We took MRT from Sonjiang Nanjing to Taipei Main Station. Today we gonna try out the directions to get to Taipei West Bus Station, where we can board the busses to Yehliu or Taoyuan Airport. It's important for us to get it right today, we don't want to run around crazy on our actual day to the airport.
Read here for a complete directions to Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A.
On our way to the Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A, we went to a wrong side of the mall and ended up at Sushi Express. Then we decided why not have a small bite first. Honestly, it was pretty good. In fact, much better and cheaper than Sushi King.
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| The salmon was fresh and THICK. Just NT$80 |
After our small breakfast, asked the staff at Sushi Express where the heck is this West Bus station. We were told we were at the wrong side of the mall. We have to go to the right side, then only we can see the exit Z3, that will lead us to the west bus station.
We tapped our EasyCard and got on the bus 1815 right away. I forgot how much was the fare. The travel time to Yehliu was about 1 hour and 30 min. The bus driver informed us when we arrived at Yehliu stop. Yehliu Geopark is out of view from the bus stop. It's easy to get there, just follow the crowd, walk along the seafront.
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| Cute big light bulb |
If you go on the weekend, expect the long wait for every picture you wanna take by the scenic rocks formation and crazy crowds from the tour groups. That's what happened to us. It was a sunny day, and we stopped by for some mango shaved ice.
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| Mango shaved ice @85 cafe, NT$98 |
We paid the entrance fee NT$80 and squeezed among the crowd. The first rock formation that we seen was a replica of the Cute Princess.
Cute Princess - On January 20, 2010, a part of this rock split off from its head and formed a shape like a princess. The newly made landscape is known as Cute Princess. After an internet poll, 'Cute Princess' officially become the successor of the 'Queen's head'
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| Replica of the Cute Princess. |
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| The 'Queen's head' |
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| Another cool rock |
We didn't get to visit the other section where the Cute Princess is formed and the mushrooms lookalike rocks. The crowds getting crazier and we decided to leave for Jiufen. Before we leave, we bought some pineapple/mango/taro cookies as souvenirs. It might not a good idea coz we still have to get to Keelung, then transfer to another bus to Jiufen, but it was a good deal. At least that was what we thought. It was NT100 per box, and with every 5 boxes we get 1 box for free.
We went back to Yehliu stop, cross the road, and there is the bus stop to Keelung near the convenient store. Actually there were two bus stands when we crossed the road, and we not sure which one going to Keelung. There were taxi drivers there offering us to go there by taxi. We don't want to spend such money and insisted to get the bus. I was totally impressed by their response, they not even bitter at us for not accepting their offer, but they were so kind to alert us when the bus #790 that goes to Keelung came. This is not something you can see everyday from where I come from. We were impressed by Taiwanese kindness, politeness and friendliness everyday.
There are no direct bus from Yehliu to Jiufen, so we have to take a bus to keelung. We took bus #790, and I forgot the fare, again, every time when I paid using EasyCard. The travel time about 40 minutes and the bus will stop at some overhead pedestrian bridge. It was quite confusing to find the bus stop to Jiufen at such multiple intersections. We asked some guys at the coffee shop and he suggested to get train to Ruifang and then a bus to Jiufen, because there is less bus from Keelung to Jiufen. We followed the suggestion and go up the overhead bridge and head to the railway station. We saw a tourist information place just next to the railway station and decided to stop by, to double check the suggestion. The staff there suggested to proceed with the bus from Keelung to Jiufen and pointed us to the map of the bus stop.
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| Forgot the name of the coffee shop. Family Mart is just behind the bus stop. |
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| This pic took from the overhead pedestrian bridge. Can see the bus stop just in front of the Family Mart |
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| From this point, Tourist Information counter is at 10 o'clock position and Coffee shop at 2 o'clock. Take bus #788 to Jiufen |
The bus arrived in Jiufen after 40 minutes. Again we paid using EasyCard and I don't know the fare.
