Day trip to Taipei Outskirts

Day 6: Tuesday 19 Nov 2013

We wanted to cover the following itineraries and there is no way we can do them in a day using public transportation with two children in tow.

Yehliu Geopark 野柳地質公園

Keelung 基隆

Shifen 十分

Jiufen 九份

Jinguashi 金瓜石

So we did what family with children normally does, hire a vehicle and a driver. There are a lot of drivers for hire in Taipei, most of the taxi drivers offer packages NT$4000 for 8 hours trip or half day trip at half of the price. Our driver is not a taxi driver, he is an independent private driver. We hired him through Miss Weiting from Vintage Travel Hostel. He charged us the same amount for 8 hours but he took longer than that and did not charged us extra. He wanted to show us more places but our kids begged us to call it quits.

Our driver Ah Bei, picked us up at 8.30 a.m. and he gave us a summary of how we were going to approach our travel that day. He suggested that we go to Yehliu Geopark first and work our way down from there. He seems to understand our loved of the sea. Whenever I see the sea, I will remember this poem:

A Day at Sea

There's nothing like a day at sea

To meditate about this earth

To think of all the challenges

We've conquered since our birth.

Life isn't just a one way street

Where we can't lift our voices.

From birth until the day we die

We're given many choices.

How many times we found ourselves

In troubled waters and despair.

So we hang on tight and sail our ship

Knowing our faith will get us there.

Life itself is like the sea

We never know what waters we may sail

So seize the moment, live one day at a time.

Hold on to love and keep the faith.

God won't let us fail.

Author : Unknown

Taken in Yehliu Geopark.

In Shifen, doing what most tourists do, releasing the lantern with a prayer.

In Taiwan, when one do the 'big' business in public toilet, they are advised to throw their tissue into the waste bin to prevent the toilet bowl from clogging. This toilet however is a rarity, nobody is allowed to do their 'big' business here!

Shifen old bridge.

The famous train that pass through Shifen township, literally in the middle of the town.

Taken in Jiufen 九份, overlooking Keelung coastline.

Our driver Ah Bei with Kay.

The famous Lai Ah Poh stall.

Nothing fancy, our local 'bubur cha cha' is much better.

Braised pork rice - our lunch.

There are remnants of the Japanese era everywhere in Taiwan.

Jinguashi 金瓜石.

This Golden waterfall is just awesome, they don't cost a dime. We did not go to Shifen waterfall, we did not want to see the waterfall for NT$75.

Looking at Jiufen on the hill yonder from Keelung coast.

The fishing port in Keelung

Relaxing after a tiring day.

Smiling at last!

To see more photographs click here. The following day we moved to Zhongxiao East Road, where shopping malls, tall modern buildings and young and vibrant crowd are found.