Gaomei Turbine Avenue (高美風車大道) @ Taichung in Taiwan

Back in 2023, I visited Gaomei Wetlands (高美濕地) under a tour package by Chan Brothers; back then, I noticed the line of wind turbines across and told myself I would be back to check out those gigantic fans! 

In slightly more than a year later, I was back. This time on a self exploration trip with Alex over a pretty lengthy 11 days that brought us to Chiayi, Alishan, Kaohsiung, Tainan, and finally, Taichung, where Gaomei Wetlands is located.

This long line of wind turbines is known as Gaomei Turbine Avenue and stretched about 1.5 kilometers long. Now, I am always fascinated with these wind generators, given the urgent need for clean energy and how energy-hungry a small nation like Singapore is.

Furthermore, I always wonder about the size of them since I saw them always from afar, and never close-up! The same goes for Alex; hence, it's more a virgin experience for both of us! 

Let's use Alex for ease of comparison! Maybe about 40-50 meters tall? While I was relatively impressed by the height, offshore wind turbines can go beyond 120 meters tall! 

Another startling fact; the wind turbines were making a hell of a racket! And given that wind turbines were built at locations with high wind velocity, it was surprisingly cold in the winter season when we dropped by.

From Google Maps, I counted about 16 wind turbines in the area. Now, a fundamental question for a Singaporean; why don't we see more wind turbines in Singapore to generate power since we are an island nation? Answer: the wind speed we have is quite low, and not to mention wind turbines require a lot of space, which we can't afford.

Sadness aside, let's take a look at the other side of Gaomei Turbine Avenue, where a unique bridge cut across the 100-meter wide Qingshui Channel. 

Completed in 2016 costing NT$200 millions, this is a cable-stayed curved bridge with two columns at each end to support the weight of the bridge, without the need for any support beams on the riverbed. 

Providing a more direct connection point between Gaomei Wetlands and Gaomei Turbine Avenue for cyclists and visitors on feet, the bridge was said to be wind resistant and a great spot to catch the sunset! 

We didn't stay till sunset as both of us agreed that driving at night would be much more dangerous for unseasoned drivers like us. So, we decided to leave and drive along the avenue! 

Turned out to be boring and it didn't take us long to make a u-turn back to the bridge, as our next destination would be Gaomei Wetlands. p.s. this time round, we managed to check out the boardwalk! 

A few more photographs taken along Gaomei Road, the other side of the channel, and across yet parallel to the road we drove along earlier to Gaomei Turbine Avenue.

Just a video! 

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Address

Huangang N Rd, Qingshui 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)

Jia Li Seafood Soup (佳丽海鲜汤) - Batang Fish @ AMK Hub in Singapore

Mention seafood soup and the one stall that immediately came to mind would be Yan Ji, now at Marsiling Hawker Centre. Problem was; it's not that convenient, especially when one craves for the soup after work.

Fate brought me to Jia Le Seafood Soup at AMK Hub; located along my way home from work, I chanced upon it accidentally as I was searching for Qi Le Boneless Chicken Rice, which has moved from Yishun Block 744 to AMK Hub. 

Without further ado, I am introducing to you the above bowl of Original Fish Soup that came with minced pork, slices of batang fish and tomatoes!

S$8.50 for so much ingredients in a mall was quite reasonable actually. 

And this was nett pricing, without service charge and GST.

First touch - the soup. Said to be made fresh every morning using old hens, dried scallops and pork ribs, and enhanced with dried flatfish; it was palatable yet not as flavorful as Yan Ji, and definitely less salty. Maybe it has to do with the lack of MSG, as claimed on a newspaper article.

Three pieces of minced meat, more like balls than patties, they were pretty good although I can pick up the subtle taste of offals. p.s. not revolting though, even for someone who doesn't take internal organs.

Batang fish might not be the smoothest and thickest I have seen but they were okay tasting. I am more happy to find so many slices in the soup! 

Finish the soup for the secret character at the bottom of the bowl! This is actually my second visit to Jia Le Seafood Soup and I am likely to return given the convenience, unless there's a formidable competitor that opens a stall in Yishun.

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Address

53 Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, #B2-49,

AMK Hub, Singapore 569933

Map

7

As above.

Menu

As above.

Pricing

Original Batang Fish Soup - S$8.50

Bustling Morning Market along Xinmin Street near Taichung Train Station [Taiwan]

Perched high on the 12th floor of Tea Way Hotel one early morning and through the progressive lens of my spectacles, I noticed a bustling market at a distance!  

Decided to pay it a visit after my routine morning jog! I know; very random. But life is always interesting with random specks of unplanned activities.

As it was mere days to the most important Chinese New Year, there were throngs of locals along Xinmin Street, hoping to grab fresh ingredients likely for the upcoming rituals and reunion dinner on the eve; a crucial symbolic meal even for Singaporean Chinese like me!

Not sure about you but I like to visit markets in other countries! It's always amazing to see fresh produce, especially the kind you don't see in Singapore, and the way they were displayed.  

For one, we don't commonly have truckloads filled with ears of corns for sale right on a truck, although such scenes were aplenty in many countries, including Thailand. 

Now that I no longer lived with my parents, I have to do my own marketing and hence, am more acquainted with the prices of "stuff". Given my love for fruits, I am pretty sensitive to fluctuations to fruit prices.

For sure, there were great deals, especially fruits that were grown and harvested in Taiwan! Custard apples at about S$2 each, and native pineapples for just NT$100 for three! 

Less sensitive with vegetable pricing yet 73 Singapore cents every 600 grams for such a humongous, beautiful cabbage should not be considered too expensive right? 

Sign in front indicated the pricing for the bundles of kangkong behind the radishes! Priced at just 80 cents for one bundle, I was more impressed with the hollow insides of the kangkong; they were wider than the ones we have in Singapore! 

More photographs. 

Sale of the glutinous new year cakes used initially as offerings but will turn out to be delicious snacks after being covered in a layer of batter, and deep fried! p.s. the new year cake must of a certain quality of course. 

Packs of tea, bottles of bitter tea oil and even tubs of longan honey! The latter reminded me of the 2-kilograms worth of honey I brought back to Singapore on my first trip to Taiwan. 

Early morning eat fried chicken?! Thankfully, I am not a breakfast person and given my age (significantly lower metabolism); it's better not to overindulge! 

The way these meat were wrapped seemed to suggest they would be used as offerings for ancestral worships. Just not too sure about their expiry dates. 

Seafood and raw meat stalls! Usually the ones giving out the strongest stench, the smell was surprisingly quite muted. Was it due to the cool weather? 

A sight you would not find out of place even in Singapore; the need to ensure you secure the freshest prawns! Dead they were but try to choose those that had a curvy, not straight back.

Imitation crab sticks; the one ingredient well loved by kids, and great for steamboat! Judging from the precariously placed boxes at the back, business must be booming! 

2 packs for NT$150 (about S$6). 

And you can sample before buying! 

Many left with bags and bags of produce. Sadly, I am a foreigner and there's a bloody baggage limit for airlines! If not, I might have hauled back some sweet potatoes, honey, and custard apples. 

 

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Address

Xinmin Street, 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)