TAIWAN 2024: First travel experience
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| View of Taipei 101 from Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall | Photo by: Bka Soi |
This was our first time traveling to Taiwan. We decided to travel in early March since it was a period of transition from winter to spring. During this time, temperature was comfortably cool, and it was also an ideal time to catch cherry blossom, tulips and some other flowers bloom.
Departure
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| Cebu Mactan International Airport - Terminal 2 | Photo by: adia_listic |
We arrived at the airport as early as 2 am. Since my work finished at 12 midnight, I did not have time to sleep. So, I quickly went home to grab my bag, and after that, my wife and I hurried off to the airport.
With recent news surrounding immigration issues, we could not help but feel a bit anxious. However, we reassured ourselves with the confidence that we had prepared all of our documents beforehand. We presented our passports, itinerary, roundtrip bookings, and hotel reservations to the Immigration officer. Thankfully she wasn't hard on us. She simply asked about the purpose of our travel, where we worked, and whether any of us were Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). It was also advantageous that I still had my company ID in my wallet, which I promptly showed to the officer.
Be aware that taking photos and videos in the immigration area is strictly prohibited. Additionally, it is advisable to maintain politeness when interacting with the immigration officer. Make sure to greet him or her as you approach and maintain eye contact when responding to any questions.
Arrival
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TAIWAN monument signage before immigration area |
Our trip to Taiwan was a direct flight from Cebu which lasted for about 2 hours and 30 minutes. The flight was smooth and with a favorable weather conditions throughout. We arrived at Taoyuan International airport Terminal 1 ahead of time. Upon arrival we headed straight to the immigration. Way finding was easy since pathways were clearly marked, including signages in English.
There were already a lot of arriving guests when we got to the immigration area. However, the process was expedited as immigration clearance was done through electronic machines, resulting in a swift queue. Since we didn't have checked-in baggage, we headed to collect our pre booked SIM cards and Easy Cards via klook after clearing immigration. Using our GoTyme card, we withdrew money from one of the ATMs at the arrival hall. We also tried our luck at Lucky land, unfortunately the odds were not in our favor that day. Before leaving the airport, we grabbed lunch at the 7-eleven store located one floor below the arrival hall. Unfortunately, there were no seats at all, only a line of tables. So we had to eat our lunch standing.
It is important to note that the airport is located in a different city, approximately 40 kilometers from Taipei City. However, traveling to Taipei City from the airport is convenient since they are connected by Taoyuan Airport MRT. Opting for the express line or the purple line, we reached Taipei City in just about 35 minutes.
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| Taoyuan Airport MRT Route |
The official currency of Taiwan is New Taiwan Dollar or NTD with an approximate conversion rate of around Php1.8 to NTD 1.00. Travelers have the option to either exchange your Philippine peso bills at any currency exchange booths in the airport or use your Philippine ATM cards to withdraw money from ATM Machines in Taiwan. It is important to notify your bank beforehand if you intend to use your ATM cards abroad. This helps prevent any issues with transactions being flagged as suspicious or fraudulent. In our case, using our GoTyme card and Maya Card allowed us to use them directly without the need of making prior arrangements. With our maya card we incurred a Php200 charge for a single transaction, whereas there were no transaction fees with the GoTyme Card.
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| Upper left: Three common NTD bills and four of five NTD coins. Lower right: Size comparison of Php 1000 and NTD 1000 bills |
The size of NTD bills is almost identical to the Philippine peso bills. Among the five denominations of NTD bills, three are the most commonly used: 1000, 500, and 100. The other two denominations are 2000 and 200. In addition, there are five NTD coins in circulation, valued at 50, 20, 10, 5, 1, and 0.5.
Sim Card and Easy Card
To access the internet, travelers have the choice of either renting a portable Wi-Fi at the airport or purchasing their own SIM card or maybe you could get both. Having your own SIM card is also important, as certain establishments in Taiwan may require a local phone number. We encountered this requirement at Chiayi Look Hotel. In addition to that, we decided to procure separate SIM cards to ensure that my wife and I could stay in touch in case of accidental separation.
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| Left: Seven day unlimited data SIM card Right: My wife while waiting in line to collect our cards |
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| Klook provided easy cards. Sanrio-themed easy cards. |
Destinations
The choice of destination often depends on personal interests. Additionally, the time of year can significantly influence itineraries of travelers, as some locations can present different experiences depending on the season. Like the blooming of flowers in springtime, and the presence of snow in higher altitude mountains during winter.
