As mentioned in the title, it's my birthday! Woohoo~
So on this special day, we actually engage a Taiwan driver to bring us around. And I'll strongly recommend our sweet and kind and friendly and handsome driver, 阿正 (Ah Zheng) to my readers who are planning to go to Taiwan and are looking for a driver to bring you around. He cater services for one day tour, or pick up from airport, or touring around Taiwan.
He came to our area to pick us up at 9 am, and the the first thing he asked when we board the car, is "Had your breakfast already?" I don't know why, but it's actually pretty heart warming. Cause hardly will have drivers ask such question. Probably is because we engaged him for a one day tour, that's why. And also, it's pretty early, and if we say we haven't, he'll probably bring us somewhere to grab food first.
First stop, 阴阳海(Yin Yang Sea). It's around 30 minutes drive from the city area to 阴阳海. I will recommend people to visit this place, because it's really really very pretty! Even though when we reach, it start to drizzle, but thank goodness we brought the umbrellas which we have in the apartment. Pretty sight, perfect lighting, means awesome photos!
Next, 阿正 actually brought us up to 金瓜石十三層遺 (Remains of the Thirteen Levels @ Jinguashi), somewhere we don't know (or I would say we never plan to go) Well, the view up there is really very pretty, and it's windy. If you're at 阴阳海, you can totally see this 十三層遺址 cause it's at the back, and I'll recommend you to head up. Up at 十三層遺址, we also witness the 黑金刚大山(King Kong Mountain), it's actually very obvious. I mean there's some places, you've to really focus or stare at the mountain for long then you realise the shape of the mountain, but this, you don't have to.
And I'm standing at the edge of the highest step, didn't really go the the very end cause the wind is too strong.
黑金刚大山 (King Kong Mountain)
The road behind us, looks like Initial D's hair pin (but it's not!)
Left 十三層遺址, and we head 黄金瀑布. Stopped by for a few photos only.
Then we drove over to 黃金博物園區 (Jin Gua Shi Gold Ecological Park) to know about gold mining and stuffs. Went to their museum, and I saw the biggest and heaviest gold for the past 22 years of my life. Well, there's nothing much there, but museums and enjoy the nature breeze. Now I know, it's not easy to mine gold, and that's the reason why gold is so worthy (even though the price for gold is dropping tremendously)
Random wefie cause the lighting is nice there, so it's worth a photo
AND I TOUCHED IT!
Spent almost an hour 黃金博物園區, we then head over to 九份 for lunch! 阿正 actually mention that we should go in and try their taro balls, cause that's the famous food over at 九份. Well, 九份 is really like old streets, we tried their peanut ice cream, taro balls, grilled mushrooms, taiwan sausage (Pork, squid and some fish thingy) The scenery is very nice as well! During the first years of the Qing Dynasty, the isolated village housed nine families, thus the village would request "nine portions" every time shipments arrived from town. Later Kau-hun (meaning "nine portions" in Hokkien) would become the name of the village. And it's a must visit place when you come to Taiwan!
Taro balls
Peanut Ice cream wrap in Popiah skin
Left 九份老街 and next stop, 十份! Because we are still early, and if we were to 放天灯, it won't turn out to be very pretty. So 阿正 actually mention to us that we can visit the waterfall first, cause it's broadest waterfall in Taiwan and it's also named as台灣尼加拉瀑布.
Soon, it's about time to go 十份老街, for some photos and also 放天灯. And because it's my birthday, and 阿正 knows about it, he actually treat us to fireworks. What's even better is that he actually bought two boxes of fireworks specially for me, cause I'm the birthday girl. So sweet of him!
Random bunny on the bridge
IT'S LIKE FIRST TIME IN MY 22 YEARS LIVING THAT I PUT FIREWORKS. I mean, if it's the small one, I won't feel the kick, but it's pretty big ones. It's all worth it man!
