Taiwan Trip Day 3: 9th Feb 2015, Monday
台湾之旅第三天：2月9日2015年, 星期一
Attractions for the day:
Sun Moon Lake 日月潭 [Google Maps link]
Carton King 纸箱王 [Google Maps link]
Accommodation for the day:
SPA HOME Sun Moon Lake Luxury Lakeside Hotel, SPA HOME 日月潭湖畔精致旅店 [Google Maps link]
It was the third day of our trip. We would be travelling to Taichung and then to Sun Moon Lake. We had heard about the beauty of Sun Moon Lake from others and were looking forward to seeing it with our own eyes. I had even planned for a hotel stay next to the lake itself.
First thing in the morning, we decided to look for a place to settle breakfast. Our hotel provided complimentary breakfast but we decided to give it a miss, due to the fact that what they offered did not entice us one bit. It was very simple bread and porridge, which we would prefer something nicer especially when we were in Taiwan. We ventured out of our hotel in search of a local favourite, which I found
while googling for nice breakfasts in Taipei near our hotel. They were selling sandwiches with ingredients toasted with charcoal. 碳烤肉蛋吐司 was the name found on their menu. We ordered two sets which included drinks, which were the tuna with cheese toast 鮪魚蛋饼 and the tuna omelette 鮪魚蛋饼. Since these items were toasted with charcoal, it gave them the wonderfully toasted taste. And they were cheap too. Each set cost only NT$40+.
Unfortunately, the next time we were there in 2016, the shop was no longer selling those items!
All ready for the day's adventure.
All breakfast sets for less than NT$50.
Tuna with cheese toast 鮪魚乳酪吐司.
Tuna egg omelette 鮪魚蛋饼
The cosy-looking hotel lobby.
The not-so-impressive breakfast area.
After satisfying our tummies, we returned to the hotel and took a short nap before checking out. We then set off for Taipei Main Station. It was only a short walk to the station thanks
to the wonderful location of Royal Hotel.
It was a really small and cramp lobby area.
Welcome to Taipei Station!
We got our High-Speed Rail (HSR) tickets from the ticket counter at NT$765 per pax. The journey would only take less than an hour to reach Taichung. And what better way to spend time on the train than to have bento lunch? We got ourselves some bento boxes from the bento box shop in the station. These bento boxes reminded us of what we did on the Shinkansens in our previous Japan trip.
Less than an hour to reach Taichung.
The railway station bento box shop.
Gantries to the HSR train platforms.
After boarding the train, we were quite happy with the fact that the seats were spacious, clean and comfortable. There really is a lot of similarities in culture between Taiwan and Japan. Next thing when the train moved off was for us to feast on our bento box lunch. while admiring the scenery passing by.
Momo Dear is excited to take the HSR.
Pork ribs set and star fruit drink for me.
The pork ribs set looks really good, doesn't it?
Pork ribs and green tea drink for Momo Dear.
The picturesque scenery of the rice fields in the countryside.
Arrived in Taichung!
The High-Speed Rail train that we took to Taichung.
In no time, we arrived at Taichung. It was a really spacious station. We looked around the area and saw a huge goat sculpture at a distance being erected, presumably for the upcoming Year of the Goat for Chinese New Year. Next, we took an escalator down to the area where the bus station was. There was a counter selling the various types of passes for traveling to and around Sun Moon Lake. We then took the NT$990 pass since it covered all the items on our itinerary, such as ferry ride (NT$300), bus to Sun Moon Lake (NT$239), ropeway to and entrance to Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village (NT$780), Round-the-Lake Bus one day pass (NT$80), Shuishe to Xiangshan Bus one-way voucher (NT$26), and also an alternate way to Sun Moon Lake via bus from Taichung to Puli and then to Sun Moon Lake (NT$154 + NT$85). With the pass, there were various discounts around Sun Moon Lake as well for the passholder, such as bike rentals, food and drinks, souvenirs etc. We made use of the pass to get some souvenirs by visiting some of the places of worship. More details below.
Very huge and spacious station lobby.
Construction of a huge goat sculpture for Chinese New Year celebrations.
The outside of Taichung HSR Station.
Take the escalator to Exit 5-6 to board a bus to Sun Moon Lake.
The many passes for traveling to and around Sun Moon Lake.
We opted for the NT$990 Sun Moon Lake Pass.
It is definitely worth getting the pass.
The bus ride took us through the rural regions of Taichung, and it was a great way to take in the sights. But of course one would succumb to the fatigue of traveling and often doze off on such a cosy ride instead. Within an hour, we reached Sun Moon Lake, where the bus dropped us off right outside the Shueishe Visitor Centre. This was where you would get all the brochures you need for a nice trip around Sun Moon Lake. Our first task was to make our way to our hotel, the SPA HOME Sun Moon Lake Luxury Lakeside Hotel, which was just a short 3-minute walk from the visitor centre.
Areca palm 槟榔 trees could be found all over Taiwan.
More farms and mountains along the way.
The Shueishe Visitor Center, a must-go for all the information you need.
There are plenty of other interesting places to visit in this building.