We listed below the places we visited in this particular trip.
Taipei City
Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan, is a harmonious clash of history and modernity. The city serves as hub for tourists seeking to explore Taiwan. At its heart stands Taipei 101, an architectural marvel and perhaps the most iconic structure in Taiwan. It was considered the tallest building in the world until the completion of Burj Khalifa in 2010. Among the places we visited are Taipei 101, Taipei City Hall, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall, Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, and the vibrant Ximending District.
Chiayi City
Our favorite city in Taiwan so far. Apart from the fact that my wife is an avid fan of the TV series Meteor Garden, we find that Chiayi City kind of resonates with our personalities. We felt that this city is capable of either being quite or vibrant if needed to be.
Chiayi City serves as the gateway to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area. Apart from being the transfer hub for tourist visiting Alishan, Chiayi City offers several noteworthy attractions. These include the charming Japanese houses in Hinoki Village, the Alishan Forest Railway Garage Park, the peaceful Song of the forest, National Chung Cheng University (NCCU), where the popular TV series Meteor Garden was filmed, and the modestly vibrant atmosphere of Wenhua Road Night Market.
Chiayi County
Fenqihu and Alishan National Forest Recreation Area were the primary reasons why we were drawn to the idea of visiting Taiwan. There is an indescribable allure to the serenity of elevated destinations that keeps us captivated and drawn to. Fenqihu sits at around 1403 meters above sea level, while Alishan is even higher, at around 2216 meters above sea level.
Certainly, the mountains of Chiayi County has a lot more to offer, including the hiking trails and the scenic tea plantations of Shizhao. But due to the limited time we had, we were only able to visit Fenqihu and Alishan, where we definitely had a wonderful time nonetheless.
Taichung City
Taichung is a dynamic and a progressive city. It serves as a transfer point to other attractions in Taiwan like the popular Sun Moon Lake. The city is home to Feng Chia Night Market, which rivals the largest Night Market in all of Taiwan. But perhaps, the driving factor that led us to include Taichung in our itinerary were undoubtedly the flowers of Zhongshe Flower Market. Considering the timing of our visit in Taiwan, it was a perfect opportunity for us to witness tulips in full bloom.
Another attraction that stirred our interests was the National Taichung Theater, designed by renowned Japanese architect Toyo Ito, recipient of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize.
While in Taichung, we did not miss out in trying their famous Miyahara Ice cream. Not only were we amazed by the delectable taste of their ice cream, but we were also impressed by the enchanting Hogwarts-inspired interior of their shop.
Accommodations
Finding accommodations has become increasingly convenient now that there are multiple online booking platforms in operation. Taiwan offers variety of hotel accommodations, ranging from budget-friendly establishments to a more luxurious stays.
Taiwan uses Type A and Type B outlets operating in 110 volts. Fortunately, modern chargers are now capable of working with 100V to 240V, making them fit to be used in Taiwan without the need of buying voltage adapters. To confirm compatibility, inspect the input data on each of chargers.
Listed below are the accommodations we stayed-in during this trip.
- Bluewater Hotel, Taoyuan City
- Chiayi Look Hotel, Chiayi City
- Gau Shan Ching Hotel, Alishan Forest Recreation Area
- Chance Hotel, Taichung City
- Tomorrow Hotel, Taipei City
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| Left: Convenience Outlet in one of our accommodations in Taiwan Right: Location of Voltage input data on a cellphone charger |
Transportation
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| One of trains at Taichung main station | Photo by: Bka Soi |
Taiwan has a number of public transportation options for travelers. For intercity travel, buses are the cheapest but often take longer to reach destinations. HSR or High Speed Rail provides the fastest travel time but is the most expensive option. Alternatively, Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) offers a more affordable option but is much slower than the HSR.
Unlike TRA stations that are located in City centers, note that in some cities, HSR station is situated far from city centers and would require transferring to a different transportation. In Chiayi, there is a free shuttle bus stationed just outside the HSR building. This shuttle bus offers transportation from HSR station directly to Chiayi main station, which is located in the City. In Taichung, HSR station and Taichung main station are connected by TRA via Xinwuri station. Xinwuri station is connected to HSR station and can be reached by foot.
