4D3N Kao Shiung Itinerary - Day 1

Ohayo minna san,

Okay, seriously it has been forever since I am blogging about anything. Not that I am particularly busy with work... just that you know that lazy feeling that kicks in once you are on your bed? That's what happens to me ALL THE TIME!

So last September, second sis and I decided to have a break and fly to Kaoshiung for 4D3N. We bought the AirAsia flight like 2  months ago for RM550 return each when it was on sale. As for our hotel stay, we opted to stay at Centre Hotel, Sinsing District which is right next to Formosa Boulevard Station, the interchange station for the 2 main lines connecting Kaoshiung City.

Our total expenses for 2 are roughly as below:
Flight: RM550 x 2 = RM1100
Accomodation: RM107 x 3nights = RM321
All other expenses including food, entrance ticket & transport = RM1250
Grand Total for 2 pax = RM2670 (RM1335/pax)

It's like cheap right?

Okay, so now to the activities we did in Kaoshiung. Just so you guys know, Kaoshiung City is like a port city (near the sea) so they are particularly famous for SEAFOOD. And their agriculture is also their main economy so you'll see lots and lots farming land. It's very different from Taipei which is kinda more bricks and mortar - expect less crowd, less hype in this city.

We actually had like a whole list of things planned out but eventually we had to pick and choose since we didn't have much time and we booked a impromptu trip to Kenting on our second day - which ate into our schedule.

Day 1
Flight to Kaoshiung took us about 4 hours 30 minutes. Flight was 8.30am, arrived 1pm local time.

Yay we landed safely in Kaoshiung Airport!

Then we headed to the hotel using the train, one way from Kaoshiung Airport to Formosa Boulevard Station was 30NTD per person. Hotel was was fairly easy to find after we exit the station from Exit 2. Then we cari makan!!

Centre Hotel @ Formosa Station

We came out of the hotel and turned left and there is a little like kopitiam/stall selling kick ass rice and soup. Damn good and cheap!!

Me with my braised pork rice 30NTD

Sis with her shredded chicken rice bowl 30NTD

Everything we ordered here - braised pork rice (30NTD), shredded chicken rice (30NTD), 2 eggs (30NTD), pork bone soup (45NTD) = NTD135 (about RM17)

After mum mum we went to take some pictures inside of Formosa Boulevard Station - there is like a really pretty stain glass ceiling called Dome of Light

Dome of Light which is in Formosa Station 

By the time we finished eating, it was about 3pm, our first stop in Kaoshiung City was the Pier-2 Art Centre. It's a must visit I would say in Kaoshiung as you get to enjoy many work of art for FREE!

Fat fat iron man?

Warehouse all around this place

Browsing around their cute bookstore

This place is great for taking pictures... 

How to get there:
By Kaohsiung KRT:
Take Kaohsiung KRT-Orange Line (捷運橘線) to KRT O2 Yanchengpu Station (鹽埕埔站). From exit no. 1, walk along Dayong Road (大勇路) towards south direction. Kaohsiung Pier 2 Art Center (高雄駁二藝術區) is reachable in a 5min walk.

After visiting the Pier-2 Art Centre, we wanted to head over to Love River for the boat cruise recommended by Tripadvisor... we keep walking towards the direction of the river thinking it was very near but unfortunately we kept getting lost.. wasted like 45 minutes walking aimlessly along the roads. Thank goodness for the Taiwanese people who are so friendly and we finally found our way there but it wasn't the terminal for the cruise. So at the end we could only enjoy the view.

On that day there was a movie screening happening near the Love River

Around 6.30pm, we left Love River and again it's time to "jalan-jalan cari makan"! Since we had a long flight from KL to Kaoshiung (woke up at 6am for the flight at 8.30am) so we decided to just visit LiuHe Night Market which is just nearby our hotel.

Welcome to Liu He Night Market

Time to explore!!

