Day 2: Pingxi, Jinguashih, Miaokou

We woke up slightly later than planned, hahaha, and only managed to leave our hotel closer to 11am or so after our yummy breakfast...

Complimentary breakfast - porridge with salted eggs, nuts, etc

First stop of the day is Pingsi -- the place where we were to release heavenly lanterns, after covering them with scribbled wishes and then lighting them.

At Taipei Railway station, waiting for the train towards Rueifang. Fare from Taipei Main station to Rueifang station: NT52

On board the crowded train. Lotsa ppl going to Pingsi for the weekend.

Information board to inform tourists on where to go and what to do along the Pingsi Branch Railway line.

Got off at Rueifang station. Need to purchase another ticket to take the railway train for the Pingsi Branch Line (NT54 for unlimited stops along the line). The downside is that the train comes like once every hour, and we cannot afford to go somewhere else except Pingsi.

Along the way, we were treated to scenic views of the countryside... Mountains, rivers, villages, small towns... Nice and peaceful.

Finally, after an hour's journey, we arrived at Pingsi. This is a small town with few eateries and most shops selling lantern souvenirs of different sizes, including miniatures.

The old slow-paced railway train which brought us here.

Standing on the 12.9-kilometer Pingsi Branch Railway Line which was completed in 1921 to support the mining industry in the area during the years of Japanese occupation. The train (above) passes through six tunnels and over 15 bridges along its way.

River flowing through the town. Try and spot the auntie fishing there.

Colorful lanterns in a tea house.

After a quick lunch (note: food is average and hence not worth mentioning or posting of photo), we got to this lantern workshop where we can release heavenly lanterns for NT100.

Lantern workshop with friendly boss who helped us to release lanterns at the mini-car park opposite the shop.

Chart showing the colors available and the associated wishes for that color.

SY busy writing down all her wishes.

Lighting the heavenly lantern (that's Emi's)... and up it goes!

Can you spot our heavenly lanterns (3 in total) in the sky? May all our wishes come true!!

We caught the return train back to Rueifang...

Train master driving the train... So old school, hahaha.

You need to sound the hone whenever the train approaches a bend. Check out the signboard.

Train leaving the tunnel.

A speed train overtook our railway train at one of the stations.

... and took a bus (opposite Rueifang station) to our second stop of the day -- Gold Ecological Park which consists of the museum of gold, environmental education center and crown prince chalet. Interesting place to explore.

Environmental education center on the natural ecological environment and how the Jinguashi community of Japanese-style wood buildings was constructed to meet the local conditions.

Crown prince chalet - representative example in Taiwan of a Japanese-style villa, and the unique cement miniature golf course

Workers in the cooper mine digging the ore in the lowest depths of the mine.

Copper was discovered and extracted here.

We have touched a 220kg gold brick! Argh, how i wish it's mine... hahaha

Gold Ecological Park museum

We are transported out of the mine...

Jinguashi and Jioufen community town on the mountain

Keelung harbour at sunset

Tired and hungry and after an hour bus journey down the mountain, our third stop of the day is Keelung's Miaokou Night Market...

Candied fruits, NT50

Grilled oysters, small and yummy, NT150

Steamed crab in butter sauce, NT250. It's tiny... hahaha

Beancurd with pearls, nice, NT30

Miaokou temple

Keelung railway station

Note: You must walk till you find an area with orange neon sign as this area is the proper nightmarket with well-defined stall space and signs to help international travelers know which kinds of food are available. We only managed to find the correct place after feasting all the above, hahaha...

Day 1: Singapore - Taipei

Start of our Taiwan - Hong Kong - Macau holiday trip =) Yeah!

0830hr: Arrived at Changi Airport to check in our luggage and had breakfast at the food court. We took Cathay Pacific flight from Singapore to Taipei, with a transit at Hong Kong airport. Cost: $500 inclusive of tax plus stopover on return journey.

Group photo at Changi Airport

H1N1 period and we are transiting at Hong Kong airport! Gotta wear mask, just in case, hahaha

1700hr: At last, we arrived at Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport. Rainy day! Argh...

The tourism service center is pretty prominent (you can't miss it, turn right after you exit the gate) and over here, we applied for the Youth Travel Card and collected the maps/guides/etc...

Gals checking out the map to determine the location of our hotel

Bus terminal at the other end of the airport. We boarded the Kuo-Kuang coach (NT125 per way) which brought us directly to Taipei Main station. Journey time is approximately 1hr.

After some navigation and tugging our heavy luggage across 5 traffic junctions, we finally arrived at our hotel - Silverview Hotel. Cost: NT1,350 per room per night, inclusive of breakfast and additional charge for third person. Free internet access is available at the lobby too, cool. =)

Interior view of bedroom and washroom. Tiny double bed and tiny washroom! Argh, and the room is forever cold too!

We quickly dumped our stuff in the room and proceeded to Shihlin night market for dinner. Armed with notes prepared by Emi, we were on a food hunt to locate and try the food items which are strongly by ppl! hahaha

Taipei MRT station, nice and clean. Pretty similar to our MRT system yah...

Inside the train.

We got off at Shilin Station and walked across the street to find a very long queue for Hao Da Da Chicken Chop (translate to chinese pls).

Stall workers busy at work...

The chicken chop is super big (as big as our faces), juicy, yummy and very cheap... NT50, super value for money.

Bubble milk tea to go with our food. NT15 for a gigantic cup, yummy.

Sausage with glutinous rice and sour crout. NT50, acquired taste.

