Shin Sei Green Waterway (新盛綠川水岸廊道) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

Once a canal that's now converted into a relaxing oasis, Shin Sei Green Waterway felt detached from the bustle flanked by two busy streets called Luchuan East Street and Luchuan West Street.

Formerly known as the Xinsheng River, it was said to be heavily polluted until a revitalization project changed it into an ecological park! Frankly, I didn't keep a lookout back in 2014, when I first visited Taichung City.

Knowing Taiwan, there would not be any lack of creativity to make this waterway stand out, with decorative features that eliminates or reduces the boredom one might experience with yet another park.

Maybe due to the cool weather or maybe due to the timing; I did notice that the waterway was well-used by residents, and not a white elephant as with the case in some places. However, users appeared to be non-Taiwanese. 

Turned out the waterway was near to ASEAN Square, which was popular with migrants from Southeast Asian countries! Gosh, I didn't know about it and this explained why there were so many eateries selling ASEAN cuisines in the area.

More photos!

Water was so clean that I could vividly see the fishes swimming! 

How come our Singapore River can't have such clarity?! 

According to the above, 24,000 tons of sewage were treated daily and one filtration method used to clean them was the use of stones / pebbles! 

Shhhh, someone was already sleeping at the underground passage alongside the waterway. Looked like a homeless chap although I am more surprised that he was sleeping so early; it's only about 5.13pm! 

Was it the sunset or was it the environment? I was alone (Alex decided to rest in the hotel room) yet I was totally at peace here as I walked along the 422-meter pavement alongside the waterway.

With the sound of cascading mini-waterfalls. 

Information panels were also placed to explain more about waterway and its importance for flood control, without any English text. Now, I am okay with reading Chinese characters but some terminology is literally lost on me. 

Look at all the fishes! 

For a moment, I thought this was a real tortoise.

Turned out to be decorative.

No more pavement.

Yet the flowers by the slopes flanking the waterway still managed to cheer me up. There's just something about the vividness in flowers that had that magical reach to soothe the soul.

And what bird was this?! Let's use Google Image. Okay, supposed to be a black-crowned Night Heron and it's supposedly quite common in Singapore too. Damn, I am obviously not that observant.

Loving the designed manhole covers!

Why don't we have something like this in Singapore. 

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Address

In between Luchuan East and West Streets,

Central District, Taichung City, Taiwan

Map

As above.

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)

Marsiling Teochew Fish Soup @ Shunfu Mart Hawker Centre #shunfumarthawkercentre

Now, Marsiling Teochew Fish Soup at Shunfu Mart was a gem I kept hidden for quite a while although its popularity amongst surrounding residents was never a question, as confirmed by a friend who lived at Sin Ming Road.

As the hawker centre is somewhat along the way home for me, I visited on a number of occasions after work for dinner.There was just a handful of stalls that remained open at night; two or three, but the stall was always blessed with a long queue, and a wait that could go up to 30 minutes on a busy evening! 

So as per the usual order from Alex and I; here's our order of one twin fish soup and another sliced fish soup with thick bee hoon and milk. Guess which was mine.

Of course the best of both worlds; the twin fish soup that came with no rice / noodle and included pieces of sliced fish plus fried fish! Loving the variety for sure, with a generous serving of fried egg floss that didn't taste overly oily and absolutely addictive despite being soaked, losing all its apparent crispiness! 

My process when eating fish soup was to start with the vegetables first! And then came with the spoonfuls of soup, which was light yet punched with a deliciously seafood sweetness that was simply put; optimal. 

Now, it's a minimum of S$6 per bowl but worth every penny! Counting five pieces of sliced fish and five pieces of fried fish; the former had a solid smooth texture that screamed freshness without any fishiness. 

In the past, I used to abhor fried fish! However, the ones from Marsiling Teochew Fish Soup appealed to me even though the fried batter would have usually turned soft by the time it was thrown into my mouth! Nevertheless, the batter continued to be a draw, especially after you dip into the saucer of chilli soy sauce! 

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Satisfying yet some comforting for the stomach; and if you happen to visit on a rainy day, it would have been an utter joy of immense gratification! p.s. do note that only hard cash is accepted.

Address

320 Shunfu Rd, #02-07,

Shunfu Mart, Singapore 570320

Map

As above.

Menu

As above.

