Impressions
It’s been a long 2 weeks. I’m so exhausted from the trip. We did quite a lot of walking throughout our trip. I guess that makes up for all the eating that we did during the trip. I just have to say it feels great to be back home.
Itinerary
Bus to HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Plane to NYC
Land in JKF airport and back home.
Impressions
I had forgotten how much shopping can be done in Hong Kong. Shopping wasn’t as bad this time sicne we got to visit TrendyLand to get some Disney (mainly Stitch) merchandise. I’m a sucker for that character.
Itinerary
Train to Mong Kowk
Walk to TrendyLand
Train to Tsuen Wan
Shopping and Lunch at Tsuen Wan
Dinner at Kathy’s Uncle’s place
Train to Mong Kowk (TrendyLand)
Train to TST (TrendyLand)
Train to Tsuen Wan
Walk to Ice dessert
Walk back to Kathy’s Uncle’s place
Plane to Hong Kong
Impressions
I’m still amazed at how China is. We went to visit Kathy’s Grandfather’s grave, and she was telling me how they had to move the grave a couple of times because the Chinese government needed the land. The government can really just do whatever they want, it seems. That does not seem right.
Itinerary
Car to Kathy’s Grandfather’s grave
Car to Changle airport
Plane to Hong Kong
Land in HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Bus to Tsuen Wan
Shopping and snacking in Tsuen Wan
Meet Kathy’s Uncle for dinner
Train to Xiwan River to meet up with Kathy’s friend
Train to Tsuen Wan
Impressions
In the past, I thought of China as a scary place to be. I imagined it as run down and really ghetto. However, I learned today that China is quite different from what I expected and developing rapidly. The most interesting thing was seeing old buildings that looked like they could crumble any minute on one side of the street, and right across the street on the other side are tall building complexes that are as modern as any other big city. The contrast is amazing.
I also saw a good example of why some people said that China is progressing to fast. The people there do not follow traffic laws. The traffic lights are ignored, bikes, scooters and cars all dive on the same lane. Lanes mean nothing. People drive on whichever lane is convenient, even if that lane is meant for the other direction. The best way to put it is China is progressing fast, but the people are not being given the proper training to behave obeying the laws properly. Hopefully it’ll get better in the future, but for the time being, the people there continues to honk their horns everywhere they go to let others know they are passing through.
Itinerary
Bus to HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Plane to Changle airport
Car to Kathy’s Aunt’s place
Lunch at Kathy’s Aunt’s place
Car to market
Walk to beef rib soup & sweet dumpling place
Car to Kathy’s grandparents
Walk to old side of Changle
Car to dinner at restaurant
Car to new part of town near park with Kathy’s Uncle in law
Walk around shopping street
Walk to Kathy’s Aunt’s place
Impressions
Taipei 101 is currently the tallest building in the world but it did not seem that tall. Here’s my theory why this might be so. There are not that many tall building in Taipei so seeing a lone building towering towards the sky is amazing, but there is nothing to compare the tallness of the building to. If there were several other tall buildings in the area, then a proper comparison can be done and the human eye would truely see how tall Taipei 101 is.
Itinerary
Walk to Ximengding for breakfast
Train to Taipei 101
Walk to New York, New York and Vieshow Cinema Mall
Train to Ximengding
Shabu Shabu Lunch at Fei Tien Hot Pot
Walk to Rich Garden Hotel
Bus to Taoyuan airport
Plane to Hong Kong
Land in HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Bus to Bus back to Tusen Wan
Impressions
Pandas. We saw these beautiful and lovely creatures at the Taipei zoo. From what I heard, they do not normally move much if at all. However, these pandas were walking around and moving the whole time. They are simply amazing creatures.
We continued to explore the foods at Taiwan. I love the delicious and inexpensive food here. If you love trying out street foods, then Taipei is sure to please. You can have almost anything in the streets, and they are all quite good.
Itinerary
Walk to Ximengding for breakfast
Train to Taipei Muzha Zoo
Train/Bus to Shenkeng Tofu Street
Train to Taipei Station
Train/Bus to Jioufen for more street food and suviniors
Train back to Taipei
Train to Rich Garden Hotel
Walk to Zhongshan Hall in Ximending
Snacks and explore stores in Ximending
Walk to Rich Garden Hotel
Impressions
We went to the Martyr’s Shrine and we saw their version of the changing of the guard. It was very entertaining, seeing them do their rituals. The funny thing was there were a lot of Japanese tourist there. The Martyr’s Shrine was built in honor of the soldiers that defended Taiwan from Japan. I wonder how the spirits of the martyrs would look at seeing the people they were fighting walkign around their shrine.
Another nice thing about Taiwan is the good food. We had very good juicy pork buns at Din Tai Fong. We also checked out the Shilin Night Market for delicious and cheap foods. My favorite thing there was a fried chicken cutlet that was the size of my face.
Itinerary
Walk to Ximengding for breakfast
Train/Bus to National Palace Museum
Bus to Shihlin Official Residence
Cab to Martyr’s Shrine
Cab to Din Tai Fung for Juicy Pork Bun
Walk to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
Train to Guanghua Digital Plaza
Train to Rich Garden Hotel
Train/Bus to Miramar Mall
Ride Miramar Ferris Wheel
Bus to Shilin Night Market for dinner
Train to Ximengding for Icee
Impressions
When I thought of Taipei, I imagined a modern city. It’s not as modern as I expected. Most of Taipei seems to resemble Hong Kong. Just like in Hong Kong, I see a lot of newly developed buildings right next to really run down buildings.
Itinerary
Bus to HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Breakfast in airport
Plane to Taipei
Land in Taoyuan airport
Bus to Rich Garden Hotel
Walk to Ximengding
Train to to Danshui
Walk through Danshui Old Street (food & sunset)
Bus to Fisherman’s Wharf/Lover’s Bridge
Train to Ximengding
Walk through Huaxi Street Night Market
Walk to Rich Garden Hotel
Impressions
More shopping in Hong Kong. I really don’t like shopping. I get way to tired trying on clothes and waiting.
Itinerary
Shopping
Dinner with Kathy’s Uncle
Impressions
Our last day in Tokyo. We rushed to pick up souvenirs and then rushed back to have some Matsumaya beef (think Kbe Steak). It was great. The meat was perfectly marbleized, and the beef was so tender and juicy.
Itinerary
Train to Meiji Shrine for Souvenir
Train to Ikebukuro
Sushi at local revolving Sushi Restaurant
Walk to Tokyu Hands & Sunshrine City (Disney/Totoro Stores)
Train to Shinjuku
Matsumaya beef lunch at Shinjuku
Train to E-Hotel Higashi Shinjuku
Train to Narita airport
Plan to Hong Kong
Land in HK Chek Lap Kok airport
Bus to Tusen Wan