Monday 7 December 2015

Travel Log: The Formosa of Thousand Night Markets (Day 0-1)

Prelude (The Planning)

Destination: Taiwan
Duration: 13 Days 13 Nights (Nov 18~Dec 01, 2015)

Day 0: Sleeping in Changi

We arrived the night before at Changi by Air Asia at around 10.30pm to spend the night in the airport since our SQ SIN-TPE flight departed at 8.15am at Changi. Since we had check-in luggage with Air Asia, we had 2 choices:-
1)      Clear the immigration to get our bag then try to get in the transit hall (airside) at night to sleep in one of Changi famed snoozing area before getting on SQ flight in the morning
2)      Leave our check-in luggage on the belt, sleep in the snooze area in transit hall before getting our luggage at ‘lost & found’ in the morning to clear immigration and get in again for SQ flight
We didn’t want to risk option 2 of finding our luggage at ‘lost & found’, we went with option 1 and cleared immigration right after AK flight touched down. 
Sammy the Illegal Tourist!
Misty in AirAsia

Finally Touchdown at Changi
We went ahead to SQ counter and thankfully they allowed us to check in our luggage early to get into the transit hall. The funny immigration guy even told us “don’t fall asleep and miss your flight tomorrow!”. =P
Sammy with R2D2
The New Cutie Robot!
The Jet! I have no idea what it's called! LOL!!!
At SQ Counter
We walked aimlessly in the T2 transit hall and did some free foot massage before grabbing a seat at the snoozing area! Apparently we were not the only one having the idea to sleep overnight here as tons of people did that. The air condition was quite chilly though so one should wear a thicker jacket or brings a blanket. =)
Feeling Bored at T2
Let's have some Foot Massage
Our Bed of the Night!
Butterfly Garden
Day 1: Singapore -> Taoyuan -> Taichung (Rainbow Village & Fengjia Night Market)

