Traveling in Taiwan (Part 3- Nantou County)

Best Thing in Taiwan? Traveling!

Have you every thought of just letting everything go and just follow your heart's desire for an adventure? Well, here it is! My adventure in Taiwan's Nantou County. This county is known for its surreal mountain ranges and for the most popular lake in Taiwan, SUN MOON LAKE (日月潭). So are you ready to experience the beauty of Nantou? Let's go!

THE BEGINNING

Just like any adventure, we all have our beginnings. Our plan was to go to two popular tourist destinations: Cingjing Sheep Farm and Sun Moon Lake. In order for us to reach our destination, we had to travel by bus from Taipei to Taichung City. The bus fare was around 240 NTD (8 USD) for about 2 hours. There are actually some great places to visit while you're staying over at Taichung like Fengjia Night market and Taichung Park. There are also some temples that you could visit and check out. Also, while in Taichung, we had to find a place where we can rent a scooter. Wait... What? A scooter? Yup, you heard me right! A scooter! As scooters are the most popular means (and actually the cheapest) of transportation in Taiwan, therefore, if you really want to enjoy the travel and the once in a lifetime view of the mountains then I suggest that you rent a scooter (or a motorbike, if you can afford to rent one).

The adventure begins here

ON THE WAY

As I searched over the internet and read through numerous forums, I noticed that the only way that people would be able to go to Cingjing and Sun Moon Lake was to pass from Taiping to Puli Township. According to the map above, the best route would be to go up the mountains and avoid traffic. And it was wonderful. The view was breath taking and relaxing. There were just a few travelers, most of them were cyclists or families traveling via private cars. We passed by some great places to take some time to just enjoy the views and take some photos.

In front of a bat cave

Batwoman in front of the bat cave

It was a pretty nice view

This is our view while riding the scooter

BY THE TIME WE ARRIVED

By the time we arrived at Cingjing, it was almost 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Cingjing Sheep farm closes at around 4 pm on regular days and at 5 during holidays. Some information about Cingjing Sheep farm: It is located at Renai Township at an altitude of 1,750 meters above sea level (Yup, it's a pretty high place!).  

Food! Eating time!

Cingjing Sheep farm, but it was already closing time

Zoro riding his steed

A Super Mario jump in 2014

8 degrees! Super cold!

It was a very peaceful view of the mountains

Did I tell you it was cold?

 Temperatures ranges from 15 to 24 degrees (but it can go as low as 8 degrees at night and early morning). At Cingjing, you'll be able to appreciate the wonderful mountain gorges and feed some tourist loving sheep! It was a fun experience to feed those sheep!

It was already 9 in the morning but the fog is still covering the mountains

What a beauty!

Cingjing Farm was full of people

Sheep!!! So cute!

The biggest sheep I've seen in the farm

Sheep: Just give me the food already!

A young sheep with its soft wool

Sheep's milk ice cream! Delicious!

Cheese!

ON TO THE NEXT STOP

The next stop was a challenge! After going up at an altitude of 1,750 meters, we now have to go down to Sun Moon Lake. It is considered to be the largest in-land body of water in Taiwan. It is also the most popular tourist attraction in the country. Contrary to what people might think of a lake, it is located 748 meters above sea level! Though swimming is not allowed in the lake, an annual event call Swimming Carnival of Sun Moon Lake is held during Mid-Autumn festival. Or if you don't want to swim, boats that tour around the lake are also available for your use! Sun Moon Lake also offers the chance for a bird's eye view over their Gondolas called the Sun Moon Lake Ropeway traveling over the lake. This Gondola will bring you to the Aboriginal Culture Park to enjoy some good, fun rides and attractions! They were even able to get the Japanese Animation, ONE PIECE to be the Theme of the Park for almost a year! It's a fun and wonderful experience and I think you should go there too!

Sun Moon Lake Rope way

A view up in the air

A nice sunset

Bear fight! (There's a big Teddy bear in each Gondola at that time)

Peace and tranquility

Boat rides!

The beauty of a place can never be appreciated over photos or even in stories but only through your own eyes. Most of the time, it's not the view that made it a wonderful experience but just plainly because of the ride. It took us 3 days to complete our adventure, but what made it all worth it was the scooter ride. I suggest that you go out there and just enjoy life and its beauty!

What is your adventure for today?

Grab your map!

Set forth! 

Go on your adventure!

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. 

In the eyes of this Expat, He's his role model

To the Greatest Expat - Dad

Me and my Dad

When we were little, we always have these role models. People whom we look up to or dream of becoming someone, someday. There are people who look up to artists, national heroes, politicians, teachers, etc. But for me, I look up to him, my Dad.

EVER SINCE I CAN REMEMBER

Ever since I can remember, my dad has been working outside of the country. Spending most of his life in the Middle East (this is where most Filipinos work especially during the 1990's due to Ex-Pres. Fidel Ramos' foreign policy programs) working hard to provide us with a wonderful life. However, I believe that for most Filipino kids (especially during that time), we don't have an idea of how hard it was to be a Filipino expat, or better known as an Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). I remember that when I was a kid, being an OFW was an awesome thing! You get to ride a plane every month! Or buy a lot of stuff at Duty Free Mall, things like chocolates, toys, shoes and clothes.

My Greatest OFW Role Model - Dad

OFW'S WOES

However, being an OFW myself, I was so wrong. Experiencing life as an Expatriate changed a whole lot of me. I just felt how hard it was to live a life away from your family. No amount of US Dollars can suffice the sadness and isolation that an OFW experience. I could imagine those special celebrations in our lives that my Dad had to skip just to give us a good life.

