Taichung, Taiwan

On the 27th of March, after an emotional goodbye with Seoul, I hopped onto a plane to Taiwan! When I was 12, I got sucked into the whole Taiwan drama and music scene. Back then before the Korean wave took over, it was HUGE. I never really got sucked out of the Taiwan wave, and naturally became a must-visit country for me. And when I was planning my whole Asia tour, Taiwan was out of the question, I just thought I didn't have enough money, I knew no one there, my parents wouldn't allow me. But one fine day, my dad said to me; so, when are you going to Taiwan? And that was the invitation. I jumped right into planning the whole trip. Despite this, I still thought, a Taiwan trip would be impossible. So, from purchasing the flight tickets to researching about taiwan to actually getting there, it was a huge deal for me. 

So my plan for Taiwan was Taichung (2 days, 3 nights), Cingjing (3 days, 3 nights), Hualien (3 days, 3 nights) and finally Taipei (5 days, 6 nights). 

And what happened to me on the day I arrived at Taiwan, I REALLY wish happens to no one! I arrived at the airport, readily armed with exact directions to go buy a 3G card and then the exact directions to the busstop to take the bus to Taichung. But the scariest feelings enveloped me when I realised I ARRIVED AT SONGSHAN AIRPORT. I had planned my directions from Taoyuan airport. In a foreign country (who had an earthquake the day I arrived) with a foreign (for five years since I moved) language and with no one, this was pretty scary. But once I realised Taiwanese people were really as nice as people told me, these feelings vanished. PEOPLE ARE SERIOUSLY SO SCARILY NICE. omg. I walked up to a lady asking where to take the bus, she said the bus doesn't come here (I panicked a lil) but she took me to the taxi stand and wrote a note for the taxi driver telling him where I need to get to. And because my mind was still in korea, I accidentally spoke korean to the taxi driver. And he tried his very best to speak English to me, then I told him I'm actually half Chinese, he still continued! And after he told me the how much my fare was in Chinese, he said; wait wait wait, no. One hundred and six four! Am I collect (correct)? People saw that I had huge luggages with me while queueing up and let me go first. LIKE WHAT. I felt welcomed instantly. 

Taichung day one

I reached my hostel and the owner recommended places for me to go (he was also super nice! He stayed up late to check me in because I was super late after the minor hiccup!). And probably because of my intellectual looking self (BAHAHA) he said I should visit the Science museum. If you like biology and maths (like me) this will be a kick in the butt awesome experience. 

Scary mary. 

This man was sitting still for so long! I hesitated for a long time to walk into this exhibition. BUT HE TURNED OUT TO BE FAKE. 

This is how I knew I was in Taiwan

Like, I mean, even the graffiti is friendly. 

I took a food-accompanied stroll to a bus station, I hopped onto a bus to Sun moon lake! I probably literally hopped on, cos I was SO happy. 

HAT PERFECTLY DESCRIBING ME. 

But on the way there, I looked at my watch and it was so late! I then realised how stupidly long I spent at the museum! That stupid maths section! My love for maths is obviously proving not to be a total fly in the sky. By the time I got to the lake, it was dark, I took the next bus home. Bleh. 

Taichung day two

Next day! Early start, I went to the Rainbow Village! An accidental tourist attraction, this place tells the story of a retired soldier who wanted to save his village from being destroyed by the government. He painted the whole village is vibrant awesome colours, and it surprisingly saved the village from being demolished. Not very famous amongst tourists, and almost unknown to locals, this place can only be reached by taxi. Its pretty rural. I took a seven taiwan dollar bus ride (SO CHEAP SIAO) to dong hai university and took a taxi to the village. 

I was met with this scene. Ignore selca-ing person.

Part of the village was already destroyed. :(

Ignore Iwantolooklikemodel girl. 

The alley/corridor (?) leading to the village. 

The taxi driver who took me to the village was the nicest taxi driver I will EVER have the pleasure of meeting. He waited for me to be done with the village cos its such a rural place no taxis go there. He constantly praised me for my courage of venturing into an unknown country alone and my knowledge of the chinese language. He constantly said: although taiwan is safe, please be careful. He tested my chinese reading by asking me to read road signs. GAH. He also took me to the best view of Taichung and said: Don't come here at night alone okay? It can be dangerous. And the view was pretty awesome. O_O

Walk around dong hai

I love. A lot

At night I went to Feng Jia night market. My first raved night market experience! But coming straight from Korea, the clothes shopping was disappointing. But that being said, I walked into a shop and within five minutes I already bought something. 

Walking through the market armed with milk tea, I was constantly being bugged with stall vendors saying: xiao jie, don't just stand there, come and order something (in chinese). I bought crispy chicken cutlet and while waiting for my food the owners of the stall trustingly let me play with their toddler child. :| 

Can't remember what this is called. 

Taichung was perf! Though I missed out a few attractions like Gaomei wetlands and Jingcheng street. Sigh. Nevermind, next year! Taichung is definitely not to be missed. 

I missed you guys. xxx