1. long trek to Sanwan Township Park

One of the places that we visited was in Sanwan Township. Interestingly, no one knows its name, because it doesn’t have one yet! Let’s just call it the Sanwan Township Park for now.

2. Tired? Take a seat.

3. cottage house in the middle of nowhere

Sanwan is Mandarin for “three curves”. It is a rural township in Miaoli County, also populated by Hakka descent. A major landmark in Sanwan is Yongheshan Reservoir; this nameless park is easily its second attraction.

4. arriving soon after a long walk

5. heavy vehicles still in sight

From the main road, it is quite a long trek to the park. I didn’t actually time it but I would say the trek was at least 20 minutes one way, over undulating ground.

6. muddy walking path

7. rows and rows of bald cypress trees (taxodium distichum)

Sanwan Township Park is planted with rows and rows of bald cypress trees (taxodium distichum). Different seasons of the year offer varied views and photographic effects. Another species of tree planted here is Vernicia fordii, blooming in May to June.

8. black goose

9. 18SX

When I was there during wintertime in mid-January, a lot of the leaves have already fallen, and the trees indeed looked “bald”. Haha! Excuse the bad pun; I couldn’t help myself.

11. swan, geese, ducks and other birds

11. fruiting banana tree

Sanwan Township Park is still a work in progress. I guess, when it is completed, it will be given a proper name. I can’t wait to see when it is fully developed!

12. stop and smell the flowers

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Schokolake in Dahu Township, Miaoli County

Taiwan has been full of surprises for a first time visitor like me. Going to Schokolake was one of them, making the exploration of small towns from Taipei to Tainan so much more memorable.

step inside Schokolake Story

Schokolake Story

Schokolake in Dahu Township, Miaoli County, is the island country’s first chocolate-themed manor, with English countryside houses surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens and strawberry farms on this vast estate.

Taiwan is Teddy Bear Land (again)

part of the garden

Schokolake, or in simpler English “Chocolate Story House”, offers exceptionally popular country-style accommodation, listed on the internet as Schokolake B&B, a wonderful option for families or groups of friends who want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

guest room

upper loft

For tourists who would like to explore Miaoli tourism at a deeper level, Schokolake makes a great base as well.

living room

private bath

However, you would need to have access to private transport, as Schokolake seems to be out of the way from conveniences such as mini marts.

in-house store

craft chocolate works

Coming to Schokolake is like arriving at chocolate haven. Obviously, the main product produced by Schokolake is handmade chocolates; all its cocoa beans are imported from Ecuador, South America. DIY workshops are conducted here, while allows participants to make their own chocolates. From what I understand, Schokolake is the only venue in Taiwan that offers the Beans to Bar experience.

fish pond

Schokolake

What stood out for me at Schokolake is its restaurant, where the food served has a touch of chocolate in every item. Don’t you think this is a unique menu?

chocolate-inspired dishes at Schokolake

strawberry ice cream dessert

Although it wasn’t exactly lunch time yet, we couldn’t resist trying these popular Western dishes, with a chocolatey twist to them.

clockwise from top left: mushroom bolognese pasta, golden fried pork chop, Hungarian red wine sirloin & chocolate grilled chicken

overlooking strawberry fields forever

Schokolake 巧克力雲莊
Add: No. 49-2, Shuiweiping, Fuxing Village, Dahu Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886-37-996-916
Fax: +886-37-996-914
Web: Schokolake

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Mile High Leisure Farm

To reach Mile High Leisure Farm that sits atop Guandaoshan at 700 metres above sea level, one would need to navigate winding and bumpy mountainous roads. Upon reaching the top, a most wondrous view welcomes visitors, who are rewarded with an amazing panoramic view of the valley below.

restaurant counter

seating area

A major attraction here is Mile High Leisure Farm (雲也居一休閒農場) that offers a combo of bed & breakfast on mountain lodge or camping ground, restaurant and farm, managed by a friendly Hakka family.

Soup of the Day

Stewed Pig Knuckles

a type of rice

Whether one chooses to spend the night here or not, I would personally recommend at least a meal at Mile High to indulge in an authentic Hakka cuisine.

