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| Bagan Longshan Temple, Taipei City |
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| Bopiliao Historic Street, Taipei City |
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| Ximen Red House, Taipei City |
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| Welcome to Ximending, Taipei City |
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| Ruifang Train Station, New Taipei City |
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| Houtong Cat Village, New Taipei City |
Day 3 March 9 2024 Saturday (Taipei, Ruifang & Houtong, Taiwan) - my 1st day in Ruifang, today main focus is to take a Pingxi Line train to Houtong Cat Village (1 stop), my first visit !
1) Bo-Pi-Liao Historic Street, Lane 173, Kanding Road, Wanhua District, Taipei City - my solo early morning walk (06.30) to Guangzhou Street passing by the Bopiliao Historic Street (opening hour 09.00), this authentic historic street is related to the coal trade dating back to the Qing Dynasty & the Japanese colonial period.
2) Bangka Longshan Temple, Guangzhou Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City - a Chinese folk religious temple in Wanhua District, Taipei, built in 1738 by settlers from Fujian during Qing rule in honor of Guanyin, it served as a place of worship & a gathering place for the Chinese settlers; very impressed with the design & architecture of this ancient temple, it was dawn when I made a solo visit to this magnificent temple !
3) Guangzhou Street, Taipei City - nearby is Longshan Metro Station, Bagan Park, Bagan Longshan Temple, Guangzhou Night Market, Bopiliao Historical Blocks etc
4) Bopiliao Historical Block, Taipei City - located in Mengja, the first area been cultivated in Taipei making it iconic in Taiwanese history, the historic city blocks here featuring 18th century architecture plus an education center.
5) Bought 2 takeaway packs of fried mihoon with tofu + soya drink totalled NT$115 (Rm17.25 for 2) as breakfast (to be eaten in hotel room) from a street food stall in Guangzhou Street
6) A glimpse of downtown Taipei City as viewed from the hotel's windows.
7) Morning walk (after breakfast in hotel room) with my wife to Ximen Red House & Ximending shopping district.
8) Ximen Red House, Taipei City - a historic theater in Ximending, an iconic red brick building dating back to the Japanese colonial period (1895 > 1945), often called Hong Lo Red Play House, Red Theater, Ximen Honglou, Ximen Red House in English,
9) Ximending shopping & entertainment District - a well known shopping street to tourists especially shopping for trendy clothing & wear, bars & cafes, authentic Taiwanese food & nightlife !
10) Ximending Crossing (rainbow color with the Taipei word on it) - an Instagram spot !
11) Welcome to Ximending Arch / Sign, Taipei City - my 2nd visit having done an evening visit a night before !
12) Bo-Pi-Liao Historic Street - my 2nd visit in a single morning with my group of travel buddies, the historic building is fully opened by now (opening hour 09.00, closed on Monday).
13) Food Stalls near Guangzhou Street, Taipei City - I was alone here this early morning (06.45) to get a feel of this famous food street !
14) Savoured a bowl of pork rib / white carrot soup NT$100 (Rm15) in a restaurant in Guangzhou Street - hot & tasty ! Noticed all the seats outside were taken out & most people were enjoying eating the pork rib / white carrot soup hence our group joined the madding crowd & indeed all of us were very satisfied after tasting the pork rib soup - the best soup I had so far tasted thus far eating out in my home country & Asian countries !
15) Dabao (takeaway pack) of sweet potatoes & ginger dessert soup (NT$50 = Rm7.50) from a street stall in Guangzhou Street ! Very tempting to eat after a quick glance at the big cooking stainless steel pot ..... looks good & smells good !
16) Bangka Longshan Temple, Taipei City - my 2nd visit in the same morning together with my wife & travel buddies !
17) Bopiliao Historic Blocks, Guangzhou Street, Taipei City - my 2nd visit, passing by before returning to our hotel for check-out, next destination is Ruifang (2 nights stay)
18) TRA train ride (departing 12.21) from Taipei Main Station > Ruifang Station (36km)
Ruifang - located northeast of New Taipei City, 36km from Taipei, a popular destination for local & foreign tourists, the town has a well connected rail link to Houtong, Shifen & Pingxi & bus connection to Jiufen.
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| Taipei > Ruifang (36km) |
1) Arriving in Ruifang Station, New Taipei City
2) Hotel Accommodation (Homestay): my 2 nights stay in Delicate Perfume, Ruifang Station 14, Ruifeng Minsheng Road, room tariff NT$1,278 = Rm192 twin sharing per night, check-in time 16.00, temporary storage of our luggage due to our early arrival after given a password number to enter the homestay building !
3) Downtown Ruifang - the town is not big, easily walkable !
4) Pingxi Line train ride from Ruifang Station > Houtong Station (1 stop) - after our luggage storage in our hotel, our group took a Pingxi Line train to visit Houtong Cat Village.
5) Houtong Cat Village, New Taipi City, Taiwan - known for its prosperous coal mine, Houtong Cat Village is now famed for an abundance of cats reported to be 200 times compared to the current human population, bordering both sides of the lush Keelung River, the area is home to the Houtong Shrine Relics, scenic viewpoints & a museum. A mine cart ride is a highlight of Houtong Mine Leisure Park, while casual cafes & souvenir shops sell everything feline !
In Feb 2023, both my wife & myself together with 3 of my travel buddies visited the Cat Cat Village (known for its natural beauty), SAPA, North Vietnam - so another feather in the cap for me & my wife for visiting the Houtong Cat Village in Taiwan ...... 4 oldies "meow meow" all the way from Malaysia to Taiwan to play friend with Taiwanese cats !
6) Ruey-San Coal Dressing Plant & Coal Transporting Bridge, Houtong - a historical walk, great viewpoint, beautiful mountain scenery on both sides of the bridge !
7) Houtong Mine Leisure Park - tourists can opt for a mine cart (century old) ride through an old mine tunnel !
8) Houtong Miner's Culture & History Museum (Visionary Hall) - interesting & educational, a glimpse of the coal mining industry culture, history & glorious past !
9) Link bridge to 2nd Street, cat cafes / cat souvenir shops, windy & cool mountain air !
10) Return journey - train ride from Houtong Train Station > Ruifang Station. Time to say bye bye to Houtong Cat Village - mission accomplished & a tick to my bucket list of visits in Taiwan !
11) Train schedule from Ruifang Station > Houtong / Shifen / Pingxi (earliest is 05.07, from 08.00 onwards approx every 1 hr there is a train departure from Ruifang, suggest takes the 10.05 train so as to time your arrival with the business operating hour if you are heading to Houtong / Shifen / Pingxi)
12) Taxifares to nearby places posted in a notice signboard in front of Ruifang Train Station; if you a miss a train ride or hard pressed with time or traveling in a group of 4 (cost effective), taxi maybe a better / viable option !
13) Public bus services from Ruifang > Jiufen & Jinguashi - prepare for a long queue if you are taking a public bus especially during the peak hours & weekends !
14) Downtown Ruifang by Night - very near to our homestay hotel but cold at night (10c) so put on your warm clothing if you decide to venture out !
15) Ruifang Food Court - come with an empty stomach, pick your choice of food as you browse through the numerous food stalls here offering A to Z authentic Taiwanese food !
16) My solo evening walk to Ruifang Old Street via a Ruifang train station tunnel (exit from train back portion) !
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