Taiwan – Tainan; 2 Days Trip on History of Day 2 (16)

Finally. This is the last posting for this series on my trip to Tainan for the weekend. Hope you have enjoyed following me on this ‘e-trip’ .

Before ending the trip or heading back to Hsinchu, I had to walk back to the hostel. Walked through Tainan Train Station. It is one of the historic site. Opened back in the 1900 and it expanded since then.

 

Walking along the walkway to the hostel. You could see lots of scooters parked on both sides. Yup as it is near the famous university, National Cheng Kung University which was established in 1931. It’s nickname is Koxinga University.

 

Got my stuff nad headed to the train station to catch my train and then THSR (Taiwan High speed Rail) to Hsinchu.

 

My ticket from Tainan station to Shalun station to catch my bullet train. =)

 

Here comes the train.

 

THSR ticket to Hsinchu.

 

Orange bullet train.

 

This was the speed it was going at some point but I think it was still not the maximum. The max I have seen was 300km/hr.

 

Ok. that’s it for this series. Hope you enjoyed. Want to know where the next place I will be writing? If yes, then click ‘Follow me’ if you haven’t  and stay tune. =)

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Taiwan – Tainan; 2 Days Trip on History of Day 2 (15)

Wow!! It’s been a long ‘e-walk’ if you have been following me. Sorry if my ‘e-walks’ had been to slow for you. Guess I love to take my time and enjoy the culture and views. =P

Anyway, this is nearing the end of the day (and also this series, I bet you must be saying… ‘finally’).

Well, I am now heading out from Anping Old Street (but still in Anping area) and walking along its perimeter.

As you can  see, the streets are quite narrow (and also a hot sunny day too)

Another place where you can see people hanging high up all the oyster shells (or can I say.. their collections) and I mean lots of it. Guess, from the picture you can really see the real quantity they have shelled.

Workers removing oysters from their shell. Yup, it’s a manual job and not auto.

As I head out along Pingsheng Rd, I came to a fisherman’s wharf. Lots of the fisherman and their boats anchored to the jetty.

From there you can take a stroll on Anyi Bridge which is one of the 3 bridges (maybe could be more) that were built across the Tainan canal for locals and tourist to get across from Tainan to Anping.  From this bridge you can look across to see Anping Harbour.

Next to the bridge I saw a long queue and as usual, my curiosity brought me there to see what is so good there.

Yup, they were selling ice cream on a cone. Nice to have on a hot day.

Cute little mobile stall in shape of a cartoon character. That really do get the children’s attention.

It was getting late. So, I had to head back to Tainan to catch my train back to Hsinchu. Catching a bus back was easy; #88 or #99.

Saw this robot made of scrap metal. Creative!

Do stay with me on  my last posting for this series which will be coming soon. =)

Taiwan – Tainan; 2 Days Trip of History (1)

Welcome back!!

Yup. This is another series of my trip to Taiwan and this time, my visit will be Tainan. Took the opportunity to travel down south from Hsinchu to Tainan for the weekend break back in Apr early this year. Hope you will enjoy this series of posting as it will quite a long ‘e-trip’ journey here.

As usually, starting off from Hsinchu where I was at for my business trip.

This is a shot from my room view in the early morning before heading out to the Railway station.

It was a last minute planning and also a wrong time as it was also the Tomb Sweeping weekend where everyone was traveling in Taiwan. Getting the train ticket for the time I wanted was practically none.

So I had to grab what was available even if it took 4 1/2 hrs slow train where an express train would only take 2 1/2 hrs. (High speed train only took  an hr trip but of course, the cost was double of the normal express train cost)

Guess you have seen this before. This is the Hsinchu Railway station. A 15min’s walk from the hotel I stayed in.

Waiting for my train to arrive. Snapping away to kill time. LOL!!

The view of the Hsinchu Railway Station from the platform.

One of the express trains passing through the station.

Well.. here comes my train.

Come let get on board and follow me on my trip in the slow train to Tainan. =)

Taiwan; Hsinchu Night Market (3)

Hi.. I am still in Hsinchu Night Market (not literally though) . My 3rd and final posting on my walkabout in the Hsinchu night market.

Guess the night market never fails to catch my attention time each time I visit Taiwan. Yup.. I am always scouting around for food to try and the happening environment. It is always different. =)

Ok. … let’s get back to the walk.

This food vendor is selling skewed food. Looks like hell of a long skewed stick.

Stinky tofu but this is the wet version that comes with the soup. This is the type that I could not stomach. Next to that, is the fried oyster with flour and egg. It’s different from Malaysia’s fried oyster with egg. In Malaysia, there’s more egg and less flour. Guess you have to try it both yourself to see which you like most. (sorry… but my preference is the Malaysia’s fried oyster with egg. =P )

Just look at the crowd!! Most of the tables were taken up but people come and go.

Wow… what a cool concept to promote your food.

and not forgetting for the children. There’s always kiddy rides for the young ones.

Guess what’s this? Anyone?

Again… look at the crowd. Guess you have to keep your eyes wide open to look for an available table to sit and enjoy your meal.

More grilled food choices.

Something light? Well, you can always have bread, pasty or cakes to choose from.

Like what you read and see? Well… how about another night market in Taiwan? If yes, then follow me on my next posting. Wanna guess which one? =)

Taiwan; Hsinchu Night Market (2)

Welcome back! More on my walk about in Hsinchu Night Market.

