Above:  My awesome meal was a great way to finish the trip! Brief exploration in Taipei My flight back to New Zealand departs at 1835 today.  I had worked it out that if I left the hotel at 1100 for Taipei, I’d still get to the airport around 1400, meaning I’d have spare time for […]

I woke to miserably wet weather, worse than yesterday’s.  After a good hotel breakfast, I checked the forecast.  It was meant to be more or less similar all day but just slightly better in the afternoon. Around 0900, I decided to put on a brave face and the poncho which I had bought five years […]

Getting to Jiufen Today, I had the luxury of sitting down for breakfast at McDonald’s before walking to the train station.  It proved to be the right move for two reasons.  The tea at McD was awesome with two bags of Dilmah and plenty of milk.  And some food options at the station weren’t yet […]

Shakadang Trail I had set the alarm for 0500, expecting it to be easy as I woke up naturally at that time yesterday.  Sure enough, it wasn’t a problem and I got on the 0630 bus again just fine. I was dropped off at 0720 at the Shakadang stop and after having my sandwich, I […]

Swallow Grotto I had the idea of starting early to go to Taroko Gorge National Park, perhaps taking the second bus out by waking around 0600.  But for some reason, I woke at 0515 without the alarm and decided to take the first bus at 0630. My first stop around 0730 was the Swallow Grotto […]

High Speed Rail to Banqiao I walked to the nearby main street to catch the bus to Taichung HSR station which arrived a little late, after 0900.  On the ride, I notice plenty of cottage industries to service traditional Chinese beliefs such as palanquins for deities and giant joss stick urns for temples.  There were […]

Lukang in better light With warmer and brighter weather, I was optimistic that today will give me a better experience of Lukang. I did a pass of the historic area in my full day here, starting towards the north through Lukang Old Street to Matsu Temple. Text continues after this gallery.     Late morning, […]

Above: City God Temple by night. Leaving Manila The alarm went at 0345.  I had a surprisingly adequate sleep aided by the anti-histamine tablet that have been legally re-purposed for sleeping. After a quick shower, I walked to the airport getting to the check-in area around 0420.  The place was buzzing.  I found the check-in […]