Yilan, Taiwan

2019 Summer Trip to Asia

July 25, 2019 -- Hong Kong to Taiwan

After our 9-day cruise on the Voyager of the Seas and then four full days in Hong Kong, it was time for us to leave. We would be flying to Xiamen, China first from HKIA, spend a couple of hours at the airport and wait for our connecting flight to Taipei (TSA). We will be spending the next month visiting family and friends in Taiwan. 

The bellhop at the hotel got us a taxi waiting outside of the hotel as we checked out with no problem. Several taxi drivers were waiting since they had very brisk business during this time of unstable condition due to the riots. Normally we would walk up to Nathan Road to catch the airport bus but on this trip we figured it was best to take the taxi for safety reason. Nathan Road in Mongkok was one of the hot spots for disturbances and it would not be a good idea rolling our luggage along for mis-identification of being from mainland China. 

We arrived HKIA quickly and safely as the cab dropped us off. After checking in and going through immigration, we found the Lounge where we could spend some time and have a bit of an early lunch before boarding our plane.

This Premium lounge was quite crowded.

But they did have a lot to offer food wise. This is a bowl of Hong Kong fish balls rice noodle. Very good!

Found our boarding gate.

After we arrived at Xiamen, China, we had to go through the whole process of entry and exit for our transit. We did not access any lounge here because it was just a short transit. Soon enough, we were on our flight to Taipei.

I have not been in the Taipei Song Shan Airport in years. The last time I was here was probably in 1978 before the Taoyuan Airport was completed. Nowadays, most flights would be using the Taoyuan International Airport instead. It was quite nostalgic coming back to this smaller airport.

For us, it was not as convenient as the Taoyuan airport because we had to take a taxi to the Taipei Train Station first in order to get on the High Speed Rail to southern Taiwan. 

And navigating the huge Taipei Train Station is not an easy task especially when tagging along large luggage. But, we finally bought our tickets and were at the platform.

Sign board showing our train.

Inside the high speed rail. 

Safely back to MOR's hometown after a couple of hours. It was good seeing FIL in excellent shape.

Tomorrow we will have to get up super early for a three-day family trip to northeastern Taiwan.

2019 Summer Trip to Asia

July 26, 2019 -- Family Trip Day 1: Chiayi to Yilan, Taiwan

We woke up around 4:00 AM this morning to meet our bus in front of the 7-11 around the corner of the street. We have chartered a coach to take the family on this three-day trip so everyone can be comfortably transported from one place to another. That's the only way to go with babies and elders in our group.

Got the front seats on the bus parked right outside the 7-11.

We were the only vehicle on this country road early this morning.

Picking up more family members at Huwei.

A couple of hours later, we past by Taipei.

Traffic going through some tunnels.

Arrived at our first destination, Meihua Hu (Plum Blossom Lake) in Dongshan, Yilan.

It was nice to be getting out after a few hours on the bus.

Many motorized cycles for rent because there is an excellent trail around the lake.

Excited cuties!

A beautiful lake indeed.

The kids were having a great time!

Some trailers by the lake available for overnight stay.

We got on one of these motorized bike and went around the lake.

A small suspension bridge to the little island making it a good spot for photos.

It was definitely a refreshing and beautiful site to spend a couple of hours.

The coach.

Lunch was at this restaurant.

Oh, that's nice! A sign welcoming us as we entered the restaurant.

Dragon Garden

After lunch our scheduled stop was at a tea farm, Xing Yuen Tea Farm.

This is also in Dongshan, Yilan.

They won many awards!

We were served, of course, their famous tea as we entered.

The reason we came here was for their DIY session of making ice-cream.

This was mostly for the kids but we adults also had a lot of fun.

She did an excellent job guiding us through the process.

Following the instruction using the right utensils and ingredients.

Then, shake, shake, shake!

Let's see what's inside?

Mine didn't turn out good, not enough shaking.

MOR's was much better!

Anyway, it was fun...and delicious!

The guide thought it would be fun for the kids to see a pencil factory, so that was where we went next.

After touring the factory we had some kind of games.

Checking into our hotel (Kavalan Hotel) room for the night in the town of Lotung.

Our corner room was quite spacious and with an excellent view of the town.

This hotel is near the night market, making it a convenient location for the night.

For dinner, we were let free to choose whatever we wanted at the night market nearby.

This is a very busy night market with plenty of food choices.

We got a few of these fried chicken and pork sticks. Yummy!

A long line for the one thing I wanted, green onion buns.

Yilan is famous for their Three-Stars green onion, so this has to be good!

Deep fried buns stuffed with pork and loads of fragrant green onion.

Great!

One last thing we wanted was the mutton soup but it was super crowded with a long line, so we got in the shorter line and ordered some to go instead.

Enjoyed our mutton soup and minced pork rice back inside our comfortable hotel room.

The mutton soup was very good, not to be missed!

"If I speak in the tongues of men of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal."   -- I Corinthians 13:1