Sunday, September 21, 2025

Day Four of the 11 Days, 10 Nights Taiwan Trip 2025


Detailed Postings for the Day
The thing I dislike travelling during winter is that the sun rises much earlier and for a person sensitive to light; it means I can't get back to sleep unless there is total blackout curtains. The good thing, however, is that I wouldn't wake up to hot and humid weather. 

Walking on the empty streets within fenqihu railway town. Apparently, many locals and travellers didn't share the sleep problem I faced. Envious.

Old street of Fenqihu. 
Again, devoid of people.

Continuing our way. Fenchihu Hotel didn't provide for breakfast at their resident restaurant; instead, vouchers were provided for guests to buy food from the 7-11 convenience store beside its hotel. So, our objective was to have a suitable place to sit and enjoy our breakfast.

Viewing platform on the left would be the perfect place, with the mountainous view in front of us, and that the rising sun was hidden behind the mountain, slowly ascending to the sky.

Preparing to dig into our breakfast, while anticipating the warm rays of sunlight hitting our cold faces! p.s. well, nothing much to talk about the breakfast.

Here's the sun! 

Enjoying the warmth from the sun even though it only lasted a few minutes! Typical of Singaporeans, we refrain from constant exposure of sun, unless we are on a beach vacation, and preferably soaked in water, fresh or salt. 

Flowers in winter.
Splashes of color in the cold. 

Building where we had dinner the night before. There were actually a few minsus in this area but I find it tedious to navigate their website, preferring to go with international booking platforms like trip.com instead.

Back to the empty old street again and I spotted a familiar face! 

I can confidently say this ginger cat is the mascot of Fenqihu Old Street! While I like cats, I have a particular affinition for ginger / black cats! Can someone persuade my mom to have a cat in their house?! 

The setting moon, and the spider.
Come, let us have ChatGPT weave a story.

Paying our last visit to the century old railway tracks, the station, and the loco shed. Would we be back again? We might although Alishan is a huge area and there were other smaller towns, and areas with trails said to be breathtaking. 

Railway information and rates; full fare means for adults whereas half fare is for children. Only two trains a day and good luck to those who are able to secure a ticket! 

An eatery next to the railway station that's supposedly famous for their railway bento. With a facade similar to a train, I actually wanted to lunch there on day 3 but decided to go with Yahu Ekiben. 

Few more photographs as we returned to Fenchihu Hotel.

Participating in the hotel's 8.30am Complimentary Guided Tour! Conducted by Shujuan, it was a much easier tour with not much climbing. Highlight of the tour was the bamboo that looked roundish yet felt squarish.

Only hard climb post tour; this steep slope super near to the donut shop.  

Oh my gosh, 街仔尾阿嬤草仔粿 was open for business! I recalled how this ang ku kueh alike snack appealed to my taste buds and couldn't wait to introduce to Alex! 

Sadly, quite disappointing. The skin was thicker and the taste didn't overwhelm and surprised me, as I did back in 2023. Was it my problem? Clearly, Alex wasn't sold too.

He was much more impressed with the hot aiyu drink at Fenqihu Old Street! And enthusiastically asked to take a photograph with the store operator! 

Persuaded to step into a tea shop for some sampling and eventually purchased the extreme top oolong tea at NT$390 a box for my parents. Unfortunately, I don't indulge in much tea nowadays given the high caffeine and its association with insomnia.

Preparing to leave fenqihu, via the private shuttle arranged with Fenchihu Hotel. It cost us NT$1800, payable in cash, and took us about two hours to reach Chiayi City. 

Spectacular views along the way, although they couldn't beat the views when we travelled by the forest railway train from Alishan to Fenqihu!

Collecting our rental car, making it Alex's first time driving on the left side of the car! Car was rented via Klook.com; click here for the detailed posting! 

First stop after driving; taking back our large pieces of luggage from Mega Hotel. I had stored them in the hotel as it would be a dread to move them at Alishan and Fenqihu. 

Driving towards the third largest city in Taiwan; Kaohsiung City! There were two highways and we took the advice of the couple who was with us for the 8.30am Complimentary Guided Tour by taking national highway 3; the less crowded one.

It's important to take a rest every now and then when you are driving, especially for Singaporean drivers who are not accustomed to long distance driving! p.s. driving from Tuas to Changi is not considered long distance driving! So, here we were at Guanmiao Service Area (Southbound).

Took a bet with the capsule machine as it was dispensing Crayon Shinchan McDonald's themed products! I am actually a bigger fan of Crayon Shinchan, instead of McDonald's! 

For a vehicle commander, who doesn't have to drive, I was marvelling at the stunning sight of sun rays breaking through the clouds. Beautiful. Too bad for Alex who insisted I wasn't capable to drive, and he treasures his life more. 

Into the tunnel! Do you know there are a few tunnels for motor vehicles in Taiwan rumoured to be haunted!? Most famous would have to be Xinhai Tunnel (台北辛亥隧道) at Taipei! 

This one along national highway 3 not so scary lah.

Skyline of Kaohsiung City in front of us! You know why I knew? The appearance of 85 Sky Tower on my right; the tallest building in Kaohsiung and second tallest in the whole of Taiwan! 

And also, the higher density of buildings.
As we neared Kaohsiung City.

You may check out the details of my stay here! 

After taking a much required rest, for Alex that is, we were out hitting the streets! More so for me as I didn't want to spend too much time in a hotel when there's so much more to see and do outside of the hotel, and it's my first time to Kaohsiung! 

Gigantic cat with the mechanical eyes to open and shut.

Can't remember where I got this but I guess this would serve as a food recommendation map for those looking for reputable / famous food near train stations.

Ceiling of stars, with planets at Formosa Boulevard Station. 

Finally here at Liuhe Night Market (六合觀光夜市); one of Kaohsiung oldest night market that was said to be the most touristy, which can't be helped given its conveniently centralized location! 

We had quite a lot of food for two persons; and you may also refer to the separate postings as follows; Prawn Bee Hoon and Stinky Tofu, Freshly Grilled Squid 夜鱿现烤鱿鱼 and Wild Boar Sausage 阿猪嫲!

In our haste to get to Liuhe Night Market, I told myself to return back to Formosa Boulevard  MRT Station to take more photographs of Dome of Light (光之穹頂)! Pity, the lights were already out by the time I was there at 9.08pm! :( 

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Vomited by Cavin Teo at 8:24 PM
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