Taiwan Day 5 - 12 Dec 2010

 Day 5.

When we were still planning for the trip, we had a big headache trying to decide where to go by taking the Taipei High Speed Rail (高鐵).

The tickets for HSR is relatively expensive. As we hate changing hotel throughout our trip, we stay put in one in these 8 days. So we were quite restricted by that fact. We only wanted an experience with the HSR, but dont want to waste time traveling. We wanted to visit Gaoshiong (高雄), but the journey down is about 1.5 hr. Plus the ticket will cost around SGD$60 odd for two way.

So end up, we decided that Taoyuan (桃園) will be our destination. The journey there cost us SGD$16(two ways), and it is only a 20 mins journey.

So same thing, we took the train from JianTan Station(劍潭站) to Taipei Main Station(台北車站). And that is where we will connect to the HSR (高鐵). As usual, follow the signboard around to navigate to the entrance of the HSR. Its easy, you will not be lost.

The gantry. 

 

We pre-booked our tickets way before we even reached Taiwan. We didn't want to risk not having a seat as weekends are normally more crowded.

 We paid for our tickets using card online and collection wise, you can do it at certain convenience store like Family mart or collect at the HSR station itself. For us, to play safe, we collected our tickets downstairs our hotel from Family Mart the night before. You will need to pay a nominal fee for the service. I think it cost about NT$10 (SGD$0.50) for each ticket. :D

Website for booking: http://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/

Bf and the High Speed Rail.

Our tickets!

Interior of the train! It is actually very clean with toilets and vending machines inside!

Ooooh! Our Reflection! I like....

 

So here is an overview of where we will be heading in Taoyuan. The part that is circled is our starting point, Taoyuan Station (高鐵桃園車站). Followed by Window on China (小人國主題樂園) and then TaiMall (台茂購物中心)!

 So here we are! We had to take a cab over from Taoyuan HSR Station (高鐵桃園車站)! Transportation isn't very convenient over there so we ended up cabbing everywhere.

 

Anyway it is a 45 minutes drive to Window On China (小人國主題樂園) from the station. If I did not remember wrongly, the cab ride was about NT$600(SGD$26).

  
Address: No. 60-2, Heng-Gang-Sia, Gaoyuan Village, Longtan Township, Taoyuan County 325, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: 03-4717211 

Ticket Price: NT$550 (SGD$23)
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm
Tallest water flume ride in Asia, Doremon World, 360 degree spin, miniature landmarks!

Website: http://www.woc.com.tw/index_1.asp

 

Our tickets! 

So here we go, everything is miniatures okay? Surprisingly, they look so much prettier in photos than in real life.

Weather was very hot that day, we dont even need to bring our big ass jacket. But hey, sun was damn bright, thus very beautiful photos!

GIANT!

This one look so real.

Mini water damp.

I like this!

The pretty sun rays....

Another photo that I really like.

We even went to feed kois!

I like this! I am a Giant. Like Gulliver Travel!

Great wall of China..

Spot doramon..

Doramon world is located in Window of China.

Doramon house!

We had to take the train to the other part of the themepark.

Seriously, the sun rays are so beautiful.

Baby insisted in taking a photo of this. He says it is a miniature of nothing.

They are our Taiwan friends we met there. It started when the guy ask us to help them take a photo and we asked them to help us as well. When we were queuing up for the Nile Adventure which is tallest water flume ride, they asked if we wanted to sit with them. So there you go, we started hanging out with each other then..

The ferris wheel. Anyway, all the rides in the park are all covered in the entrance ticket. So there is no need to pay extra for the rides you will be taking.

The overview of Window on China.

After we bid goodbye with our Taiwan friends, we cabbed over to Taimall (台茂購物中心)! I think it is probably an hour journey over there. Cab fare was NT$800(SGD$34).

When we reached there, it was dark already so we didn't take any photos of the exterior. So here it is, a picture from the internet. Looks like a palace!!

 

Address: 112 Nan Kan Road, Section 1, Tao Yuan City, 338 Taiwan
Tel: 0800-019-966
Opening hours: 10:30am to 10:00pm
Largest shopping centre in Taoyuan, with departmental stores, a theater, entertainment centre and also a sports hall.

So this is the basement of Taimall. It is so big that it has a indoor basketball court, golf course and a inline skating ring!!!

Then we had our dinner at this Japanese Restaurant. Food is so cheap. We each ordered a set meal for about NT$200 (SGD$8) each and we had a side dish for only NT$50 (SGD$3) I think.

My Pork Katsudon.

Bf beef thingy..

Milk pudding which I don't enjoy.

After walking around for a bit, we decide to leave. The things they sell there were pretty expensive, not what we will buy. We prefer Shilin Night Market so much more. Hehe.

So we cabbed back to Taoyuan Station (高鐵桃園車站). This time journey was shorter, maybe 15 20 minutes. Cab ride was NT$340 (SGD$14).

We booked our return tickets for the 9.15pm train. But we reached there an hour earlier so we changed our timings to the earlier one with no extra charges!!!

We headed back to our hotel.

And we went to Shilin Night Market after that again. As usual!!!!

 Our purchases for today..A lot of miscellaneous and dogggie stuffs.

Next: Nova Computer Mall!!