Breakfast in SQ flight was “Baked Egg” or “Wok Fried Pork in Leek & Ginger Sauce”.  Personally they were just okay but I did like it when I put the baked egg between the buns with tons of butter! DIY McEgg! How I wish for McD Ketchup to complete the meal. LOL!!!
Our Plane to Taoyuan
Sammy has his own seat!
Goodbye Singapore!
Sammy with some Refreshment!
Baked Egg with Sausage Set
The Noodle Set
The flight landed in Taoyuan International Airport at 1.05pm and there was a long queue at immigration. Once we were at the arrival hall, we went straight to do the following. All of these counters were at the arrival hall itself.
- Register for free iTaiwan wifi (iTaiwan Link)
- Buy the Easycard (悠遊卡) for bus & MRT ride (TWD100 non-refundable fee + TWD400 credit) (Easycard Link)
- Buy a TWD500 SIM card for foreigner with 10 days unlimited data with free TWN100 airtime credit at Chung Hwa Telecom (中華電信) counter
10 days Unlimited Data & Free TWD100 Airtime Credit
This is the Place to Register for iTaiwan Wireless
Easycard Counter
Sammy & His Easycard!
We then walked to the bus transfer counter by following the signboard and bought 2 U-Bus tickets (TWD240/pax) to Taichung. The bus seats were quite comfortable but unfortunately there was some stinky smell there. We reached Taichung before 4pm when the bus stopped at Chaoma Station (朝馬). With luggage and all, we walked to the opposite direction and got ourselves on another local bus (台中客運27) towards Ling Tung University (Ling Tung Road) (嶺東科技大學(嶺東路)) before walking to Rainbow Village (台中彩虹眷村). 
Waiting for our Bus to Taichung
At Chaoma Station waiting for Local Bus
Basically there would be a lot of holiday buses parked near the village so just walked towards the direction of those buses would be the right choice. When in doubt, follow the crowd! Anyway, the bus fee was FREE since we were using Easycard and were eligible for free ride within 10km radius.
Follow the Crowd!!!
The Rainbow Village was quite small but with lots of pretty graffiti on the wall which makes it a good place to take nice pictures. Mr Huang himself (the creator of the graffiti) was there as well. The sun set very early in Taiwan in November and it quickly turned dark by 5.30pm.
We are here! Taichung Rainbow Village
Really Colorful!
Rainbow Village
Painting Everywhere!
See the KukuKai?!
LOVE this Umbrella but it cost TWD750!!!
A Church near the Village
Yes! Sammy & I are definitely a perfect pair!
We are getting Married!
Sammy is HAPPY!
At Rainbow Village Station! =)
We took the same bus back to Chaoma Station (朝馬) free of charge again and walked to our Minsu near Fengjia Night Market. Our Minsu was Mountain Kafta (山上的卡夫卡). We finally found it and checked in at a coffee shop there (木巷咖啡館). They have special themed room but we just booked the normal room which cost TWD1200 per night via Expedia.
Waiting for our bus in front of this University
Checking in!
The door to Minsu
Sammy makes himself comfortable!
Fridge & TV!
Bathroom
We had a short rest before walking to the famous Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市). Oh MY!!! SO MUCH FOODsssssss!!!!!!!!! Since we were starving, we quickly bought the famous “Small Sausage rolled in big sausage” (官芝霖包小) when the queue was still short. It was not as scary as I thought and actually tasted good. The Taiwanese sausage in the glutinous rice was definitely different from those yucky Taiwanese sausages in Malaysia.
Let's go!!!
1st Purchase of the Night!
My 1st ever Small Sausage in Big Sausage!
We quickly bought a Chicken Thigh Roll (鸡腿卷) as well and it was tender and yummy! What else? We bought the Korean spicy fried chicken (都教授來自星星的炸雞) and red tea stinky taufu (紅茶臭豆腐). We didn’t even manage to eat the fried chicken on the spot as they were wings with bones but we were pleasantly surprised on the stinky taufu! It was not stinky at all and tasted very well with the spicy sauce provided. DA YUM!!!
Chicken Thigh Roll!
Oh so JUICY!
Korean Spicy Deep Fried Chicken
Looking GOOD!
Red Tea Stinky Beancurd!
Can't Believe I say this! This is not Stinky AT ALL! SO SCRUMPTIOUS!!!
We also bought some papaya milk (超獨特果汁傳奇木瓜牛奶) since Taiwan trip would not be complete without PAPAYA MILK! There was also this Grilled Deep Fried Chicken (86碳烤雞排) that tasted like SIN! Basically it was deep fried chicken coated with some sauce and then grilled for some time for the sauce to sink into the meat. Gosh my saliva is dropping literally now.
Papaya Milk!!!
Grilled Deep Fried Chicken
Doesn't look so nice but it's TO DIE FOR!!!
There was a long queue on some sweet potato and yam crisp so we joined the queue to buy as well. We bought the spicy yam crisp and sweet plum flavored sweet potato. We also queued for the famous sweet potato ball (溫家老店正宗逢甲地瓜球) for more foodssss!
What is the queue for?!
For this! Yam or Sweet Potato Crisp!
Look OH SO ALLURING!!!
The Night Market is just beside the University!
The Famous Sweet Potato Balls
We stumbled upon this HK style stall selling iced lemon tea and were totally addicted to the refreshing tea. After tea, we walked to buy ourselves some Tako Balls (日船章魚小丸子), egg pancake (明倫蛋餅) and pepper biscuit (帝鈞胡椒餅) before walking back to our Minsu.
With Lots of FOODsssssssssss
A lot of People too!
The Refreshing Iced Lemon Tea!
We found the Tako Ball & Egg Roll Shop!
We did not buy from this shop but the deco is SO CUTE!
Queuing Queuing Queuing!
Lots of Tako Balls!
Egg Roll!
On the Way back to Minsu!
Stumbled Upon the Pepper Biscuit Stall!
Biscuit inside the Oven!
If you have been reading this entry, you would be wondering how many people were actually eating the food since there were so much right? Well the answer is 2 people so we totally overbought! Once we reached our Minsu, we ate the egg pancake which I adored since I’m an egg-head! =P But the star was definitely the tako ball! It was no ordinary tako ball! It was crispy on the outside, melt in the mouth on the inside YUMMY GOODNESS! I miss this SO MUCH!!!
The BEST Tako Balls EVER!!!
Egg Roll!
YUM YUM!!!
Pepper Biscuit!
Sweet Potato Balls!
Honey Coated Sweet Potato
Yam & Sweet Potato Crisp!
We ended up walking out from our Minsu AGAIN after a while to get more iced lemon tea from the HK style stall before calling it a night with tons of LEFTOVER foodssss for tomorrow breakfast. What a NIGHT! I think I must’ve gained 1kg in 1 night!
The Doggie is SO CUTE!!!
Finally it's GOOD NIGHT!
Lots of Drinks!!! Orange Juice, Iced Lemon Tea, Aloe Vera Iced Lemon Tea & Passion Fruit Iced Lemon Tea
Next Day (Taichung -> Cingjing)

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