Within cities, common modes of transportation include MRT, buses, and taxis, although most cities do not have MRT systems yet. Also, bicycles are available for rent, providing an alternative way for getting around cities.
Although using easy cards greatly enhances the convenience of utilizing most of public transportation in Taiwan, there are some exceptions. During this trip, we were unable to use our easy cards for the taxi that we hired in Chiayi City, Alishan Express train, and the High Speed Rail (HSR).
Information on schedule and fare rates are available online. Below are links to public transportation website for reference.
- Taipei Metro
- Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA)
- Taiwan High Speed Rail (HSR)
- Alishan Express
- Taiwan Bus Tracker
- Taiwan iBus Information system
Food
One of many things we wanted to do was to sample the flavors of Taiwan particularly their street food. Unfortunately however, we were constrained by the fact that both my wife and I can only load in by not as much, preventing us to indulge in a wide variety of dishes. Nevertheless we still managed to enjoy a number of their culinary offerings.
We were surprised of how generous the size of their servings were. They may come in a slightly higher prize but the size of one order can actually be shared by two people.
Taiwan has a rich tea culture, and their iconic drink, bubble tea, has gained global popularity in years. Taichung is one of two places in Taiwan where bubble tea is said to have originated. Despite our interest, it was unfortunate that we overlooked the opportunity to sample their renowned drink during our visit in the city.
Nevertheless, here are some of the food and drinks we tried and the places where sampled them. Hotstar fried chicken and Butterfly squid were our two favorites.
Souvenir Stamps
A fun way to preserve memories in Taiwan is by collecting souvenir stamps. The very first stamp was made for mountaineers to mark their successful summit to Taiwan's highest peak. Today, the tradition of collecting stamp has thrived, with almost all of destinations and transportation stations across the country having their own stamps. They are commonly found in tourist information centers and they are free.
Of course, we took part on this trend. So, before leaving for Taiwan, we got each of us simple booklet. Upon reaching each of our destinations, the first thing we did was to seek out their souvenir stamps. For the most part, they were easy to find. Unfortunately for us, we missed the stamp at Miyahara. Despite it being placed right by the entry door, we failed to notice it as our focus was completely drawn to the design of the interior of the building.
Nonetheless, here are the stamps that we were able to collect during this trip.
Pasalubong
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| Left: Souvenir shop in Underground mall, Taipei main station Right: Mr. Ho's Shop in Ximending district |
While buying gifts (pasalubong) for families and friends back home has been a tradition for Filipinos traveling, know that they are not mandatory. Nonetheless, the act of bringing pasalubong shows a great deal of thoughtfulness on the part of the traveler to families and friends back home.
Most attractions in Taiwan has souvenir shops. Most sell keychains and ref magnets with designs that are relevant to the place. In our case, we purchased our pasalubong from underground mall in Taipei main station for keychains and ref magnets and in Mr. Ho's shop at Ximending district for local delicacies.
Itinerary
Day 1:
06:40 am Departure from Cebu Mactan International Airport
09:30 am Arrival at Taoyuan International Airport Terminal 1
Collect SIM cards and Easy cards at arrival hall
Lucky Land at arrival hall
Early lunch at airport 7-eleven
11:00 am Travel to Taipei City via Taoyuan Airport MRT express (purple) line
11:35 am Arrival at Taipei main station
Deposit bags in a locker
Start of Taipei City tour
04:00 pm Head back to Taipei main station
Collect bags from locker
Buy dinner
05:30pm Travel to Taoyuan City via Taoyuan Airport MRT commuter (blue) line
06:40 pm Arrival at Taoyuan HSR station
Tour around Gloria outlet
Travel to Bluewater hotel buy foot
Day 2:
06:49 am Departure from Taoyuan HSR station
08:09 am Arrival at Chiayi HSR station
08:50 am Travel to NCCU by taxi
09:20 am Arrival at NCCU
Start Meteor Garden tour
12:00 pm Buy lunch at Family Mart inside NCCU
Lunch at lagoon
01:30 pm Travel to Chiayi City main station via Bus 106
02:30 pm Arrival at Chiayi City main station
