Articles from this Category
26 June 2023
We woke in earnest around 0645 which wasn’t bad for the 3h time change. We took our time and went down to the hotel’s included breakfast around 0800. Not knowing what to expect, I brought down my muesli in case it was a light continental offering. But we were wowed by the green salads, fruit […]
25 June 2023
Above: Our first meal in Japan this trip. Despite the slightly delayed pushback, we landed at Narita at our scheduled time of 1650. The flight went pretty quickly with two meals, a mid-flight snack, chatting with friends on the unlimited free wifi and a lie-down. After our dream departure from Auckland, we had a dream […]
27 April 2023
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 […]
26 April 2023
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 […]
25 April 2023
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 […]
24 April 2023
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 […]
23 April 2023
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 […]
22 April 2023
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 […]
21 April 2023
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, […]
20 April 2023
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 […]