12 Days in Taiwan - Day Three (Taichung!)

Full of anticipation that we are finally leaving the "spacious" Taiwanmex, both of us could not get to sleep the previous night! 2 nights of iron bed have left us with sore bodies and heavy eye bags.




Look at the evidence and you will see two panda-looking humans! Hee! This is us on the train bound for Taichung! This is DA state that promises nothing short of paradise. It is not only a state, it is DA state in the middle of Taiwan [Just look at its name, ppl]! It promises a wonderful lake [Sun Moon Lake], numerous shopping streets & cafes and not forgetting, the "rumoured" chiobuS that makes everyone go weak in their knees! Remember the geisha look? Hee, that is exactly what I'm talking about. We are READY! :D




When we set foot on Taichung railway station, I was just thinking to myself what a well planned trip this is. Mr Low has certainly done a wonderful job of planning. Just when I was beginning to be impressed by what he can do with his spare time, we met with a situation! The round-island railway booklet that we bought for 7 rides only allow us to travel round Taiwan in a loop. But our next trip is actually a detour to Hualien, which by Mr Low's planning won't get us there with our booklet! But all thanks to this super helpful train officer that helped us plan an alternative route! We are after all going Hualien with our magical booklet! Hee, if not, you can imagine how shamefully Mr Low will die under my clutches for lousy planning! Haha, he should really thank his lucky stars! ;p

After almost half an hour of train booth chat with the officer, we were almost ready to be stoned to death by the people waiting in our line. Out of the station finally, we embarked on our next task on the agenda, to locate the bus stop for Sun Moon Lake! Directions are very lousy in Taiwan, totally not tourist friendly. With my tolerance expiring and the bus stop nowhere in sight, I gave Mr Low a resentful look! He always refuses to ask when in need! Bleah! So we ended up walking back to the railway station's visitor centre to ask for directions. The weather was humid, my sweat was dripping and my backpack was impossible, but luckily the gal at the centre was knowledgeable and gave us good directions! I told myself that Mr Low just escaped a bashing! :)




We finally made it to our hostel, Hero House! Initially, I thought Taiwan was trying to be funny by naming their hostel with this cheesy name. Only upon enlightenment by the cabbie driver that I realised it is a hostel for army officers which are branded heroes, hence the name! Haha. Whatever la. But this place is super worth it. It cost about S$30 each per night but it is equivalent to a 3 star hotel! Clean room, cheap laundry facilities, free sports facilities, cable tv and free breakfast. What more can you ask for? Discovery channel and animal planet here we come! :D

Hee, I mentioned sports facilities yes? We saw a notice that there is a table tennis table in the hotel. Mr Low, itching to get even with me for thrashing him at the game a couple of years ago, was dying to seek revenge. We set a deadly challenge of 3 sets to decide who is the Ping Pong Kid!

Match: Loser Low vs Winner Quek
Time: 830pm
Venue: Taichung Hero House




Set 1: To let Mr Low be complacent, I decided to reserve my deadly skills to the remaining sets and PURPOSELLY lost the first game. Look at the smirk on his face and you know he is a rabbit and I am DA turtle!




Set 2: Hah! See what I mean? I don't promise what I can't do! Tsk tsk, the rabbit has fallen! 1 more to go!




Set 3: Everybody, I present you DA winner, WINNER QUEK! HAHAHAHA...look at that pathetic botak! Apparently, he has wasted years of his life furiously practising ping pong only to realise that he cannot make it STILL! This reminds me of this saying: Ni yong yuan zuo bu dao, ni yong yuan dao bu liao! [You forever cannot do it, you forever can't reach it!] ;p

Being a SORE loser, Mr Low suggested going back to the room to have our cup noodles dinner to avoid yet another walk-over. Full of sympathy for the pathetic rabbit, I agreed. Where can you find such a kind soul right? :D

Documentaries after documentaries, we found ourselves staring into this box called the television till the wee hours of the night. With Sun Moon Lake on our mind, we forced ourselves to sleep for something more exciting awaits us tomorrow! Good night and good luck. ;p