Taiwan: 11 Days Northern and Central West Trip Itinerary Sampler

Taiwan, quoted by Lonely Planet, within the borders of this small, sweet potato-shaped island with barely 23 Million populations lies the contrasts and melange of cultural influences that you will not likely to find anywhere else on the planet.

This will be the most interesting trip that I've longed to visit and missed twice of previous scheduled trip due to several reasons.

Introduction

This sampler is modified to accommodate my mom's need after I have encouraged her to take on the trip with me and I'm really excited to see how it turns out for her.

I'm worried she is neither a backpacker nor she is a frequent traveler, definitely not used to the plenty of walking and talking with strangers although she has been swamped by some of my thrilling backpacking stories over the years.

It's the first time having a travel partner, I'm going to stay positive we will quickly love Taiwan and settle down at the home of the world's warmest people.

And the best part is, we can communicate in Chinese - Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka, English, bring it on man! Language is the most underlying advantage that a Malaysian has, it's incredible isn't it!

The fact is, there's not much information about Taiwan and not many books written in English about it too but that doesn't mean Taiwan isn't the favourite travel destination of the many travelers.

As I dig deeper into what they have to offer, Taiwan is such a spectacular travel destination for magnificent cultural exploration. Old towns and streets in city easily existed for centuries!

Besides their deeply rooted cultures, they have the best food! For decades, Taiwanese focus so much on the packaging the food look incredibly nice in any part of the country,  and the food are given such a detail highlight you can find them in every single Chinese written travel book!

Suggested Trip Length

The suggested trip length is about eleven days, I originally have a 14 days circle the island itinerary but it's unlikely to happen, first because my mom could really use some relaxing schedule and second is the time limitation.

I have a start up coming up real soon, the launch should be on early April shortly after I'm back from the trip.

Hence, this is going to be slightly more loosen up trip, a slow start sampler, it's more practical for most of the travelers to take on the balance of cultural experiencing, more relaxing time for the details.

Climate

Taiwan is typically presenting an average temperature of 22 Celsius all year round, there's no severe cold in winder and no brutal summer heat according to Travel China Guide.

Many travel guides including Wikitravel have mentioned that the best time to travel Taiwan is on the month of October and November.

Autumn (Sept - Nov) is seen to be good traveling time to many as the conditions tend to be warm and dry and prices lower, while, Spring (March - May) can be clear and dry, or wet.

Summer (June-August) is usually a great time to visit the east coast, especially the outdoor activities at the beaches.

Many think that traveling during Chinese NewYear is a bad decision but it is at this time you will be able to experience the Chinese's biggest festive celebration, the rates are likely to double and shops are shut down the first few days.

The low month is the traditional month of Ghost on July as the prices can drop slightly.

Sample Plan

This sample plan covers most of the travel hotspots in Taipei in 3 days, I'm spending 2 days in Jiufen to take an easy walk at the older quarter before traveling to Wulai, another old quarter with remarkable scenery.

After Wulai, a more hectic schedule to Taichung, I'm going to stay in Taichung for the local's favourite Fengjia night market, a lot of half day trips to nearby towns at Lugang, Dajia, Fongyuan and Sinshe for a good mixed of travel experience for instance the flower farms, century old temples and towns.

Last destination will be the incredible Alishan, we will spend our last 2 nights to relax at the hilltop before heading back to Taoyuan International Airport on the last day of our trip.

Travelers who love Tainan or Kaohsiung can spend the last 2 days in the city while I have to skip them this round and come back another time.

Those of you who want to go for Taiwan's biggest musical fest, Spring Scream, in Kenting around this time, I've included its information at the end of the blog.

Day 1 - Arrival in Taoyuen >Taipei
Day 2 - Taipei > Danshui > Taipei
Day 3 - Taipei > Beitou > Taipei
Day 4 - Taipei > Jiufen
Day 5 - Jiufen
Day 6 - Jiufen > Wulai
Day 7 - Wulai > Taichung > Lugang > Dajia > Taichung
Day 8 - Taichung > Fongyuan > Sinshe > Taichung
Day 9 - Taichung > Alishan
Day 10 - Alishan
Day 11 - Alishan > Taoyuan > Kuala Lumpur


View Taiwan Brief Travel Itinerary Sampler in a larger map

Main Attractions

This map has most of my travel destinations, there are places I have to skip due to lack of time, I'll continue to update this map as I'm sure I'll discover another great number of interesting places to visit in the process of studying more about Taiwan before making the trip.