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| Heading to Jiufen Old Street |
We got to Jiufen at about 4 pm. We didn't have much time to squeeze in the sea of people. We basically can't move, left alone to enjoy the old feeling and scenic view everyone raves about. It was like we were in a sauna room, but not with the relaxing sound of nature, but sound of the crazy wet market in Kota Kinabalu. It was a very bad idea to visit Jiufen on the weekend. To make it worst, some of the alleys are covered with roof and I felt suffocated and can't claustrophobic. I just want to get out from there. But still we have to try at least some of the famous snacks.
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| Ah Zhu peanut ice cream roll, I think it was NT$40 |
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| Ah Zhu peanut ice cream roll, hot and cold in one bite |
There were some mushroom stalls, you can have it grilled or deep fried. At first we tried the grilled one because there were some people queuing for that. It was NT$100, taste so so to me. So we bought the deep fried mushroom which was just next to it, and it was pretty good and it just NT$50.
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| Grilled mushroom, NT$100 |
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| Deep fried mushroom, NT$50 |
We have listed some of the must try food but we were push around in the crowd, my friend was annoyed so we left early after had some snacks and took same pictures.
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| This ocarina is cool. I was tempted to buy, but I know I won't have the time and it will just end up collecting dust at the corner. |
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| Finally, some less crowded street to take a non-shake pic |
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| I think this is the famous old street |
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| Look at the island, kinda look like a man lying on his back |
After we left Jiufen Old Street, now we have to figure out how to get back to Taipei. There are few options, we can take a bus to Keelung and then another bus to Taipei, or take a bus to Ruifang and then take a train to Taipei, or get a direct bus to Taipei (bus no. 1602).
Always remember to keep your options open, things don't go how we planned them.
All the busses will stop at the upper side of the hill. Follow the crowd and walk pass the 7 eleven.
We decided not to go to Keelung Miaokou night market, so there is no point for us to get to Keelung just to transfer back to Taipei. If we want to transfer to a bus or train, Ruifang is a better option because it is nearer to Jiufen.
But we were too tired for transfer and bring up and down the boxes of pineapple/mango/taro cake and other souvenirs we got from Yehliu. Thus, we queue for the bus no. 1602 to Taipei. I was a bit regret queuing for bus to Taipei. I afraid we have to wait for the second trip 1602 bus if the first bus can't have us all. At the mean time few busses to Ruifang came and left already. The queue were getting longger and we waited for almost 45 minutes before the bus no. 1602 arrived. Just when we about to get on the bus, I was the second person behind the line, my fear came true. The driver yelled 'Enough! No more passengers!' Damn we almost make it! But few seconds later he said if we wanna go Ruifang it's ok. Just that he can't drive a bus full of passengers standing and cramped like tin of sardine all the way to Taipei. We were glad as he changed his mind, we just want to get on the bus and left Jiufen. So we got off the bus at Ruifang railway station. I still don't really know how to get to Taipei, by bus or train. We walked to the railway station, there were not many people in the station, head to the ticket counter, and easily got us train tickets to Taipei, NT$49.
As we were waiting for train to Taipei at platform 1, we saw drinking water dispenser at platform 3. I was damn thirsty and really need, just water, not juice, not ice cream, JUST WATER. That drinking water dispenser was like heaven sent at that moment.
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| That was me at platform 3, posing with my water bottle. |
Sometimes when we keep our options open, there would be a blessing in disguise. We had a comfortable journey in the train, all the way to Taipei. No more cramped like a sardine, plenty of seats. And we thought the train will stop at Taipei Main Station, but no, actually it stopped at Songshan station (green line). That's even better, we can just hop on the green line and get off at Songjiang Nanjing (green line also). No need to transfer line.
Summary of our journey:
1) Taipei to Yehliu :
Take MRT to Taipei Main Station --> Walk to Taipei West Bus Station Terminal A --> take Bus #1815 to Yehliu
2) Yehliu to Jiufen :
Take bus #790 to Keelung --> Take bus #788 to Jiufen
3) Jiufen to Taipei :
Take bus #1602 to Ruifang --> Take train to Taipei (got off at Songshan station)
A lot of things didn't go as we planned. Yehliu was great, although we got back to minsu with bad sunburnt. Jiufen was kinda disappointment in our trip, I'm sorry to say this. I know a lot of people love it, but don't let my experience ruin your upcoming trip. Like some sayings say it's not destination, but the journey that matters =)
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