Day 7: Taichung > Kaohsiung (Formosa Boulevard 捷運美麗島站 > Dream Mall 統一夢時代購物中心> Ruifeng Night Market 瑞丰夜市 > Hanshin Departmental Store 漢神百貨 > Liuhe Night Market 六合夜市)

Day 1: Changi Airport > Taoyuan Airport > Taipei > Hsinchu > Neiwan

Day 2: Taipei (Maokong > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Qsquare)

Day 3: Taipei (Wu Fen Pu > Eslite > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Ningxia Night Market)

Day 4: Taipei > Taichung (Taichung Train Station > Miyahara Ophthalmology Department > Fengjia Night Market)

Day 5: Taichung (Rainbow Military Dependents` Village > Great Buddha of Baguashan > Lukang Old Street > Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple > Gao Mei Wetlands)

Day 6: Taichung (Stock 20 > Taichung Park > Yizhong Shopping Street)

Day 7: Taichung > Kaohsiung (Formosa Boulevard > Dream Mall > Ruifeng Night Market > Hanshin Departmental Store > Liuhe Night Market)

Day 8: Kaohsiung > Kenting 墾丁(Fu An Temple 福安宮 > Eternal Flame 出火特別景觀區(恆春出火) > Jialeshuei Scenic Area 佳樂水風景區 > Longpan Park 龍磐公園 > Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻灯塔>  ShaDao Eco-Protection Area 砂島生態保護區> Chuanfanshih 船帆石 > White Sand Bay 白沙灣)

Day 9: Kaohsiung (Cijin Island > The British Consulate at Takao > 壽山LOVE情人觀景台 > Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine > Takao Railway Museum > The Pier-2 Art Center > Love River Ai He > Lotus Pond > Kaohsiung Airport)

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Started the day with breakfast at CityInn. The basement was packed and we waited for a while before there was table for us. After a long and delicious breakfast... it was time to bid CityInn and Taichung goodbye...

Time to go Kaohsiung!

• Took a cab from CityInn to Taichung HSR (a 20 minutes ride approx NT$200)
• Opted for HSR ride to Zuoying (Would have costed around NT $860 each for the economy class and takes around an hour. But we took the train with non-stop stations in between Taichung to Zuoying and cost lesser (NT$775) and the travel time reduced by 10 minutes)

Taichung HSR Station While we waited for our ride

When we board the HSR, we were once met with the same situation (once again)... NO place for our luggage!! There is a place allotted for luggage on the HSR but it was already packed when we board the train. We had to squeeze our luggage at our seat's leg space (again). The HSR had a bigger leg space as compared to train. 

Upon reaching Zuoying HSR, it was started to rain. We took a cab to our Kaohsiung accommodation and during our ride, the driver shared with us on what to do around Kaohsiung. 

Our accommodation in Kaohsiung is at Gwawa Hotel (NT$3,376 for 3 days 2 nights). The hotel staffs were friendly and quick to share with us on their accommodation facilities and the places of interest around Kaohsiung. After we dropped our luggage with them at the counter, we headed out for lunch.

Kaohsiung Streets - Can't help notice there is a lot of bridal studios and shops selling traditional wedding items

There were nearby eateries but we wanted to go further and decided on Dream Mall 統一夢時代購物中心. Gwawa Hotel is near to the Formosa Boulevard station and getting to Dream Mall is just a few stations away (Costed NT$20). We alighted at Kaisyuan station and it took another 10-15mins to get to the mall.

The path to the Dream Mall from the train station exit (reminded me of those romantic scenes from the movies/drama!!)

Dream Mall view

Dream Mall (closer view)

There were restaurants but we opted for food court for our lunch.

Highly recommended to try this stall at the Dream Mall food court

Their BBQ Chicken Don

Their BBQ Pork Don

The BBQ meats are really.. VERY.. NICE!! You can smell that charcoal taste and the texture is just right! It's was tender and melted in the mouth. Although it was BBQ, the sauce differentiate the meat easily. 

After our lunch, we headed for Ruifeng Night Market. From Kaisyuan Station, head for Kaohsiung Arena Station and walk to Ruifeng Night Market. With our phone's GPS, going to Ruifeng Night Market from Kaohsiung Arena Station was quite easy.

Ruifeng Night Market

It was still early when we got to the night market. Many stalls were just about to open where majority seemed to be food stalls. The food stalls had seats and tables for dine-in. 

Full from our late lunch, we didn't had much craving for food and we weren't in the gaming mode. So after a walk around the night market, off we go to Hanshin Department Store 漢神百貨. We headed towards Kaohsiung Arena Station and walked another 10 minutes to Hanshin Department Store. 

