Day 3 - 12 July 2019

My breakfast was sandwich and tea (takeaway) which only cost NTD 40. I enjoyed it at the comfort of the relaxed area at CityInn’s 2nd floor.

At about 855am, I got ready to meet the guy outside the hotel who was to bring me around for today’s tour. To my surprise, it was a taxi. In my logical expectation, I thought it would have been a bus or a coach or even a private car. Little did I expected that it was a taxi driver who would be bringing me around for today’s tour.

This taxi uncle (Mr Fang) exacerbated the situation by telling me that one of the location in the planned itinerary - Thousand Island Lake - had to be cancelled because the place was not open for the day. His tone was matter-of-factly with no hint of empathy at all. I was already disappointed before we had reached our first destination but I didn’t make my feelings known to him as it wasn’t his fault too. He tried his best to salvage the situation by recommending alternatives but I wasn’t prepared for spontaneity. Anyway, after some discussion, I decided to visit Wulai since Thousand Island Lake wouldn’t be possible.

Our first destination was Maokong. I skipped the gondola ride as Mr Fang drove straight up the mountain. At Maokong, he drove around and asked me where I would like to stop for a walk. I had to quickly search for what possible activities to do in Maokong. After a quick search via google, someone on the internet recommended the Camphora Tree Trail. So, Mr Fang drove me to the starting point of the trail and I began my walk. It was a pretty lovely walk among nature, surrounded by trees, big fields, flowers and a nice pond.

Mr Fang then drove me to “Taipei Tea Promotion Center for Tie Guanyin Tea and Baozhong Tea”. In Mandarin, it is called “臺北市鐵觀音包種茶研發推廣中心”. What a long name but it literally explains what this place is all about. I met a pleasant lady who let me try out an assortment of tea flavours. I then toured around the place before I left.

Next, it was Yaoyue Tea House. I ordered seafood fried noodle, Tie Kuan Yin steamed pork dumplings and white radish cake for lunch. After lunch, I had an hour to while away and what better way to spend it than by drinking tea (again)? Haha. I had to DIY and step-by-step followed the instructions to make my first cup and thereafter, it was a breeze. It was a lovely experience.

We left Yaoyue at 1pm and Mr Fang drove me to Wulai, our next destination. It was about 50 min car ride. It was raining. Besides the iconic Wulai Waterfall, Mr Fang recommended two things that one could possibly do at Wulai - take the cable car and/or a train ride. The cable car didn’t seem to be in operation, perhaps due to the wet weather. After admiring the must-see waterfall, I did the train ride which was just for a very short 5 min. Nothing very exciting. We left Wulai at about 230pm. The duration of the car ride was longer than the actual time that I spent there. Haha.

While en route to Bagua Tea Fields, Mr Fang suddenly drove “off the beaten track” (literally). The car meandered through some narrow and winding roads before it reached a spot where one could take a nice picture of Shiding Crocodile Island. And so I did. There was a lovely tea plantation nearby too which we went. Mr Fang opined that it was much better than the Bagua Tea Fields.

He was right. We reached Bagua at 340pm. And I left in 5 min. Actually, besides taking pictures of its surroundings, one could stop for some snacks or coffee. However, I was so full that I didn’t have any stomach space to take in any more food or drinks.

Oh before I forget, I have to pen this down. Before driving to Bagua, Mr Fang actually drove to Thousand Island Lake. I then realised that it was not the lake that was closed. I mean how could a lake possibly closed? Mr Fang was actually referring to the name of the place where one could have the best view of the Thousand Island Lake. And as what Mr Fang said in the morning, it was closed for the day. It only opens on weekends. At least, there is closure. Well, though I couldn’t snap from the best spot, there was consolation in taking its view from its vicinity.

We drove to our last destination - Shenkeng Old Street - the street famous for its stinky tofu. I took a nap on our way there. We arrived at 430pm. I had my first taste of it from “金大鼎串烤香豆腐”. It didn’t smell smelly at all; no stinky smell wafted in the air as I was queuing. Perhaps, it was because the tofu was fried. Or perhaps, it’s because the name of the shop suggests that it is 香豆腐. Whatever the case, the taste was pretty good.

We left Shenkeng at 515pm. Mr Fang drove me back to the hotel and I arrived at 540pm. The traffic was quite smooth, thankfully. I relaxed a bit at the hotel before I headed out again for dinner at 京炙铁板烧 (Jing Zhi Teppanyaki). My family came with Pearl Leong some years ago and it pretty much left a very good impression ever since. I was glad to be able to eat at the restaurant again and my verdict? Still awesome...

It must have been my lack of sleep last night that I am beginning to feel tired. Tonight, I decide to have an early rest but not before I complete this post entry, at the comfort of the sofa - with a cup of hot tea - on the 2nd floor of CityInn.