Day 4: Taipei > Taichung (Taichung Train Station 臺中車站 > Miyahara Ophthalmology Department 宫原眼科 > Fengjia Night Market 逢甲夜市)

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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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 It's time to bid Taipei farewell... 

Here I come... 

 Taichung!

Researched Routes to Taichung Train Station from Taipei Main Station:
  • Taxi: Advised NOT to take taxi as it will cost a fortune.
  • HSR and Train: From Taipei HSR, travel to Taichung HSR. And from Taichung HSR, walk to Xinwuri Train station and take the train to Taichung Train Station (NT$780 per person, approx 1 hour 30 mins)
  • Train: From Taipei Train Station, take the express line to Taichung Train Station directly. (NT$375, approx 2hr 20mins, here is the link for finding the Taiwan trains cost, schedules and routes)
We opted for train directly to Taichung train station for the sake of convenience and also save money. 
BUT... 
We regretted our choice almost immediately when we boarded the train. Although allotted a seat, the only place we found to put our luggage was to squeeze it at our seats. My luggage was a smaller size so I still had minimal space. Pity my hubby.. he was in an awkward position for the entire ride.

The view along the way to Taichung Train Station via Train

The view along the way to Taichung Train Station via Train

Finally after 2 hours+ of train ride, we reached Taichung Train station. Locating CityInn Taichung was breeze. Exit from the rear of the train station and at the T-Junction, turn left and within a minute walk, you can see the familiar bright orange hotel sign.

 The hotel costed NT$6,120 for 3 nights and payment can be made via cash or credit cards. The hotel staffs were friendly, very informative and willing to share. After the administrative procedures, the staff was quick to share on where, how and what to do at Taichung. 

 Starving... we wanted to go to the front of Taichung Train Station for lunch. But before that, we headed for Taichung Meat Ball (台中肉圓) recommended by CityInn staff.


Taichung Meatball (台中肉圓) - recommended by the hotel staff and it's really delicious.
Priced at NT$40 for a bowl of meat ball, we had 2 servings each!

The chilli paste to go along with the meatball. It looked like sweet sauce, but it's spicy too. A very good match with the meatball. Almost soaked the meatball with it.

Taichung Meatball (台中肉圓) storefront

After meatball session, we tried to make our way to the front of the train station. We spent almost 20 mins to and fro the path but we couldn't find the way to the underground passage way!!! There weren't any direction or signs to indicate the underground passage way. Exhausted, we went for some ice grass jelly dessert.

Cold Grass Jelly with Red Beans, Yam and Pumpkin Tapioca Balls

The store where we had the ice grass jelly dessert

With the guidance from the staff at the dessert store, we finally found the way to the underground passage way. At the front of Taichung Train Station, we found many stores selling Sun Cake/Biscuits (太陽餅). We didn't buy (yet) as they have short expiry dates so buying it a day later makes a difference.

Once again we chanced upon a bookstore... 
And further down is Miyahara Ophthalmology Department 宫原眼科. Headed in to check it out...

The building has a vintage feel and is divided into 3 sections. The cheesecakes, sun cakes, pineapples cakes and tea leaves are at the 1st level. There are staffs are very attentive so  if you need any information or assistance, just asked. 

At the left hand side is another entrance for their ice cream section. The queue for ice cream was quite long so we didn't try. The 3rd section is the 2nd level of their building where you can dine in.

We were pretty exhausted due to the train ride and we made our way back to our hotel. But not before I bought the cheesecake from Miyahara Ophthalmology Department. It's quite a big portion and I was told it should be consume within 4-5 hours.

Cheesecake and pineapple cakes from Miyahara Ophthalmology Department
We filled our stomach with the cheesecake as our lunch. Unable to finish, we stored it in our hotel room's fridge. We managed to finish it after 2 days (and the cheesecake was still good for consumption)

After a short break, we took a cab from CityInn to Fengjia. The ride was around 20mins and it costed around NT$200. 

Fengjia Night Market reminded me of Shilin Night Market. There were food, beverages and desserts to choose from and beauty products, fashion apparels and fashion accessories stores to shop.

Fengjia Night Market 1

Fengjia Night Market 2

Fengjia Night Market 3

Finally in the mood for snacks!!

Fried Cuttlefish with Mustard Sauce, delicious and sinful but we couldn't resist it!!

The stall where I got my fried cuttlefish with mustard sauce 

Fried chicken drumstick, it looked like sausage. Not really into this. Preferred the Fan Fan Ji Chi at Sun Moon Lake - Ita Thao

Fried assorted mushrooms - Didn't get to eat the fried mushroom in Taipei, we made it up by having it in Taichung! Freshly fried, crispy and juicy

The stall where I got my fried assorted mushrooms

The food stores were repetitive so if there is a queue and you don't want to wait, buy from another store. I didn't try the spicy fried chicken cutlet as I was uncertain on the level of spiciness! Now I am full of regret :( 

After approx. an hour spent at Feng Jia Night Market, we headed back to Taroko Mall (大魯閣新時代) via cab. The shopping mall is 10 mins walk away from our hotel!!

Still feeling hungry, we headed for the food court @ Basement 1.

Dinner was Japanese Ramen at a food court. Taste wise.... I can only say appearance can be deceiving. I added a lot of Shichimi but still not to my liking.

Ended the day checking on my 8600 steps achievement. Accomplished once again!!! I really did a lot of walking this time round.

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