Heading to Shifen

Taking the 624 train to Hualian

I dont even know if we can actually sit in the train?

May need to ask somebody later.

If you use this card, you actually have to stand all the way

Ruifang is a platform you wanna go to to either go to Jiufen or Shifen

So wherever you wanna go (Jiufen or Shifen)

from Taipei Main Station or wherever, you will still need to get to Ruifang Station first.

Now we're taking the KTM version of Taiwan

It's the railway tracks.

But since we got in with the EZ cards,

we will have to stand all the way for 40 minutes from Taipei Main Station

In the case that you actually wanna sit down,

you will have to get tickets at the counter.

Instead of using the card.

We're waiting for everybody (who has seated tickets) to sit down first.

Then we can sit.

We got quite lucky so we got seats.

But my brother has to stand.

My dad is right behind.

So if you're lucky you can get seats

but always be prepared to stand up when people come in at diff stations.

That's not a very nice sight.

(toilet door wide open)

We plan to go to Shifen first.

I think we have to take another train.

I'm quite lost actually, hold on.

1.00 PM?

Yeah, they did mention it was coming at 1.00PM.

It's coming.

We're here. 1,2,3,4.

4 stations.

After arriving at Ruifang, come to Platform No 3.

Apparently you have to tap out, and back in - because they have a time limit for travellers.

I don't think we wanna go very far.

The train is coming in 15 minutes.

So we just go back in.

The train to Shifen. Wow.

It's really crowded.

Everybody's going down (from the train)

That took about 40 minutes.

This is a self facilitating station

I'm getting abit of a sore throat already.

So crowded. (Everyone is tapping out)

Actually they had another machine there.

So far the food is about the same

Nothing very different from other markets.

The price along the whole street is the same (Lantern Set Off)

But the view from our spot here is really nice.

After the train leaves, every body comes back out to the tracks.

Standard Lu Rou Fan.

We wanted to set the lanterns up but we are going to the waterfalls first.

Ow, my bones cracked bro.

We wanted to set the lanterns up but we were running out of time.

We wanna go to the Shifen Waterfalls.

You'd have to keep walking to the waterfalls.

Is it far?

Decided to take a cab.

From Shifen Station to the Shifen Waterfalls...

..they should only charge you NTD 100.

Nothing more.

It's probably about a 5 minutes drive from here.

Saves you a lot of waiting, and time.

That was quite a quick drive.

We're crossing this hanging bridge.

Feels pretty stable but its still quite wobbly.

Proof of me on the bridge.

Found the waterfalls.

Taking the train back to RUIFANG.

It's super packed and we can't buy seats.

So you gotta queue (?)

The Ruifang Station is right over there.

But if you walk over, just abit out from the exit

You'll find this place where you can wait for a taxi.

If you have at least four people in your group..

might as well just take a cab to Jiufen.

It's abit more expensive still..

..but its easier? You don't have to wait with the crowd.

You don't have to wait for the bus.

And its just easy, just directly from the station.

The bus intervals are pretty fast.

But there's usually a lot of people.

You won't know if you can actually get in.

And i heard alot of reviews that they're usually delayed?

Think this cab is ours.

From the first impression, it looks like its a very souvenir based area?

You can buy alot of souvenirs that can tell that you came to Taiwan.

This looks abit like the Bugis area.

Is it cheese? Cant' tell.

But it tastes just like butter croissant.

It's not even cheese.

40 yuan.

Oh its the mushroom.

Maybe i can try it here?

Do you think its as nice (as the one in Shilin)?

Do you want chilli?

No please.

6.00PM and we're having our dinner.

Total would be 240 yuan.

Ah do we pay now?

Not very fond of these fishballs cause they're really floury.

It's not like..fish.

Just rushed ourselves to the train.

We initially wanted to get reserved seats.

But we were abit too late.

And it was just 2 minutes before the train was gonna arrive.

We just rushed to the platform.

and now we're all non seated.

We gotta be here for about 40 minutes

An experience.

Having our breakfast.

Finally, I am sick. (as if I've been waiting)

After 7 days, we realised eating here we don't really have much of an appetite?

Huge wastage but we really can't force ourselves to eat.

Not because it's not nice I guess?

I dunno, maybe because we're sick?

Today we're going to Zhong Xiao Dun Hua one more time.

We've been there about 2 times already.

and later we may go to Shihlin.

After that I don't know. Maybe somewhere else?

But yes. Day 7.

We are here in Din Tai Fung.

I'm feeling really, really, really unwell now.

We're gonna grab some lunch and go back and rest for at least about an hour?

Din Tai Fung is founded in Taipei.

So we thought we have to try it here la.

Each basket of Xiao Long Bao has 6.

(NEXT DAY)

It is the last day.

We are checking out in about 15 minutes maybe.

I got sick last night.

But alot better now.

I expected to really, really, really like Taipei.

But I think i set my expectations too high.

Not that it was a bad experience.

Didn't get to shop as much.

Didn't get to eat as much.

Didn't get to sightsee as much.

It was not bad. It was an okay trip.

Just that I expected alot, alot more.

Something that I didn't expect at all..

..was that the food didn't really suit our taste buds. Not just mine.

I don't know what it is.

Sometimes it's too bland.

Sometimes it's too oily?

Not complaining tho.

It's just that we all have different tastes.

And also maybe we all got sick.

Anyways, I'll just wrap everything up.

I didn't even get to wrap up certain days.

Because I was just really tired.

And..or..maybe I just forgot actually.

I'll wrap up the Taiwan vlog now.

I'l see you guys in the normal daily vlogs.

Bye!