Lamb ribs soup + smelly toufu. NT105 total. Food is so-so though... We just need to find a place to rest and savour our food, hahaha

We were super full by now... but who can resist mango ice for dessert?? NT90 for a super big of ice blended with mango and topped with fresh mango slices. Delicious.

After all these foods, we need to do some exercise (re: shopping) to burn away the calories. The shopping area is just opposite the food centre and over there, you can find lotsa fashion clothes, accessories, shoes, bags and whatnot at affordable prices. With the night market closes at 2am, there is plenty of time for our shopping, hahaha... =P

Shihlin night market shopping area.

Let's Go - National Day Celebration

What would you be doing on National Day itself?? Don’t waste the day cropping yourself at home k… Join me for a fun-filled day visiting museums to understand Singapore’s history and watching the fireworks from the parade =)

Open House Day at the following NHB museums on National Day
Asian Civilisations Museum
The Peranakan Museum
National Museum of Singapore
National Archives of Singapore
Reflections at Bukit Chandu
Memories at Old Ford Factory
Singapore Philatelic Museum
Singapore Art Museum
8Q sam

I intend to visit these three museums -- Reflections at Bukit Chandu, Memories at Old Ford Factory and Singapore Philatelic Museum (if time permits! Hahaha)… Anyone’s keen?? Flexible arrangement, I am ok to visit any of the above on Sunday.

And after the museums, we can do a dinner picnic at Marina Boulevard Open Field or somewhere… so that I can chope a good place to take photos… =P haha… and to pass time, we can play Casino War!! I should have to rummage around my messy room for the dummy dollar notes though, hahaha…

Suggested spots to catch the fireworks
Marina Boulevard Open Field
Merlion Park
Esplanade Bridge
Esplanade Theatre Waterfront Promenade
Marina Barrage

Above information obtained from http://www.etour-singapore.com/index.html.

PS: This is a very interesting and good website to browse to get all the information that you need for Singapore, esp when you have foreign visitors coming to Singapore for the first time and your mind is a blank when they ask you for recommendations for places of interests. Hahaha…


Ok! Let me know if you are joining me then =) Seeya!!

Down with Hives

Definition
Hives are raised, often itchy, red welts on the surface of the skin, often on the limbs and trunk. They are usually an allergic reaction to food or medicine. Hives often appear suddenly and last only for a short while, but can be recurring in some cases. The cause of hives is still unknown.

Causes
When you have an allergic reaction to a substance, your body releases histamine and other chemicals into your bloodstream. This causes itching, swelling, and other symptoms.

Common causes are allergies to:
• insect bites or stings (e.g. bee stings)
• certain medicines (e.g. aspirin, penicillin)
• certain food (e.g. shellfish)
• pollen.

Symptoms
• Itching
• Swelling of the surface of the skin into red- or skin-colored welts (called wheals) with clearly defined edges

The welts may get bigger, spread, and join together to form larger areas of flat, raised skin. They can also change shape, disappear, and reappear within minutes or hours.

Exams and Tests
Your doctor can tell if you have hives by looking at your skin.Occasionally, skin or blood tests are done to confirm that you had an allergic reaction and to test for the substance that caused the allergic response.

What you can do
• Wait for the condition to go away. Hives normally clears up on their own in 1–2 days.
• Apply a cool compress to ease the itch.
• Take a cool shower.
• Apply calamine lotion.
• Take anti-histamines (an anti-allergy medicine) as directed by the doctor. Do not drive or operate machines when taking anti-histamines as this medicine causes drowsiness.
• Determine the substances that caused you to have hives and avoid them.

Reference: click here


hmm, problem is... i don't even have ANY clue as to what i am allergic to lor =( so for now, i have really got to watch what i am eating... argghh... aniwae, doc gave me some medicines (prednisolone and hydroxyzin), hopefully it's good enough, hahaha...

Hives, hives, go away
Never again another day
Little missy wants to play
Itching, swelling, all away

Total Solar Eclipse - 22 July 2009

"On Wednesday, 2009 July 22, a total eclipse of the Sun is visible from within a narrow corridor that traverses half of Earth. The path of the Moon's umbral shadow begins in India and crosses through Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar and China. After leaving mainland Asia, the path crosses Japan's Ryukyu Islands and curves southeast through the Pacific Ocean where the maximum duration of totality reaches 6 min 39 s. A partial eclipse is seen within the much broader path of the Moon's penumbral shadow, which includes most of eastern Asia, Indonesia, and the Pacific Ocean."

Detailed predictions, maps, figures and information can be found at NASA website (http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEmono/TSE2009/TSE2009.html)

And...

"Seen from Singapore, only 10 to 20 per cent of the Sun will be obscured. However, audience will get to catch the sensational moment of total eclipse live on Ch U.

From 8 - 11am on 22 July, Channel U will simulcast live with China Central Television (CCTV) which will present live telecasts from key China cities - Chengdu, Wuhan, Tongling and Hangzhou where the total eclipse will be seen at its most spectacular. A half-hour special highlights will be shown at 11.30pm on the same day. "

ARGHHH!! I will be on way to work during this time, at work in the morning and CANNOT view the program! Sob sob... Guess I'll have to make do with the special highlights at night then =(



UPDATE (23 July 2009)

A combination picture shows the sequence of a total solar eclipse as observed in Chongqing municipality July 22, 2009. The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century began its flight on Wednesday across a narrow path of Asia, where it was expected to darken the skies for millions of people for more than six minutes in some places. (REUTERS/Stringer)