FYI: ON THE AVERAGE

In Taiwan, an Overseas Filipino Worker earns at around 17,000 NTD (500 USD) a month. He/She then divides it by placing at least 40-60% of their hard earned salary for remittances. Moreover, most of the Filipinos here in Taiwan pays at least 100,000 NTD (3000 USD) in debts due to numerous transactions required for traveling to Taiwan such as Visa fees and Broker's fees.

I think, OFWs are the new heroes of this era in the Philippines. They have sacrificed not only their physical strength but their presence and time with their family. As a Filipino Expat myself, I think that the best way to commemorate their sacrifices is to be able to share this experience to everyone around the world. So if you know an Overseas Filipino Worker, maybe your teacher, caretaker, operator, employee, kindly say THANK YOU! Because they've sacrificed more than you've ever known.

Proud of you DAD!

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Traveling in Taiwan (Part 2- Taipei)

Best Thing in Taiwan? Traveling!

So we're done in Tainan! Now I would like to share to you my experiences in a place I would describe as the interaction of Industry and Nature, I call it Taipei! 

TAIPEI

Taipei is the capital of Taiwan (or in Chinese it is written as 台北 or the Northern Taiwan). According to Wikipedia (my ever reliable source of information...Really?!), Taipei was founded in the early 18th century and was an important center for overseas trading in the 19th century! For Filipinos who wants to come to Taiwan, Cebu Pacific offers red-eye flights for budget conscious consumers. At an average of 7,000 to 9,000 PHP, you'd be able to reach Taiwan in an hour and forty-five minutes (quite fast eh?).

Popular for it's fast paced yet traditional culture, you'll be able to see a mixture of different scenery, architecture and people. To name a few of the places I've been to...

NATIONAL CHIANG KAI-SHEK MEMORIAL

General Chiang Kai-shek is the former President of the Republic of China. The monument was erected in memory of him. And I discovered that the two sets of white stairs (each with 89 steps, represents his age at the time of death).The inscription on the walls beside his statue states that The purpose of life is to improve the general life of humanity and The meaning of life is to create and sustain subsequent lives in the universe.

At the front gate of the park

Inside there is a big monument of Gen. Chiang Kai-shek

A beautiful model posing in front of the statue

Try to see the view for yourself, it's great!

XIMENDING NIGHT MARKET

The "Shibuya District" of Taiwan as how they call it. It's one of my favorite night markets in Taiwan because it makes me feel like I'm really in a different country (well staying in Tainan for almost 4 years, you'll understand why!). Ximending is located just outside Ximen MRT Station. If you go there, you'll actually find really good stuff there like clothes, shoes, bags and gadgets! But beware, you need to have a lot of energy because this place is jam packed with a lot of people!

Photo taken last December

Look at all these people!

Taking a photo with some statues from a famous Mobile game in Taiwan

TAIPEI 101

And then there's, Taipei 101. Considered to be the second tallest building in the world right after Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is considered to be the icon of modern Taiwan or the evolution of technology and Asian tradition. It has 101 floors and is open for public viewing. For 500 NTD, you'll be able to get a bird's eye view of Taipei at the 90th floor! Actually, I really think it's quite expensive especially because there's nothing to do up there but to look around. Plus, the souvenirs and the food up there are way over the standard! And, take note that it's best to go up there when it is not the rainy season. I personally think that you should go there, but just once! If you're under a tight budget, there are other options too. You can just go inside and enjoy the view by looking around at all the shops inside the mall. Better yet, have a cup of coffee outside at another mall right beside Taipei 101.

Nothing beats warm coffee on a rainy day

Paging the parents of a lost grown up

Say Cheese!

My mom and Taipei 101 Building

A pretty model at Taipei 101

Still not enough? You really want to go up Taipei 101 but don't want to spend 500 NTD to just look around? Well say no more! I'll let you in a little secret.. (*actually, it's not a secret anymore...) You can go up to the 35th floor of Taipei 101 and take a sip of your Grande Caramel Java Chip Frappucino while looking over the streets of Taipei! All you have to do is wait at the lobby for at least an hour or so. Yup, you heard me right! ONE HOUR (if you're lucky! and really want to go up Taipei 101!) Starbucks in Taipei 101 offers guests and Starbucks fanatics an hour to experience a "chillaxing" moment up Taipei 101. Prices are the same, but I honestly think that it's worth the experience!

Now that's a view

With my Friends (Carol and Krist)

With my girlfriend (Bo)

MAOKONG GONDOLA (Trip to the CAT Mountain)

Nothing beats a 15 minute ride, suspending at 100+ ft. above the ground, overlooking Taipei City. Maokong (貓空) or literally "Cat empty" is one of Taiwan's popular places for Tea culture and night scenery. You can reach Maokong by using the gondola for a very affordable price. Costing around 30-50 NTD per station, you'd be able to visit Taipei Zoo, Zhinan temple and Maokong.

The "Happy Cat" family

What a pose -_-"

A great smile over the horizon

A very relaxing view while drinking tea

Right in front of the Gondola station

It was a great adventure!

And we're just half-way there. These are just a few of the many places you can visit in Taipei. I really think that Taipei is one of the many places here on Earth where you feel the fast changing technology and yet still be close to nature. I hope that when you (yes, you who are reading this article right now!), have the money and the time to come to Taiwan, can go around and appreciate the wonders of Taipei.

John 1:3

All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.