enJOY my walk: Taiwan 28Dec13 to 02Jan14 – Day 3-Shifen-Jiufen-Keelung

Our 1^st stop will Shifen, then Jiufen and last stop Keelung. What an ambitious task. This is not recommended - very rush and did not get to enjoy.

We took a train from Taipei Main Station to RuiFang station then from there buy another ticket from RuiFang to Shifen. We missed the train while we alighted at Ruifang, which required us to wait for another 45 minutes before we could board the next train to Shifen.

Train journey was about 30mins, no seats for us and we have to stand all the way.

Walking along the Shifen old street, you will see this shop with a lot of bamboo pieces hanging around. That was a special mailbox, you mail a postcard now and you will get the postcard 1 year later. Imagine opening your letter box 1 year later and you received a postcard from Taiwan! Isn’t it cool!

The main reason we were at Shifen was to fly the sky lantern. Write wishes on the lantern and fly it, pray for wishes to come true. The sky lantern comes in either a plain 1 color TWD150, or 4 different colors for 4 sides of the lantern TWD200. Each color has it meanings.

The lanterns flew off from the train track. If the train is approaching, we have to quickly excuse ourselves to the side.

The store assistant will help to light the sky lantern and took photo of you and the lantern. Let it is fly! When the fuel finishes it will drop at the mountain area. Ops!

While waiting for the next train back to Ruifang, I bought a garlic sausage. Yummy. Even the black dog followed me and looked at me to offer him some to eat. I gave him some small pieces. When I finished my sausage, he left. ARGHH. So realistic.

Do take note of the train timing as the train frequency is 45mins to 50mins for next train.

Back to Ruifang, it was drizzling, the bus stop opposite the station has a long queue and no bus seemed to be coming. We decided to take the taxi as we do not want to spend too much time waiting for the bus. It cost us TWD180.

Not sure what happen that day there was a traffic jam, could it be due to the rain? Or is it always jam? From other blogger the journey suppose to be 15mins, I think we were in the taxi for 30mins. Finally we arrived at Jiufen and it was around 4pm. Still drizzling. It was very crowded! We only get to walk the old street where the food were and did not explore the other area as the sky was getting darker.

I tried the snail. Similar to those shell/clam we had in Singapore.

We bought the black squid ink sausage. Something different from the usual sausage. This stall owner specially dressed up, plus points for her efforts.

We tried the tang yuan. A bit over-rated. I was unable to taste the individual difference. They supposed to be sweet potatoes, yam and green tea.

We had Cai Po Kueh and Salted Green Bean Kueh. Nice.These kuehs were made at the shop, not bought from factory.

Sweet potatoes love letter. Worth a try.

Another special item, popiah skin wrapped shaved peanuts and 2 scoop of ice cream. It was a nice combination. Worth a try too.

Sky is dark at 530pm. We made our way out to take bus to Keelung. Cross the road at the 7-eleven and walk up the slope for 5mins, then you will see the bus stop. Take bus 788 to Keelung. Such a long Queue!

Have to Queue under the rain!

Next time I will make Jiufen my 1^st stop, so that I will beat the crowd and avoid been stuck there waiting for bus.

The bus ride was horrible. I thought I am in Formula One bus, the bus swayed left and right, as the bus was packed to the max, it was hard to hold on to the railings and balance. What a shocking bus ride!

The Big Yellow Duck was at Keelung.

Quickly snap a few photos of the Duck and we head toward the Miao Kou Night Market. Kare Kevil bought herself shaved chocolate ice, while I got myself grilled octopus. This night market has lots of seafood as it is near sea. As we had food at Jiufen, we were not hungry to try other food. We just took a tour around the night market and then took a train back to Taipei Main Station.