So after which, we head over to 基隆夜市 for our dinner. Because 基隆 is pretty much along Taiwan, and it's near the sea, so they're nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, and the city is actually Taiwan's second largest seaport (after Kaohsiung). Our dinner was really good! Cause I get to choose what I want to eat, and I'm being treated (except for the snacks)
Takoyaki
Crab meat soup with oil rice
BEEF CUBE! MY FAVOURITE!
Seafood treat from the guys!
Keelung Night Market
So the trip ended at around 8 pm. It's a long day, yet a short day with someone we just met, 阿正. He's really nice, I mean really really nice. He make sure we are all well taken care of, like when I accidentally injured my thigh at 阴阳海, he actually asked if I need to apply any medication. He's not just our driver, he's our tour guide, our photographer, and most importantly, our friend! That's why whenever we take photo, we will actually get him involved. I don't want him to feel as though he's just there because we engage him as our driver, I want to make friend with Taiwan people, and he's my first! He's really nice because he actually gave me such a wonderful 22nd birthday present which I can never get in Singapore!
Enough said.
We are sent back to our apartment after a long day. But of course, the night is still young! So we decided to head out to shop at 西门丁. Roam around the streets and wander around the place. Ended up buying like 8 packets of masks. Halfway though, TK actually mention that he want to use toilet, so he left us. He mentioned that he'll be calling us again when he's done, but after 30 minutes, there's no calls from him. So I called him, and guess what, HE'S ACTUALLY BACK AT THE APARTMENT!!!
No choice, but to slowly walk back to the apartment. And something weird is, he's back early, but yet he have not bathe. And the conversation between my room mates are weird. So I guess there'll be a cake or something like a second surprise. Indeed, I'm right! Tk actually lied, cause he went to get cake for me! It's something small, but it's just heartwarming to know that they actually try to surprise me, even though I know there's something going on.
2 cakes because he don't know what I want.
FEELING 22!
I guess, this will be the best birthday celebration ever! From the start to the end, every single thing, every single one. It'll be the most memorable birthday ever. I'll always remember this special day.
As mentioned in the title, it's my birthday! Woohoo~
So on this special day, we actually engage a Taiwan driver to bring us around. And I'll strongly recommend our sweet and kind and friendly and handsome driver, 阿正 (Ah Zheng) to my readers who are planning to go to Taiwan and are looking for a driver to bring you around. He cater services for one day tour, or pick up from airport, or touring around Taiwan.
He came to our area to pick us up at 9 am, and the the first thing he asked when we board the car, is "Had your breakfast already?" I don't know why, but it's actually pretty heart warming. Cause hardly will have drivers ask such question. Probably is because we engaged him for a one day tour, that's why. And also, it's pretty early, and if we say we haven't, he'll probably bring us somewhere to grab food first.
First stop, 阴阳海(Yin Yang Sea). It's around 30 minutes drive from the city area to 阴阳海. I will recommend people to visit this place, because it's really really very pretty! Even though when we reach, it start to drizzle, but thank goodness we brought the umbrellas which we have in the apartment. Pretty sight, perfect lighting, means awesome photos!
Next, 阿正 actually brought us up to 金瓜石十三層遺 (Remains of the Thirteen Levels @ Jinguashi), somewhere we don't know (or I would say we never plan to go) Well, the view up there is really very pretty, and it's windy. If you're at 阴阳海, you can totally see this 十三層遺址 cause it's at the back, and I'll recommend you to head up. Up at 十三層遺址, we also witness the 黑金刚大山(King Kong Mountain), it's actually very obvious. I mean there's some places, you've to really focus or stare at the mountain for long then you realise the shape of the mountain, but this, you don't have to.
And I'm standing at the edge of the highest step, didn't really go the the very end cause the wind is too strong.
黑金刚大山 (King Kong Mountain)
The road behind us, looks like Initial D's hair pin (but it's not!)
Left 十三層遺址, and we head 黄金瀑布. Stopped by for a few photos only.
