Trip to Taiwan with Esther
6 - 11 March 2010
DAY 5

Here's the best thing for a freezing Wednesday morning. Hot instant noodles! (:

Jiu Fen (九份)

A town up in the mountains of Rueifang town in Taipei. It is a popular tourist site, with many well-known foods and a beautiful mountain scenery.


I thought we would get lost on the way to Jiufen. It sounds like a remote place, all the way up in the mountains. But nah, it was super easy. 99% won't get lost. Upon alighting at Zhong Xiao Fu Xing station, leave via Exit 1 towards Andong Street. Walk straight until you see a bus stop.


The bus we boarded (*points to picture*) was bus no. 1062. Costs NT$87 for a trip to Jiufen. Make sure to have coins in advance.








It's quite a long ride since we have to go up the mountains. I was afraid we would miss the stop but once again, I realise this place is anti-get lost. Once the bus gets on the long mountain road without stopping, you know the next stop is Jiufen and that's where you alight.



There was a high school at the base of the mountain in Rueifang town. There was an electronic board on top of the school building displayed the time and temperature, and I saw the temperature was 9°C. Now that we're up on the mountains, it must be 8°C or below. The moment we alighted from the bus, my fingers were so cold and numb that it was painful. ):



Jiufen begins from this entrance!

There are shops selling toys and other odds and ends.

For the second time this trip, we're eating smelly tofu! :D This stall's tofu is nicer than the one I'd in Ximending. A lot more smellier and the tofu's top with pickled vegetables! Swee!


Craft stores selling artworks or souvenirs are everywhere in Jiufen.

We got a hot bowl of fishball soup to warm us up. There were meatballs and fuzhou fishballs in it. Mmm-mmm! (:



Taro balls are a famous dessert in Jiufen. They are super chewy and cooked in a sweet soup with red beans, green beans and sweet potato. I really love this dessert.

We also bought the Ah Lan Hakka Glutinous Rice Cake. It's another famous food. It's like mochi. It has a chewy skin and has different kinds of fillings. I prefer the red bean paste filling. I personally find vegetable fillings coupled with sweet chewy skin too weird for my taste.





The view of this place is breathtakingly beautiful. Some people actually stay overnight in the B&Bs nearby to experience the view.


There are plenty of cafes around. They all offer excellent windows for diners to view the mountains and the ocean.




Here's a shop that makes Tai Yang Bing (sun bake). I still like Lao Po Bing (wife biscuit). Lol.


Took the same bus back to Zhong Xiao Fu Xing station.

It's our last night here in Taiwan and we want to finish spending all the money we have. We went back to Ximending, got more food, bought more candies from Sophisca, etc. We also had to get a new lock for Esther's luggage. For some whacked up reason, the officers at the Singapore Airport cut open her lock and inspected her belongings. I wonder which item resembled a dangerous good to them. Tch.

I thought we could easily find a lock in a shopping mall. But their shopping malls are solely for food and fashion. Even if there is a supermarket there, don't expect to find anything outside food and household goods. In the end, we had to head for a nearby Carrefour that we saw on the first bus ride to our hotel from the airport. Had to get a cab there 'cos we have no idea where it was. It was so near the cab meter didn't even jump. Lawl. And it's walking distance to our hotel too. Hahaha!

At least we managed to finally get a lock. Phew. (:


Yea! We got more frozen dumplings (heated them up at the convenience store) to eat!


We got this packet of Lay's from Carrefour. My goodness, it has so much chips in it. Those sold in Singapore are half full of air. -_-


Ooh la la. The convenience store sells pastries like this one too. Green tea eclair! :D


AND we bought more cakes from 85 degrees Celcius. They taste as good as they look. Esther was saying we must eat our fill of cakes before we head back to Singapore. Haha!



Ta-dah! My biggest haul of this trip. Two pairs of funky shoes! The Nike sneakers cost only S$90. You can't even find designs half as nice in Singapore. I had wanted to get a pair of high-cut Nike shoes too. There was a DAMN nice pair, with purple leather and purple leopard prints. It looks so regal. It was so good it was sold out and they don't have my size. *growls* I settled for the my next preference. I personally like the design, the shade of pink and the slight bling on the side. The downside is it is of some unknown brand. I mean, if you have Nike, you'd rather get it, right? Nonetheless, I like both pairs! (:


Esther's Timbaland shoes. The lavender leather is very sweet.

Like I had mentioned, I bought more goodies from Sophisca! I couldn't resist getting some of their unusual candies. Like the medicine-theme ones. They even have x-rated theme ones but I'm not getting those. ><



I kid you not. Edible sanitary pads! Hahaha. And flavored malt sugar syrup in plastic syringes. (:




Spent time to pack up because we don't have much time tomorrow morning. Had to use a plastic canvas bag (how typical of a tourist) to store the bulkier stuff. About time my parents get a bigger luggage for traveling. My father first got this one for work purpose only.

Hmm, I'll miss the good times in hotel room 511. All the yummy food feast and laughing at Spongebob Squarepants and Taiwan's variety shows...