Taipei, Taiwan: Day 2

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This is Day 2 of the Taipei series. Today’s theme was “enjoy nature’s beauty”. We hiked at Yangmingshan’s Erziping Trail, relaxed at Beitou Hot Springs, then enjoyed a romantic sunset at Fisherman’s Wharf and Lovers Bridge. Spur of the moment dinner at a local restaurant was awesome. + Night drinks

After the travel day, this is our first full day in Taipei. Woke up in the early morning to take the metro to Yangmingshan National Park. Let me tell you, it’s a tizzy doing this the cheapo way. We got off at Beitou MRT station and hopped on bus 230 that’ll take you up the mountain. It’s not over once you get off, you’ll actually take ANOTHER bus (bus 108) which will take you to the hiking trails. This wasn’t convenient and no one explained anything to us. Luckily there was a 7-11 and you can have a snack before hopping on the transfer bus. I’m pretty sure though there’s a better bus to take – and we missed it.

Anyway, it was a beautiful day. There’s a few different hiking trails but I took the Easy Erziping since I’m a novice and really just wanted to escape the city!

Fun facts: Yangmingshan is one of nine national parks in Taiwan. Yamingshan Mountain is actually a dormant volcano so that’s why there’s a lot of sulphur (which I thought were just ordinary clouds passing me by but in fact were sulphuric clouds!). No wonder it kinda smelled.

i.was.tricked.            There was a misleading sign that told me it will only take 0.2km but in actually it was 1.8km. I think it was 0.2km to the next sign post. And since it was a warm day, I felt my skin slowly burning. Remember to bring sunblock, shades, and umbrella/light jacket! I had my trusty lightweight jacket to keep me….in a sauna =/ It felt I was in a sauna.

tricked I tell ya

Nice view. Would I do it again? Maybe not.

Finding our way down, I’m thinking spent about 7 hours (including traveling from hotel). Let’s say 5 once you reach the MRT, hike, and back down. It's a day trip!

But there’s enough sunlight so we carried on to the next destination.

Stop 2: Beitou Hot Springs

One MRT stop over, you’ll reach the hot springs area. Tourist guides made it sound so awesome, but I felt let down. Maybe if I ventured off higher up the hill, but I was too exhausted at this point. Guys, the hot spring “pools” were nothing like I imagined. It wasn’t that dreamy hot springs like you imagine from Japanese anime. Of course now, we’re in Taiwan not Japan. So I detoured to the restroom and ran out. Especially when creepy old locals stared at me hungrily because I’ll be in the pools with them. No way!

Stop 3: Fisherman’s Wharf & Lovers Bridge

Getting off at Danshui MRT stop, take bus R26 to fisherman’s wharf. It reminds me so much of home (Long Beach, CA represent!). When I was young, I use to go to shoreline every weekend and this totally reminisce. It was a good ending to the day. Relaxing breeze and spotting couples and families enjoy the evening. But you know what…I’m hungry!

Stop 4: Danshui area

We had dinner at a local restaurant and milk tea from Milk Shop. Highly recommend Milk Shop! There’s many other things you can do here like the night market and old district. I was too tired so we headed back to the hotel.

After walking over 11km, got in MY hot tub and spritzers at the hotel. AaaHhHH hotel lux ;)

Preview: city touring ahoy

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