Upon checking in, we were given the room on the second floor. The bad thing was there were no elevators in this hotel, and it would be quite a hassle to climb the stairs with your luggage if you were with seniors or kids. However, upon stepping into our room, we were treated to a mesmerizing view of Sun Moon Lake. Imagine waking up to such a view every morning! We spent some time admiring the view and the room itself as well. A large king-size bed, a sofa and dressing table, a huge TV, and large bathtub which you can soak in and admire the beautiful lake at the same time.
Our hotel room at last.
Our room's mesmerizing view of Sun Moon Lake.
Our comfy bed for the night.
Even the bathroom has a magnificent view.
You can use the shower if you're not into bathtubs.
Looks pretty ok.
Many ferries ready to ferry passengers across the lake.
Love the weather and view.
A lovely hotel situated by the lake.
Doesn't look too flattering from the outside.
We then made our way outside to the streets to the left of the hotel and explored around the area. Then we walked past rows of shops and also the wharf area, where some people were selling ferry tickets. We were told by hotel staff not to get from them as they charged normal rates, whereas the hotels could give discounted tickets. In any case it did not matter because we were using the NT$990 pass which included the ferry ticket. We walked further down the street visiting some of the shops which were selling interesting souvenirs. Then we came to a quiet area which had a great view of Sun Moon Lake.
Don't buy ferry tickets from these guys here.
You can get them at a discount at most hotels.
You can get them at a discount at most hotels.
A shop selling musical boxes and other souvenirs.
This shop sells cute little souvenirs.
Is this a cherry blossom tree? No, it's a plum blossom tree.
We reached an area called Meihe Park 梅荷園. There were beautiful sheltered areas with pebbled ground and walls all around, overlooking the magnificent Sun Moon Lake. Over here we could see the ferries, wharf and even our hotel. There was also a large rock carved with the Chinese characters of Sun Moon Lake 日月潭. Nearby we saw a flight of stairs leading up to a chapel-like structure. Indeed it was a chapel named 耶稣堂, or Jesus Hall. There was nothing much inside the chapel, however there was a stamp right at the door, and we used the stamp on our passes, which would enable us to get souvenirs from the visitor centre.
A nice little corner to admire the beauty of Sun Moon Lake.
That is our SPA HOME hotel right at the back.
Momorange loves Sun Moon Lake.
There are many such rocks found all around the area.
A chapel, which is situated at the top of a hill.
There was not much to see in the area anymore, therefore we backtracked and turned into another street where there were more restaurants and shops. There was also a 7-Eleven. An right between the 7-Eleven and the restaurant, there was a little signage saying "朵丽丝の家" and path that led to Doris Home, our accommodation for the next day.
We almost missed this small little signage for Doris Home.
A small little walkway between two buildings to reach Doris Home.
We then walked back to the Shueishe Visitor Centre and explored what the building itself had to offer. There was a Teresa Teng Memorial Museum with a NT$80 entrance fee. (It is now permanently closed.) One of the more recommended place to visit was Carton King. The place was more of a shop selling all kinds of interesting things, but one thing in common was the items were all made of cardboard. There were also plenty of structures and miniature buildings such as the Eiffel Tower and Leaning Tower of Pisa.
A Teresa Teng Memorial Museum.
Momo Dear and deers.
Leaning Tower of Sun Moon Lake.
This Eiffel Tower is leaning too!
Loads of cardboard art.
A nice place to visit if you're in Sun Moon Lake.
A tree with colourful hanging lights.
Mosaic art all made of cardboard.
There was also a cardboard restaurant, where everything from the steamboat to the chairs and tables were made of cardboard. Quite an interesting concept. However, we were more enticed by fastfood from the MOS Burger restaurant just opposite. Therefore we decided to settle dinner with some unhealthy fast-food.
Even a cardboard restaurant.
Fancy having a cardboard steamboat?
We were more enticed by the burgers at MOS Burger.
Nothing beats having a burger when you're hungry.
One of our favourite burger joints, even in Singapore.
Loads of other unhealthy snacks to go with our burgers.
Momo Dear high-fives the owl.
There were plenty of seats outside the MOS Burger restaurant.
There was nothing much to do since it was getting dark. We decided to return to our hotel and sleep early. But before sleeping, it would be nice to check out the room once again.
There was a reason they had a "Luxury" word to the name of the hotel.
They provided HERMES personal care products in the shower. A pity we did not make use of their spa service, since it mentioned on their website that they provided 100% natural essential oils. But definitely a good choice for a hotel stay at Sun Moon Lake if one is into spa and relaxation.
A night-time view of our bed.
HERMES brand bath solutions.
SPA HOME Sun Moon Lake Luxury Lakeside Hotel, SPA HOME 日月潭湖畔精致旅店
Address: No. 95, Zhongshan Road, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan 555
Tel: +886-49-2855577
Website: http://www.spahome.com.tw/
For a list of the hotels available for booking in Nantou County, Taiwan via Agoda.com, click here.
To make a hotel booking at SPA HOME Sun Moon Lake Luxury Lakeside Hotel, click here.
Links to our Taiwan Trip 2015
Day 1
Day 2 - Pingxi Line Day Trip
Day 4
Day 4 - Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village
Day 5
Day 5 - Hello Kitty Kitchen and Dining
Day 6
Day 7
Souvenirs>
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