My trip to Taiwan part 5 (1 May 2008)

OK after seeing the 廟會. We rushed to the train station to catch the train to Taipei. But too bad there is no train going down. So in the end we decided to take a cab cost around NT200 to 礁溪 to take a express bus to Taipei, which will only take 45 from 礁溪 to Taipei and it cost NT95.


This is the the train ticket vending machine.

礁溪位于宜兰市北方约7公里处，是东部著名的温泉乡，整个乡镇的发展与衰落都与温泉有着密不可分的关系。

据称，早期先民见此地溪谷终年砂石堆积，故取名礁溪，“礁”就是闽南音“干涸”的意思；后来，又在这一带发现地底涌冒出温泉，所以也称此地为“汤围”或“汤仔城”。礁溪之所以会有温泉，主要因为当地地下水源丰沛而且还有地热资源，这里的温泉水质清澈透明，属无色无味的碳酸质矿泉，水温介于摄氏50~60度，具治疗皮肤病及慢性胃病的理疗功效，温泉泉眼则位于福崇寺附近，以礁溪警察分局为中心的附近地区，是礁溪温泉的精华地带，德阳路、中正路上四处可见温泉旅馆和澡堂林立，一幅典型的温泉乡景象。游客到礁溪享受温泉浴，除了选择一般温泉旅馆外，还可到烧水沟上的“公沟”或者礁溪公园后方的“玉石澡堂”享受温泉泡澡的滋味。礁溪温泉除了洗浴之外，温泉产业所推广的温泉米、温泉花卉、温泉蔬菜，知名度也在这几年大为提高。9号省道礁溪一带，沿途见到贩售大把大把的温泉空心菜，茎粗叶大白梗品种的空心菜，大火快炒，滋味特别香。

After that short introduction, now it is time to show you the main street of 礁溪,


Over here every 2m there will be a spa hot spring hotel, but they are all not cheap.


The bus schedule to go Taipei.

Finally we reached, the bus will send us straight to Taipei 101. The world tallest building for now.


Wow this is really tall.

We must take photos proof that we are here.


Look at how tall it is:


The Inside of 101.


I'm trying to copy Erwin's photo taking style:


We decided to window shopping in 101, because the things in 101 is very expensive. But one 101 have a lot of branded shops. I'm very impressed.

The next place on our itinerary is 淡水.
淡水鎮位於台北縣西北沿海處、淡水河出海口，東經121.26度，北緯25.1度，北與三芝鄉為鄰、南接台北市北投區、西濱台灣海峽、西南隔著淡水河與八里鄉遙遙相望，總面積位為70.6565平方公里；淡水鎮特殊的地理環境讓淡水擁有風光美麗的山水景色，自古即為台灣八景之一，並有『東方威尼斯』的美名，昔日更是台灣第一大港，西方文明也是由此散播至台灣北部各地.

So we took the free shuttle bus to the city hall MRT to travel to 淡水. Let me show you they MRT "ticket"


Yes this is their "ticket" it is a token!! You just need to scan the token and you can get in. Cool...


This is their MRT.

BB, honestly been to Thailand's MRT and Taiwan's MRT and Singapore MRT. Singapore is the worst. The people never queue to get on the train. The people never give way for the off Boarding people. Over here is Taiwan be it the MRT or Train. The people will always give way to the off boarding people just like Thailand. Singaporean is really low class and should think about their behavior.