Collect physical ticket of Alishan Express train for the next day
Start Chiayi City tour
04:00 pm Chek-in at Chiayi Look hotel
06:00 pm Dinner at Winhua Road night market
Day 3:
07:00 am Breakfast at Hotel
07:30 am Head to Chiayi City main station
08:30 am Departure to Fenqihu via Alishan Express
11:50 am Arrival at Fenqihu
Lunch at Fenqihu
01:00 pm Travel to Alishan National Forest Recreation Area by bus 7329A
02:00 pm Arrival at Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
03:00 pm Check-in at Gau Shan Ching Hotel
Tour Around Recreation Area
04:30 pm Early Dinner
05:00 pm Evening hike
Day 4:
06:00 am Hike around Alishan National Forest Recreation Area
Buy Food at 7-eleven for early lunch
10:00 am Check-out
11: 40 am Travel to Chiayi City main station by bus
02:00 pm Arrival at Chiayi City main station
Travel to Chiayi HSR station via free shuttle bus
04:08 pm Travel to Taichung City via HSR
04:30 pm Arrival at Taichung HSR station
Head to Xinwuri station
04:51 pm Travel to Taichung City main station via TRA
05:18 pm Arrival at Taichung City main station via TRA
06:00 pm Check-in at Chance Hotel
06: 45 pm Taichung City Tour + Dinner
Day 5:
06:00 am Early Check-out
Head to Taichung main station
Deposit bag in lockers inside main station
06:43 am Travel To Tai'an Via TRA
07:23 am Arrival at Tai'an TRA Station
Head to Zhongshe flower market by foot
08:00 am Zhongshe flower market
10:00 am Head back to Tai'an TRA station by foot
10:51 am Travel back to Taichung main station via TRA
11:28 am Arrival at Taichung main station
Head to Miyahara ice cream shop by foot
11:45 am Miyahara ice cream shop
12:00 pm Head back to Taichung main station
Recover bags from lockers
02:32 pm Travel to Taipei City via HSR
03:33 pm Arrival at Taipei HSR station
Head to Underground mall for pasalubong
Head to Ximending district by MRT (Bannan line)
04:30 pm Check-in at Tomorrow Hotel
05:00 pm Ximending night markiet tour
Buy pasalubong + Dinner
Day 6:
06:00 am Early Check-out
Head to Taipei main station via MRT (Bannan Line)
07:00 am Travel to Taoyuan International Airport T1 via Taoyuan Airport MRT Express line
10:30 am Departure from Taoyuan International Airport T1
12:45 pm Arrival at Cebu Mactan International Airport T2
Departure back to Cebu
Our 6th day in Taiwan marks the end of this trip. Knowing that this country has so much more to offer, 6 days of traveling felt relatively short. Nonetheless, the entire journey we had left an indelible mark on our memories.
Our trip back to Cebu went smooth. With our flight scheduled at 10:30am, we departed Taoyuan International Airport on time and arrived at Cebu Mactan International Airport as scheduled.
Thank you for taking time to read this blog. For reference we included below our expenses and the documents we prepared. You can also check our social media pages in the links below.
https://www.instagram.com/mr_mrs_luzares/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071649199699
YouTube
Day 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7NQDVcH0es&t=1122s
Day 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr__qwXjnLs&t=3s
Day 3 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCFUbVDqPhw&t=44s
Day 4 & 5 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pDQehi2jd8&t=918s
We hope we are able to share few valuable insights with you.
Until then, as Rick Steves would say,
"keep on traveling!".
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| Mr. and Mrs. Luzares at Chang Kai-shek Memorial Hall |
Expenses
For reference, below are the estimated amount we spent during this particular trip (5 nights/6 days). Note that this is for 2 persons and the conversion we used here is at NTD 1 = Php 1.76.
Plane ticket ----------------------------------Php 13,575.00
Travel Insurance ---------------------------Php 700.00
Travel Tax ------------------------------------Php 3,240.00
SIM cards and Easy Cards --------------Php 3,497.60
Accommodation ----------------------------Php 17,410.78
Transportation ------------------------------Php 11,680.36
Food -------------------------------------------Php 8,287.28
Entrance fees -------------------------------Php 1,054.00
Pasalubong ----------------------------------Php 5,000.00
Misc. -------------------------------------------Php 3,288.00
Total Expenses ------------------------------Php 67,733.02
Documents
- Passport
- Plane ticket
- Itinerary
- Hotel Reservations
- Travel Insurance
- E-Travel https://etravel.gov.ph/
- Arrival Card https://roc-taiwan.org/id_en/post/814.html
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