stop right in front of Taichung station, around 45mins, bus fare NT60 ( $2.6 )

We ordered the sea shell food for NT50 ( $2.2 ), tasty and cheap.

Fengjia Night Market- many stalls selling foods and snack with reasonable price, visit the market with an empty stomach.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Day 4 Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 on 11-11-2012 Sunday

This was the breakfast set provided by the Minsu

Breakfast @ Starry Minsu 觀星園景觀山莊

Starry Minsu was located at the highest point, the view was unblocked

Photo taken from Starry Minsu

We have breakfast and dinner at the open area

Photo taken from Starry Minsu

We stayed at the second floor

Starry Minus-main entrance

We are going to Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 , I have arrange XiaoHei Hp:0921340000 for the transport from Cingjing to Sun Moon Lake, NT 300 ($12.5) per person but when I call him, he told me no cab available. I have to take Nantou bus from Cingjing to Puli, from Puli to Sun Moon Lake.

After checking out, Minsu owner arange someone to send us to Songgang (松崗), we need to take the 9am Nautou Bus to Puli

We bought bus ticket from Songgang to Puli for NT 133 ($5.5) per person, journey time around 1 hr 20 mins.

Around 10.20 am, we reached Puli and we need to get the bus ticket from Puli to Sun Moon Lake for NT62,
($2.6) per person, journey time around 40 mins.

Nantou Bus- bus shuttle schedule from Puli to Sun Moon Lake

We reached Sun Moon Lake 水社 around 11.10 am. We dropped our luaggage at the Shuishe 水社 Visitor Center, near the bus Center, opening hour from 9 am to 4.30 pm.

Sun Moon Lake are a number of small townships and scenic treks clustered into four zones - Shueishe (水社), Wen Wu Chao (文武朝), Itashao (伊达邵), and Xuan Guang Si (玄光寺)

For transport, either you can take cab, bus, bicycle or boat to tour around Sun Moon Lake

For us,we bought the 1 day unlimited bus ride ticket for NT80, ($3.3) per person

We also bought the ferry ticket from Shuishe 水社 Visitor Center as some places need to travel by ferry.A round trip ticket allows you to disembark and board at 3 official piers, namely Shueshi, Itashao and Syuanguang. Ferry ticket @ discounted price NT200, ( $8.3 ) per person, normal price NT300.

Bus Ticket

Ferry Ticket

Map of Sun Moon Lake

Shuishe 水社

We took ferry from Shuishe 水社 to Itashao (伊达邵).We have our lunch near Itashao.

Itashao (伊达邵)

Our Lunch

what we order

Food street near Itashao Visitor Center

Next we went to the Wen Wu Chao, beautiful big temple next to the lake.

Wen Wu Chao (文武朝)

After the Wen Wu Chao (文武朝), we went to Shuishe 水社 Visitor Center to collect our luaggage and bought bus ticket to Taichung Train Station 台中, NT 190 ($8) per person, journey time around 2 hours

We have booked Cityinn Hotel,新驛旅店台中車站店 5 mins walk from Taichung Railway station, Economy room for NT1440, ($60) with free breakfast buffet for 2

Cityinn 新驛旅店台中車站店

Cityinn 新驛旅店台中車站店

We took taxi from hotel to Banana New Paradise 香蕉新樂園茶飯館 for dinner. Taxi fare NT 130, ($5.5)

We ordered chicken NT268, ($11) and another offer dish- duck cooked with yam NT128, ($5.5), if no offer we need to pay NT238, ($10) for the duck, food was nice and tasty.

Chicken

Duck cooked with yam

Banana New Paradise 香蕉新樂園茶飯館

' inside an old train' for photography

'old train'

Next we went to Yizhong street 一中街,Yizhong street is a shopping area and night market near many cultural and educational institutions.At night many food and merchandise stalls open up along Yizhong street