Hanshin Department Store - Miffy theme at the entrance of the shopping Mall!

Giant Miffy!

Miffy's Train

Miffy entrance/exit!

It's Xmas time!! so cute

When we reached Hanshin Department Store, it was crowded. Exhausted from all the walking and travelling, we headed for some drinks and rest at Starbucks. Fortunately, there were seats available.

Starbucks is everywhere in Taiwan!

After our rest and some shopping around, we headed back to Formosa Boulevard Station via train. Formosa Boulevard Station is known for it's lighting. A pity my picture doesn't justify them. 

Formosa Boulevard Station 1

Formosa Boulevard Station 2

Formosa Boulevard Station 3

Formosa Boulevard Station 4

Formosa Boulevard Station 5

Formosa Boulevard Station 6

Still in time for one more shopping, we headed for the nearby Liuhe Night Market which is just 10 minutes walk from Formosa Boulevard exit. 

Liuhe Night Market

The rain must have followed us because it was raining again when we reached Liuhe Night Market. Didn't eat anything because of the rain. We hurriedly head back to our hotel. We went round and round trying to find the way. But even with our GPS, we had some difficulties getting back. When we finally saw the hotel, we spotted a stall at the corner selling snacks for supper and/or breakfast!! This store seemed to open from night time to morning hours and closed in the noon.

Snack Stall

With the cold rain pouring, the hot soya bean drink and the fried fritters were the best match for supper.

Satisfied with our supper, it was time to check out our room!! We got a free upgrade from a double-bed room to a room for 3 because they were overbooked. Really thankful for that. The good thing I liked is the homely feel. But the door was a key lock system and there weren't any latch. I was constantly worried the door might be opened. (Well, I am a scaredy cat...)

Gwawa Hotel (forgot the them I had but this is gorgeous!)

With that much walking (and eating), 8600 steps were accomplished without me realizing!

Tips of the day
If you didn't plan your trip, the cab drivers are a reliable guide. Don't hesitate to ask. Probably (or most likely) they will recommend their service or another driver for your own private customized tour + transport. If you wished to engage their service, ask clearly on their package (charges and rates). Seemed like the term of 1 day = 8 hours, half a day = 5 hours and additional charges are based on every extra hour required.

Day 6: Taichung (Stock 20 20號倉庫 > Taichung Park 臺中中山公園 > Yizhong Shopping Street 一中街商圈)

Day 1: Changi Airport > Taoyuan Airport > Taipei > Hsinchu > Neiwan

Day 2: Taipei (Maokong > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Qsquare)

Day 3: Taipei (Wu Fen Pu > Eslite > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Ningxia Night Market)

Day 4: Taipei > Taichung (Taichung Train Station > Miyahara Ophthalmology Department > Fengjia Night Market)

Day 5: Taichung (Rainbow Military Dependents` Village > Great Buddha of Baguashan > Lukang Old Street > Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple > Gao Mei Wetlands)

Day 6: Taichung (Stock 20 > Taichung Park > Yizhong Shopping Street)

Day 7: Taichung > Kaohsiung (Formosa Boulevard > Dream Mall > Ruifeng Night Market > Hanshin Departmental Store > Liuhe Night Market)

Day 8: Kaohsiung > Kenting 墾丁(Fu An Temple 福安宮 > Eternal Flame 出火特別景觀區(恆春出火) > Jialeshuei Scenic Area 佳樂水風景區 > Longpan Park 龍磐公園 > Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻灯塔>  ShaDao Eco-Protection Area 砂島生態保護區> Chuanfanshih 船帆石 > White Sand Bay 白沙灣)

Day 9: Kaohsiung (Cijin Island > The British Consulate at Takao > 壽山LOVE情人觀景台 > Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine > Takao Railway Museum > The Pier-2 Art Center > Love River Ai He > Lotus Pond > Kaohsiung Airport)

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We begin our day with breakfast at CityInn. Yummy breakfast once again!! Although similar dishes but different style of cooking and/or ingredients. After breakfast was time to explore (by foot) around Taichung. 

At the rear of Taichung Train Station is an art exhibition area call Stock 20 (20號倉庫). Read more about the place here (English intro site /Chinese actual site)

 

The view towards Stock 20

Walked into the place and there is a small cafe. It's cozy but we didn't want to be lazing around so we spend only 5-10mins and we headed out to the streets again.

We then begin our search for Tai Yang Bing - Sun Biscuits/Sun Cakes 太陽餅. There were a few recommended stores to get the Sun Cakes and I chose Ah Ming Shi Lao Dian Tai Yang Bing 阿明師老店太陽堂 and Ricians 太陽餅 聯翔 (recommendation from our friend).