Then we drove over to 黃金博物園區 (Jin Gua Shi Gold Ecological Park) to know about gold mining and stuffs. Went to their museum, and I saw the biggest and heaviest gold for the past 22 years of my life. Well, there's nothing much there, but museums and enjoy the nature breeze. Now I know, it's not easy to mine gold, and that's the reason why gold is so worthy (even though the price for gold is dropping tremendously)
Random wefie cause the lighting is nice there, so it's worth a photo
AND I TOUCHED IT!
Spent almost an hour 黃金博物園區, we then head over to 九份 for lunch! 阿正 actually mention that we should go in and try their taro balls, cause that's the famous food over at 九份. Well, 九份 is really like old streets, we tried their peanut ice cream, taro balls, grilled mushrooms, taiwan sausage (Pork, squid and some fish thingy) The scenery is very nice as well! During the first years of the Qing Dynasty, the isolated village housed nine families, thus the village would request "nine portions" every time shipments arrived from town. Later Kau-hun (meaning "nine portions" in Hokkien) would become the name of the village. And it's a must visit place when you come to Taiwan!
Taro balls
Peanut Ice cream wrap in Popiah skin
Left 九份老街 and next stop, 十份! Because we are still early, and if we were to 放天灯, it won't turn out to be very pretty. So 阿正 actually mention to us that we can visit the waterfall first, cause it's broadest waterfall in Taiwan and it's also named as台灣尼加拉瀑布.
Soon, it's about time to go 十份老街, for some photos and also 放天灯. And because it's my birthday, and 阿正 knows about it, he actually treat us to fireworks. What's even better is that he actually bought two boxes of fireworks specially for me, cause I'm the birthday girl. So sweet of him!
Random bunny on the bridge
IT'S LIKE FIRST TIME IN MY 22 YEARS LIVING THAT I PUT FIREWORKS. I mean, if it's the small one, I won't feel the kick, but it's pretty big ones. It's all worth it man!
So after which, we head over to 基隆夜市 for our dinner. Because 基隆 is pretty much along Taiwan, and it's near the sea, so they're nicknamed the Rainy Port for its frequent rain and maritime role, and the city is actually Taiwan's second largest seaport (after Kaohsiung). Our dinner was really good! Cause I get to choose what I want to eat, and I'm being treated (except for the snacks)
Takoyaki
Crab meat soup with oil rice
BEEF CUBE! MY FAVOURITE!
Seafood treat from the guys!
Keelung Night Market
So the trip ended at around 8 pm. It's a long day, yet a short day with someone we just met, 阿正. He's really nice, I mean really really nice. He make sure we are all well taken care of, like when I accidentally injured my thigh at 阴阳海, he actually asked if I need to apply any medication. He's not just our driver, he's our tour guide, our photographer, and most importantly, our friend! That's why whenever we take photo, we will actually get him involved. I don't want him to feel as though he's just there because we engage him as our driver, I want to make friend with Taiwan people, and he's my first! He's really nice because he actually gave me such a wonderful 22nd birthday present which I can never get in Singapore!
Enough said.
We are sent back to our apartment after a long day. But of course, the night is still young! So we decided to head out to shop at 西门丁. Roam around the streets and wander around the place. Ended up buying like 8 packets of masks. Halfway though, TK actually mention that he want to use toilet, so he left us. He mentioned that he'll be calling us again when he's done, but after 30 minutes, there's no calls from him. So I called him, and guess what, HE'S ACTUALLY BACK AT THE APARTMENT!!!
No choice, but to slowly walk back to the apartment. And something weird is, he's back early, but yet he have not bathe. And the conversation between my room mates are weird. So I guess there'll be a cake or something like a second surprise. Indeed, I'm right! Tk actually lied, cause he went to get cake for me! It's something small, but it's just heartwarming to know that they actually try to surprise me, even though I know there's something going on.
2 cakes because he don't know what I want.
FEELING 22!
I guess, this will be the best birthday celebration ever! From the start to the end, every single thing, every single one. It'll be the most memorable birthday ever. I'll always remember this special day.