View [Taiwan] Backpack itinerary sampler in a larger map

Taipei City 台北市

• Taipei 101 台北101
• Ximending 西门町 (Young & trendy district)
• Longshan temple 龙山寺
• Sun Yat-sen memorial park 国父纪念馆
• Natinal palace museum 台北故宫博物馆
• Baoan temple 保安宫
• Dihua street 迪化街 (one of the oldest street in Taipei)
• Office of the president 总统府
• Zhongxia east road 忠孝东路（东区 Shopping heaven）
• Danshui old quarter 淡水老街
• Taiwan democracy memorial park 中正纪念堂
• Yongkang street 永康街
• Wufenpu 五分埔 (Best shopping place)
• Yangmingshan national park 阳明山公园
• National Taiwan museum & garden 二二八和平公园
• Tianhou temple 天后宫
• Beitou hotspring 北投温泉
• Wulai old quarter 乌来老街 (One of the oldest quarter & waterfall)
• Tianmu 天母

Dihua street 迪化

Taipei 101 台北101

Wulai 乌来

Ximending 西门町

Night Markets in Taipei

• Shihlin night market 士林夜市
• Raohen night market 饶河夜市
• Shida night market 师大夜市

Keelung City 基隆市

• Miaokou night market 庙口夜市
• Jiufen old quarter 九份老街 (One of the oldest quarter)

Jiufen 九份

Taichung City台中市

• Fengjia night market 逢甲夜市 (The biggest night market in Taiwan - 1,500 stalls & shops)
• Sun moon lake 日月潭
• Changhua 彰化
• Lugang 鹿港 (One of the oldest quarter)
• Fongyuan 丰原
• Sinshe 新社 
• Dajia 大甲
• Jiji small rail line 集集
• Alishan 阿里山
• Yushan national park 玉山国家公园

Alishan 阿里山

Yushan 玉山

Lugang 鹿港

Sinshe 新社

Entertainments at Night in Taipei

Taipei's night life is one of the main attraction and it's highly recommended to spend the weekend in Taipei and visit one of these clubs.

I've gone through a few video clips and Taipei is thought having plenty of awesome pubs and clubs that can be found all over the city.

Some of them are owned by Taiwan celebrities.

• Lava
• Pasoul (Drink all night over the weekend, I'll have to confirm this myself)
• Room 18 (More privileged group)
• Luxy (Drink all night)
• Primo (More privileged group)
• Babe 18 (Drink all night, Thursday)

There is a video about Taipei's clubs about the club in Chinese.

Useful Maps

MRT route - 16fan forum

Spring Scream 春呐

One of the many things I want to do is to visit Spring Scream 春天呐喊, in short, 春呐 (Chun-na), a once a year epic adventure of art and audio aspiration that hits the island in Kenting.

An amazing and widely known, one of the largest international music festival in Taiwan with over 200 domestic and global bands performing over the course of 4 days festival.

It just gotten bigger and bigger with so much emphasis on music and sound. And it's happening on 4-8 April 2012.

I just hope I can make it this trip, entrance fee is only NT$1,500/USD30. Yeah, bikinis and hot chicks!

Spring Scream musical event 春呐

Flashpacking: The New Way of Backpacking

It was a calm and peaceful busy week, the funeral service and the prayers were occupying all the time over the weekend.

I personally want to thank everyone of you who had attended my dad's prayer and service last week.

Dad had been really strong for the past ten months, he was a tough, a leading role in the family, very charismatic and charming.

His love covered every corner, connecting everyone of us deeply to him from within, Dad, you will be missed, rest in peace. You are blessed with our love and prayer.

Flashpack, The New Way of Backpacking

If you take a closer look at flashpacker, they generally aged between early 20s to late 30s. I'm no doubt categorizing myself in this group due to several reasons.

These flashpackers want to travel like the backpackers but with more disposable income, which makes perfect sense in any way assuming they are from higher income group.

They have more budget, they would probably blow their budget with more meals, tours, beer, and parties. They carry more clothes, and more electronics such as iPod, laptop, nice camera.

Don't get me wrong, the flashpackers don't behave much differently than normal backpackers, it's just that the latter are more persistent and generally with better budgeting discipline unlike the first.