The type of sun cakes available was plenty too but we kept our choices to the original (non-vegetarian) and the vegetarian. I opted for the original (non-vegetarian)!

Ah Ming Shi Lao Dian Tai Yang Bing 阿明師老店太陽堂 review

Traditional Flavor - The filling within is chewy. Upon entering the stores, the staff gave us 1 individual packed sun cake each for free!! So after buying a box, we had 2 extra pieces!! The sun cake comes with 2 types of packaging. One type is the sun cakes are in a pack (maybe 5 or 10 together) in a box and another type is the sun cakes packed individually in a box. The individually packed, their packaging is not air-sealed style. Each is tape-sealed in a plastic sleeve and expiry is 7 days.

Ricians 太陽餅 聯翔 review

The filling is slightly sticky texture and the biscuits texture is soft and milky flavor. This store not only sell sun cakes, it is also a bakery. The sun cakes are packed individually in air-sealed plastic. Either purchased them individually or with the box packaging for portability and better protection. Their expiry date is also longer (approx. 2 weeks).

Verdict: I recommend Ricians. It melts in your mouth, can last longer and the box are easier to carry around if need to hand carry home.

Our energy level dropped after an hour just to look and buy the sun cakes. Maybe the gloomy weather played a part. Luckily just a block or two away, we spotted the 85 Degree Cafe (85度C). At the 2nd storey of the store is a spacious and air conditioned area for dine in. The cafe pricing is inexpensive. 

A cup of ice red tea =NT$30, the price of 2 breads = approx NT$55. The quantity and quality of the breads and beverages is good. 

Bread from 85 Degree Cafe (85度C) - My photo doesn't justify the actual size

End of short break, we decided to carry on our exploration (with the sun cakes). Our cab driver from the day before told us the pavilion image in below logo represents the pavilion at the Taichung Park. 

So after 10-15 minutes of walking, we reached Taichung Park. Located in the middle of the city, Taichung Park still brings out the feel of nature if we spend time sitting on the green patch of grass or inside the pavilion.

Taichung Park

The white color spots on the left were a flock of pigeons flying. Seemed we were in time to see them circling around the lake.

The red bridge towards the pavilion

Entrance to the pavilion

View from the pavilion

To the park

A mini water fall

A goat statue

Painting on the wall at the park

Pigeon..

with Squirrel

From Taichung Park to Yizhong Shopping District, it took us around 5-10 mins by foot.

Towards Yizhong Shopping Street 

Yizhong Shopping Street View

The food stalls were already opened when we reached around 3pm. There were plenty of optical stores around. I was tempted to get my contact lenses but ultimately dropped the idea. Although the food stalls were opened, but it was drizzling and we didn't want to be eating "with" the rain. We went to one of the nearby eatery for early dinner.

Chicken drumstick with veggies rice

Side dish

Pork cutlet with veggies rice

After dinner, we continued shopping around. But with the sun cakes, we didn't explore further than Yizhong Shopping Street. After almost 3 hours spent at Yizhong Shopping Street, we walked back to our hotel (around 30mins) and concluded our Taichung trip...

And packed for Kaohsiung. 

With so much walking, the 8,600 steps for the day was easily accomplished!!

Conclusion

Transportation around Taichung -> buses, trains or cabs. 

Places of interest -> Apart from the places we went to, the cab drivers (we hired for long and short trips in Taichung) recommended us to go Sun Moon Lake followed by Cingjing (but we already went there last year) and/or Lavender Cottage (but take note of the lavender season)

Day 5: Taichung (Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 > Great Buddha of Baguashan 八卦山大佛 > Lukang Old Street 鹿港老街 > Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple 鹿港玻璃媽祖廟 > Gao Mei Wetlands 高美湿地)

Day 1: Changi Airport > Taoyuan Airport > Taipei > Hsinchu > Neiwan

Day 2: Taipei (Maokong > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Qsquare)

Day 3: Taipei (Wu Fen Pu > Eslite > Taipei Main Underground Shopping Street > Ningxia Night Market)

Day 4: Taipei > Taichung (Taichung Train Station > Miyahara Ophthalmology Department > Fengjia Night Market)

Day 5: Taichung (Rainbow Military Dependents` Village > Great Buddha of Baguashan > Lukang Old Street > Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple > Gao Mei Wetlands)

Day 6: Taichung (Stock 20 > Taichung Park > Yizhong Shopping Street)

Day 7: Taichung > Kaohsiung (Formosa Boulevard > Dream Mall > Ruifeng Night Market > Hanshin Departmental Store > Liuhe Night Market)