Super famous Papaya Milk for 50NTD each 

Excited with our papaya milk haha

Lots of fresh seafood since Kaoshiung is a port city

more seafooddddd~~

Our deep fried squid!

Me and sis on a street food hunt!

Our dinner - deep fried sotong (120NTD), Zhongzhi (35NTD), Stuffed clam (40NTD), nougats (320NTD)

And so concludes day 1 and we had a good nite rest :)

7D6N Taiwan - Day 1

*****this is a really really old post that has been in my draft for ages... promise I will try my best to recall as much as I can when I'm blogging*****

Hello peeps,

I don't even know where to begin. Well this Taipei & Taichung Trip happened in April 2014 when I was having my mid semester break in university. Somehow I think it was in January I saw the tickets (Airasia) were just about RM750 return flight to Taipei and just decided on a hunch that I would go since I needed a break from all the stress (as if :P). It was only big unnie and I going this time because the other two are still having their classes.

Our itinerary was loosely based on what I found from this blog. I think it's a pretty awesome one and helped me a lot in terms of planning. For accommodation, I booked from airbnb, it is basically a site where homeowners can lease their space to travelers for a fraction of what hotels would charge (of course there will be both cheap and expensive listings). I got my room in Taipei for RM90 x 3days (fits 2) and the one in Taichung for RM142 x 2 days (what I saw from hotels listed in Agoda/Booking were at least RM200). On our last day in Taipei we didn't book so we stayed at a hostel for 750NTD per person. Each of us had change RM1000 for expenditure. So in total this trip was around RM2050 each (Not too bad right!).  

Alright, here we go!

Our flight from Kota Kinabalu was at 6am and we reach Taoyuan International Airport around 10.30am local time. Upon arrival, take the bus to downtown Taipei (about 40 minutes ride), from the arrival hall turn right and then another right (or you can ask the friendly security guard).

Sis with her banana milk @ Taoyuan Airport

Waiting for our bus to Downtown Taipei

Our first meal in Taipei Terriyaki Rice Burger (MOS Burger)

By the time we reached our lodging it was 12pm (we got lost for a bit and Taiwainese are super friendly so they tried to help us but was not too sure either). And there we were met by Eddie, our host for our lodging and he kindly let us place our luggage in although it was not check in time yet (his mother was still cleaning the place).

After lunch, since it was a "relax" themed trip, we just leisurely walk around the neighbourhood to explore (didn't do much).

At night, we explore Shilin Market, didn't really take any pictures because we were just busy eating :P

***On the side note, I did another recent trip to Taiwan with second sis, this time we visited the city of KaoShiung***

Apologies~ x100 (Summary for first half of 2015)

To dear anyone who still reads this "dead" blog...

I am so SORRY

picture credits: memecrunch.com

 

I have not been updating this blog AT ALL for the year 2015~

And it has been 9 months probably 10 since my last post...

 

To be honest, I suppose I was just too caught up with life... as my previous post suggested, I went on a Work and Travel programme to the beautiful quiet town of Estes Park, Colorado. Was there from 18 November - 8 March... then went on a USA Tour with bestie Elaine for 3 weeks... awesome days indeed ;) not to mention crazy

 

The as soon as I was back in home sweet home Malaysia, spend about a week with my family before heading to the big city (Kuala Lumpur) for job interviews... (yes, I have finally entered into the horrendous life of a working adult... so not looking forward to it)  

 

To sum it up, I went for 3 job interview, accepted a position as a TCB Associate (fancy name huh, it's what we call management trainee in simpler terms) in CIMB Bank, one of the leading universal banks in the ASEAN region.

 

So yea, started my training in May, now I'm almost at the end of my fifth month. Life has been good to me so far though nothing much seems to change since my university days, still renting a room, going to work using public transport... the only difference is that I'm paying my own bills, going for vacations using my salary... which is one of the perks of having a job :)

 

I've got so much to update regarding my experience in the USA, one of the best I dare say! Please do be patient with me as I have so much to share.. so keep watch ^^