Pricing

Mixed Fish Soup - S$6.00

Lunch at Phước Thạnh Garden Restaurant in Hue [Vietnam]

Covered as part of our day trip to Hue, the former imperial capital of Vietnam, would be lunch at this restaurant by the name of Phước Thạnh Garden Restaurant.

With a review score of 3.9 from over 200 reviewers, it felt more like a regular lunch stopover for tour groups involving foreigners. To be honest, I wasn't looking forward to having a spectacular meal.

The alright tasting dishes; soup, mixed vegetables, fish and a chicken dish. Sufficient to fill a tummy yet not breathtaking to warrant a second helping.

The above was tasty with more vegetables like sliced cucumbers, tomatoes and onions than prawns. I think only prawn for each of us; and aside from being fresh and plump, the flavor reminded me of the tomato prawns that my sister made for us when I was a young teen! 

Banh Xeo - also known as Vietnamese crepes, I was glad they were already nicely wrapped up, without the mess I am known to make whenever I have to wrap things using my butterfingers. 

Crisp on the outside with tons of healthy yet delicious goodness for the insides!

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A balanced meal, which included fruits too! I was actually quite surprised that no banh beo was included since it originated from Hue.

Address

30 Phạm Ngũ Lão, Phú Hội, 

Thuận Hóa, Huế, Vietnam

Map

As above.

Click HERE for My Day Trip to Hue City: The Former Imperial Capital, with Chinese Speaking Guide

Yongquan Park (湧泉公園) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

Now, the good thing about jogging outside when one is overseas is the advantage of chancing upon interesting sights that are absolutely not on our radar! 

At Taichung City, my jog brought me to Yongquan Park (湧泉公園). Coming from Singapore, where there are way too many parks, this one from Taiwan shouldn't surprise me too much.

But it did for a few reasons; one of which was it winning the "2020 Golden A' Design Award in Urban Planning and Urban Design" for meeting the objectives for "environmental sustainability, historical preservation, and community engagement"! 

The 22,672-square-meter park was originally the site for a sugar factory that started operations in 1935. Main building was preserved and restored, where we would pay it a visit shortly.

Another eye popper had to be this above water boardwalk that was in a ring shape. Imagine playing catching with friends where all of you would just run in circles; should be fun, and giddy.

Important timeline on the floor! 

Yes, all in Chinese.

Five-floor observation tower, with industrial looking cladding. The lake that the tower overlooked sat in the centre of the park and its name is Xingquan Lake.

Taiwanese is extremely good in designing photo spots for visitors; using the metal structures, the above was literally a picture surrounded with multiple frames, and the only thing missing is a living person in the middle. 

Notice the birds?! The park was said to "incorporate sophisticated hydrological systems that support sustainable urban ecology through underground tunnel networks and gravel layers, facilitating natural water flow and creating permanent ponds that serve as habitats for water birds and aquatic plants".

A dead bird, I presumed, as it wasn't moving at all. 

I am always a sucker for observation tower but decided to give it a miss as the day was packed with activities, and there were more for me to explore! Furthermore, the tower actually didn't look that tall, and might not be worth the effort. 

More of the multiple frames! 

Guess this place should be quite popular with those going for wedding photoshoots. p.s. it's 8.00 am yet there weren't a lot of exercise-goers in the park. Again, Taiwaneses prefer to exercise at night? 

Picture perfect.

Arrival at the heritage building but it wasn't open for business yet! Such a pity as I so wanted to check out the interior of the "old sugar factory" 

Some history about the area and the factory. While I do read Chinese characters, I am lazy, and it worsens when they are the traditional Chinese characters.

Cafe within the building; would be nice to sit in the cafe that supposedly overlooked the lake. Imagine sipping a cup of coffee, while enjoying the view in front. Relaxing indeed.

Close proximity to Taichung Railway station, which was just about 200-400 meters away, depending on where you were at the park. Just realized that the rescue buoy is in pink, not red! 

You know what's even closer to Yongquan Park?

LaLaport Taichung! Literally next to the park. 

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Address

Leye Rd, East District, 

Taichung City, Taiwan

Map

As above.

Click HERE for 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip: Summarised Itinerary for Chiayi Alishan (嘉义阿里山) - Kaohsiung (高雄) - Tainan (台南) - Taichung (臺中)