Cooked prawns. Sold by the weight. Looks nice but I did not buy them as I wanted to save for others. =P

Popsicle? Well.. it is grilled corn with toppings. You can choose the toppings that you like to be coated on your grilled corn.

More games for the young and old.

and if you do well in your games, you will get these……

More skewed food too choose from.

Strawberries in basket load. Yup, you buy by the basket load. Sorry,  you are not allowed to pick/select them one by one.

More strawberries. Definitely I know I can’t eat the whole basket by myself. =)

Strolling around and bumping into people along my path……

More pictures to come……

Taiwan; Hsinchu Night Market (1)

Hi hi!! Welcome back. This is my next series of travel and the location in Hsinchu, Taiwan.

I will just cover the night market here in Hsinchu (which I always drop by if I am in Hsinchu). This night market isn’t the biggest or the best but it still has the local food that you can choose to eat or try. The locals come here with their family to enjoy a good meal and also have a short walk about. Oh.. before I forget, this night market only opens on Tuesday and Thursday and it is located behind the railway station.

Walking from my hotel, I had to pass the underground walkway as on the above, are the railway tracks.

After coming up, you will see the night market just a stone throw away where night market were set up on an open car park.

Wow… look those colourful waffles.

Lots of food to choose from… mmm what’s nice here?

or here?

Fried giant squids anyone?

… and for the kids and big kids, time for some fun.

Lots of games stall which you can pick and choose to play.

and here’s another one.

Lovely isn’t it? Well… More pictures coming. Stay tune!

Taiwan – Hsinchu; National Day Super Run (3)

Welcome back!!!!Sorry for a long break in between.

If you missed my earlier posting, please do have a look to catch up with the story. =)

The ‘flight’ has but mostly of the superman and superwoman are still on the ground…… in total of up to 2500 of supermen and superwomen.

Gosh… the superheroes had even time to pose on the side of the street.

More of them coming but some of them decided to walk instead of ‘flying’.

Superboys here they come!!!! with their Super-mommy

Captain America also decided to join in the ‘flight’ with Superwoman. LOL!!!! Superwoman looks a bit shy here.

Passed along the older part of Hsinchu.

Finally arrived at the final destination. All having a break.

Nice cute giant poster.

Hope you enjoy with me on this Super Run. Catch and follow me on my travel in my upcoming posting =)

Taiwan – Hsinchu; National Day Super Run (2)

Thanks for following me here for the Super Run.

Close to the ‘flying’ time, they even arranged for a warm up session for all the runners.

Warming up……. Stretch.. stretch….

Another shot from a higher ground.

Cosplay…. Everyone want to take a photo with these 2 guys…

… not sure what character are they dressing up as. Do you?

Every superboy also came. Guess he will be flying in his pram. =)

Getting ready at the starting line…..

… here we go!!!!! Damn… it is not ‘flying’ as fast as it should. Guess too much air traffic. HAHA!!!

See me ‘fly’ along the route in my next posting. Stay tune.

Taiwan – Hsinchu; National Day Super Run (1) – my 250th posting!!!

Before I start on this posting, I would like to share with my readers that I have reached another milestone in my blogging. This is my 250th posting and also exactly 1 year from the month that blog was born. It could not have gone so far without the great support of my readers and followers which have balloon to more than 4,600 followers and close to 40,000 views. I would like to take this opportunity to say a big THANK YOU to all for this. =)

Well… let move’s on….

Like the title says ‘National Day Super Run’ but with a twist. Let me bring you all up to speed.

I was lucky to be in Taiwan on the week when they were celebration their National day, which falls on 10th Oct each year. In Hsinchu, the county had organized a run, mmmm… more like a fun run with the theme of Super heroes; Superman and Superwoman. And…. yes, the runners dressed up in superman and superwoman costumes.

As I only found this out at the eleventh hour, I did not managed to register but thanks to my lucky star, one of my colleagues could not make it. So I took over his place. Below is the box that they given when the runners collected their numbers and costumes; in a ‘Super Run’ box.

The booklet with the instruction and also the route of the run.

In the box… run number, booklet, and most importantly, the super costume.

The costume even come with a drape and you gotta wear your undies outside. LOL!!!

Got up at 5am and we arrive at the run area 15min later as it was a short drive from the hotel. It was held at the exhibition area where they located the Taiwan’s Shanghai Expo Pavilion.

Welcoming us at the place was the stage with the background of a cartoon with a character of ‘Superman’.

People posing at the stage to get their photos taken.

More people arriving in their super costumes (not all but close to 90% of them wore the super suits).

Even superman and superwoman had to queue up in line to use the toilet!!! HAHA!!

More on the being super…. but how super? Catch me on my next posting……..

Taiwan – Hsinchu Guandi Temple

Welcome back!!

Not far from the Hsinchu morning market, I found a temple; Hsinchu Guandi Temple or known as God of War temple . Built in 1776, this temple was noted for its refined ornamentation and inscriptions carved by local scholars on the temple pillars. This is just one of the God of War temples. There are others in Changhua, Lukang, and Hsinchuang, and Xingtian Temple in Taipei.

A stone plague outside the temple wall.

Main Entrance to the temple. The temples is practically surrounded by old building and new shops.

Beautiful and colourful structure of the temple.

A blowup figurine of a god of war.

Entrance to the temple

Inside the temple ground and buildings

Small temple but beautiful place to visit and take pictures.

Catch me on my next posting. Something interesting too and also, it’s going to be my 250th posting. Wanna know? If yes, then keep following me. =)