Day 8: Kaohsiung > Kenting 墾丁(Fu An Temple 福安宮 > Eternal Flame 出火特別景觀區(恆春出火) > Jialeshuei Scenic Area 佳樂水風景區 > Longpan Park 龍磐公園 > Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻灯塔>  ShaDao Eco-Protection Area 砂島生態保護區> Chuanfanshih 船帆石 > White Sand Bay 白沙灣)

Day 9: Kaohsiung (Cijin Island > The British Consulate at Takao > 壽山LOVE情人觀景台 > Kaohsiung Martyrs' Shrine > Takao Railway Museum > The Pier-2 Art Center > Love River Ai He > Lotus Pond > Kaohsiung Airport)

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Our hotel accommodation package came with breakfast. Breakfast timing starts from 7am to 10am at basement 1 of the hotel. Glad we chose CityInn Taichung because the breakfast quality and variety are excellent. Buffet style - there were porridge, noodles, rice, bread, cereal, salad and fruits with tea, coffee, soy milk and fruit juice to choose from. Most of the dishes were delicious (I can't say ALL because I didn't try all).

We engaged a private driver for 8 hours of tour for just the two of us. 

Our first stop was Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村. A very colorful place, the painting were done by the resident himself. A pity we didn't get to see him as he still resides at Rainbow Military Dependents` Village. Read more about the place here. 

We spent less than 15 minutes there (Our driver didn't even get to finish his cigarette lol)

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 1

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 2

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 3

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 4

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 5

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 6

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 7

Rainbow Military Dependents` Village 彩虹眷村 8

Along the way to our next stop, our driver brought us to C-119 Military Plane Park for a short visit. The seats were removed and replaced with the history information. 

Our next stop is to Great Buddha of Baguashan 八卦山大佛. As we need to get to Gaomei Wetland by 4.45pm, we were taking a fast pace around. After praying in the temple, we hurriedly left for the next destination.

The temple

bird eye view?

Next stop was Lukang Old Street 鹿港老街. Spent around an hour at Lukang Old Street for shopping and lunch.

Lukang Mazu Shrine 鹿港媽祖廟

Fried Seafood: Red Shrimp Cakes, Bite-Sized Crispy Crabs and Crispy Mud Shrimp -

Can't find this elsewhere except in Lugang. I like the Bite-Sized Crispy Crabs. Costed NT$100 for a big bag of assorted mix. I couldn't finish it when we left Lukang. Tried to finish it when I reached Gaomei Wetland but it was only when we had our dinner (instant noodle) back in hotel and I managed to finish it. 

At Lugang Old Street, there were quite a few eateries from the temple area. Noticed their menu were quite repetitive, we settled our lunch at a randomly picked eatery along the streets. Serving time were quick. 

Meatball Soup 貢丸湯

Fried Oyster Cake

Fried Rice

Next, our driver drove us to the Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple 鹿港玻璃媽祖廟. Yes, the structure materials are made of glass. We were in the day and didn't get to see the night lightings. A quick 20 mins around the Glass Gallery and in the Glass Temple and we headed for Gaomei Wetland.

Taiwan Glass Gallery & Glass Temple 鹿港玻璃媽祖廟

The lotus flower blossomed at the small pond outside the glass temple

Our final stop for the day was Gao Mei Wetlands 高美湿地.

From other traveler's recommended to get a cab to and fro Gaomei Wetland. And from map view, it's seemed secluded and we are not sure if there would be any cabs to bring us back to town area. And with the sunset as our time constraint, we booked a full day trip.

But the good news is.. there are cabs parked and waiting for customers. For those of you who want to go Gaomei Wetland, you can consider taking a cab there and hire another one right from Gaomei Wetland.

Gao Mei Wetlands 高美湿地

The weather wasn't good and there wasn't a nice sunset view. The boardwalk was longer than it looked. It would have taken around 20mins if to walk directly without stopping for photos. 

We spent around an approx. 1 hour 30mins for walking to and fro the boardwalk + wait for sunset.

Recommended to check the sunset time before heading to Gaomei Wetland or you have to wait around and enjoy the wind.

At the end of boardwalk 1

At the end of boardwalk 2

At the end of boardwalk 3

Walking back to land 1

Walking back to land 2

The broadwalk back to land

Disappointed...as we didn't get to see nice sunset. Made our way back to land and it started drizzling. It turned dark almost immediately. The lamp posts were not shining bright lights and we couldn't find our driver. Luckily my turquoise blue umbrella save the day. Our driver were able to spot us easily and off we go.. back to our hotel and end of the day.

8600 steps completed and dinner was instant noodle from 7-11 followed with dessert - our leftover cheesecake.. lol