[Taiwan trip 2016] Day 2 - Hualien

Day 1 we reached Taipei. As it's nothing much, so i won't update.

On Day 2, we took the TRA train from taipei main station to Hualien.

We got our driver to help us book on the moment (00:00) the ticket is selling (it is that hot-selling), and we picked up at the convenience store when we reached taiwan.

As my friends went to the mugumugi hike (they were well-baked when they are back), i went on a more relaxed trip.
i settled in Bayview hotel and looked at the beautiful seaview (review of hotel) and went to eat a super delicious and filling lunch at MuMing, then i went on a small excursion.


first is the Chihsing Tan Katsuo Museum. You can skip this, unless you want to avoid the hot sun.

And then i went for a organised whale watching trip (you can book via hotel). I didn't see any whale, but i saw LOTS of flying dolphins who swam and jumped with the waves created by the boat.
It;s very serene to be out at the ocean.

These are some so-called famous food we went for. We found that it's normal... except for the chicken wing at Di yi jia bbq. OMG, to die for!!!

SIA flight from Singapore to Taipei

SG50 plane! (we didn't take this though)

It's so empty that we can sit

and sleep anywhere we like

my meal

Menu

[Accomodation Review] TreeArt Hotel, Taichung (璞樹文旅)

Website to book: Agoda

Cost: S$350 for a room for 3 for 2 nights

Location:  407, Taiwan, Taichung City, Xitun District, 黎明路三段235號

Size of accommodation: see picture above

Accommodates: 3

Location: 4/5. Quite near the Feng Jia night market

Cleanliness: 5/5. C

Host(s): Professional and most friendly. *thumbs up*

Design: 4.5/5. 

Facilities:  there's a level with free food and drinks for you to relax.; Ah yuan organic shampoo, shower gel and lotion (all smell so nice - it's expensive); free bicycle; free welcome skincare gift for my friend who has her birthday; the set meal breakfast was so pretty and delicious (and there's buffet too)

Security: 5/5. Safe

Additional comments:

• Overall, i'm very impressed by this hotel. Highly recommended

Lobby

Room

Free gift

Mezzanine level (all are free to take)

And we got free ice cream when we completed some quiz

Breakfast

  

[Accommodation Review] Starry Minsu, Cingjing, Taiwan (清境觀星園景觀山莊)

Website to book: email in to Starry Minsu (website):   hclee0701@yahoo.com.tw 

Cost: NT$3700 for a room for 4 on a Friday (different rates for different day in a week)

Location:  546, Taiwan, Nantou County, Ren’ai Township, 大同村博望巷96號

Size of accommodation: see picture above

Accommodates: 4

Location: 2.5/5. It's very far from the amenities and attractions. Require transportation to go down. But in general, you need transportation if you want to explore places in Cingjing... 

Cleanliness: 4/5. Can't expect the same standard as hotel, it's already very good comparing to reviews of many other minsu in cingjing.

Host(s): Professionally friendly lady at the counter, very heartwarming and friendly auntie (could be the owner), and very obedient but shy husky.

Design: 3/5. The real room looked much better than what was on their website.

Facilities:  healthy breakfast and hotpot dinner. transportation to and fro the minsu (once per day in each direction). Husky (okay, not really).

 Security: 3/5. the key to your room is the old classic key. I feel safe though. there's camera all around in the compound. It's super dark in the compound at night, mind your steps.

Additional comments:

• Pray for good weather so you can see lots of stars at night. we weren't so lucky.
• The road was steep, and and would be dangerous in rainy days, get a good driver.
• the breakfast and dinner were delicious! The vegetables and fruits were very fresh and sweet, so the hotpot soup was very sweet. One of the best hotpot i've eaten.
• you can asked them to arrange for a driver (i.e. NT$2000 to taichung) and send you to your next destination (they can pick up your luggage from the minsu while you roam around cingjing).
• there would be bugs, but bugs were everywhere in cingjing. At least the room was free of bugs.

Exterior

Interior / balcony

  

Living room

Dinner

Breakfast