While flashpackers would probably compromise on budget looking for slightly better quality of traveling experience in basic amenities doesn't mean they don't bargain on every items and service purchased.

In short, the tolerance of expenditure could differ, but they all are seeking for the common thing in traveling, that is the fulfillment of cultural exploration and meeting up with new friends from all backgrounds with great stories to share.

I like the quote from How to travel the world, whether you are a backpacker or flashpacker, there's no difference in the spirit and soul.

Backpacking is about opening up your mind to new things and looking differently at the world, it's about the spirit, not about the amount you carry, and how much of flash you are.

Flashpacker, the new way of backpacking

So are you a backpacker or flashpacker? It doesn't really matter.

The Wonder Aquatic World, Pulau Tioman

This is the time in life, I'd want to get out of the house door and don't stop running until I'm totally exhausted.

It's been crazy weeks for me and my travel time and blog are first to be compromised to be set a side for while.

We all live in the same timespace defined by the Universe, racing against timeline and deliverables, given the equal time to complete some tasks whether we like it or not, we just have to do it.

One sensible I learnt to do is to stay positive, give all your best while you can.

Happy New Year! 

I wish you all the best in 2012 although the Mayan had predicted the end of world, apocalypse is coming this December 21 according to them.

The date that is regarded as the end date of 5,125 year long cycle in the Mesoamerican long count calendar.

I'd spend my time thinking about what to do next if the day doesn't come than worrying about it.

Nevertheless, it's still unbelievable that the Mayan's influence is so great and very exciting to see if the Mayans had actually predicted it rightly.

Do you know that there are still many Mayan descendants and languages being spoken today?

Tioman Island, East Malaysia

Tioman is a small lovely island located 32km off the east coast of East Malaysia, Pahang, 39km long and 12km wide, renowned for its diverse marine life and inland forest.

There were 4-5 stops before finally reaching Salang beach where I spent couple of nights, I chose Salang because it was recommended by my friend but I was sure they were pretty much the same except that Salang was nearer to the snorkeling spots.

Tioman, the perfect place for weekend retreat

Image taken from MalaysiaMap.org

Snorkeling and diving in the wonderful aquatic world of the South China Sea is always the key attraction to Pulau Tioman.

This resort is one of the more expensive ones in Salang

Sea transport

Wonderful day at Tioman

Getting into Tioman can be by sea or air, a conservation fee of RM10 will be incurred, I took the fast boat and it was about RM70 per trip which would double if you think you are coming back =).

There was only single jetty and single boat operator, it was a painful experience as the seat was typically lack of space for tall and big size travelers.

The malfunctioning air-cond on the way back wasn't helping at all it was unimaginable, incredibly suck and really screwed up the whole experience of Tioman.

I hope the boat operator and the travel agency would take a good look at the matter and fix the air-cond at least.

Resting booth at Tioman beach

Resting on the swinging hammock on the sunny day and listening to the sound of wave was heavenly joy particularly with Chang beer found from the one and only tax free store.

Tioman usually would have less travelers in September, I was worrying about the rainy season before the trip but it was all OK, and less travelers meant I had more quiet and quality time relaxing at the beach.

Snorkeling tour package to the neigbouring small islands was easily found along the beach for around RM80/USD28.

Make sure you rent a boat with roof, check with your tour guide before committing unless you love The Sun so much

Leaving the main island to snorkeling spots, Tioman

Salang Beach Resort

Salang Beach Resort offers non air-conditioning room for twin sharing starting from RM80/USD25 per night, RM110/35 with air-conditioning.

They also offer budgeted single room for only RM40/USD13, these wooden rooms carried beautiful local architectural design.

Salang Beach Resort

Salang Beach Resort

Resting area at door front, it's my drinking place in the morning, afternoon and night

The island remains considerably clean and unpolluted at most of the areas and is strictly enforced nature reserve by Malaysia authorities.

Tioman has less visitors if compared to some of the most famous islands such as Koh Phuket and Koh Samui in our culture-rich neighbour, Thailand due to some obvious reasons including the enforcement.

I believe the night life activities are also playing an important for a travelers like me though I can't speak for the most of them, besides the beautiful beach we need more pubs, beers, music and party!

All these are my personal demand and we know damn well that we can't possibly achieve that without compromising the pollution on the sea and land.

Anyway, I believe Tioman island (Pulau Tioman) is still the most sensible retreat destination at all time.