Hakka-style Tomato-fried Tofu

ginger dish

steam fish

For the more adventurous visitors, feel free to participate in farming activities, such as crop picking. The availability of crops differs every season, and according to weather conditions. Just to give you an idea, common crops include ginger, strawberry, peach, plum, passion fruit, pumpkin and seasonal vegetables.

lunch

mochi

Although the crops here are planted organically without pesticides or chemical fertilisers, you would be surprised by their huge sizes. As Mile High Leisure Farm adopts a farm to table concept, naturally, the meals served are healthier, and more delicious.

proprietor of Mile High Leisure Farm, Tu Chiao Hsien (L) and her mother harvest strawberries at their farm

a visitor tries his hand at harvesting

Due to the four seasons experienced at Guandaoshan, the menu of Mile High Leisure Farm is updated accordingly to the availability of seasonal crops as well.

My group and I spent about 3 – 4 hours at Mile High Leisure Farm during mid-winter, and we were able to indulge in a most scrumptious hot lunch surrounded by cool mountain mist. After a hearty meal, we proceeded to the farm, and tried out hands at strawberry picking. The fruits were so plump and juicy, most importantly, they were sweet!

juicy strawberries fresh from the farm

Before we left, we went on a shopping spree at the family store next to Mile High restaurant. Among the popular items sold here, all produced by Mile High, are chilli sauce and ginger crystals brown sugar. The ginger here is as famous as Pahang’s Bentong ginger.

It’s a pity that we did not arrange our accommodation at Mile High Leisure Farm, but this just gives me another valid reason for a second visit. Yeah!

enjoying the view over a cup of hot ginger milk tea

Mile High Leisure Farm is an eco-journey that has to be personally experienced. It’s an added bonus if you are conversant in Mandarin or Hakka, so that you can get first hand information from the proprietors.

Mile High Leisure Farm (田媽媽 雲也居一休閒農場)
Add: 364, Dahu Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Facebook: 田媽媽 雲也居一休閒農場 Mile High Leisure Farm
Website: Mile High Leisure Farm

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Zhou Ye Cottage shrouded in mist during wintertime

In the Hakka heartland of Sanyi Township in southern Miaoli County, Taiwan, is the inspiring Zhou Ye Cottage, a family run rustic Hakka-style accommodation.

mystical

Zhou Ye Cottage is like a little village, secluded and forested, dotted with bamboo huts (or cottages), where guests are accompanied by animals, friendly neighbours (staff and fellow guests) and fresh air.

sustainable development project

Founded by husband-and-wife team, Mr Zhou Mingbang and Ms Zheng Meishu, both educated in the agricultural field, Zhou Ye Cottage was developed with floral planting, before indigo dyeing was introduced in 2004, to create a multi-experience economy of B&B, dining and indigo dyeing.

café

Fully reflecting the early Minnan lifestyle in Taiwan, the cottages adopt large windows that look out to the beautiful mountain scenery far in the horizon. All cottages are equipped with modem facilities and amenities, such as bathrooms, and electrical appliances.

one of the guest rooms

Furnished with indigo-dye home decor and furnishings designed and made by Zhou Ye to mirror the cause of reviving indigo dyeing cottage industry, Zhou Ye offers guests a simplistic yet comfortable life in the mountains.

unique feature of stairs and slide in one of the cottages

Similar to Mile High Leisure Farm, about 20 minutes’ drive away, Zhou Ye Cottage encourages guests to participate in the activities and workshops lined up, particularly in learning the techniques of tie-dying, using indigo dye produced from the farm itself.

large windows to better enjoy the scenery

Since its introduction in 2004, the indigo dyeing activity at Zhou Ye has expanded and in 2015, Indigo Dyeing House was established to convey a higher quality Taiwan indigo range of products.

washroom

Now joined by their son, Zhou Zilo in the business, the Zhous lead cross-border indigo artists, craftsmen and designers to construct an innovative business operation model that combines agriculture, art & craft, and handmade experiences.

vegetarian hot pot

Another highlight of Zhou Ye Cottage is its vegetarian restaurant, which is open to guests and non-guests alike. Its signature item is the vegetarian hot pot (or steamboat), just the right meal to indulge in during cold winter months.

breakfast buffet spread

Zhou Ye respects all lives in nature and practises the six values of industry, including production, processing and service. Moving forward, Zhou Ye will hold on to the three types of agricultural spirit, which are: production, ecology, and life, to head towards a new generation of innovative leisure park culture.

restaurant

Therefore, it is with this understanding that Zhou Ye Cottage was constructed according to its domestic natural condition, plus using recyclables, environmental-friendly sedimentation tanks and aquatic plant ponds to preserve the natural landscape as well as reduce environmental disturbances or damage as much as possible.

indigo ice-cream made from dye extracted from indigo plant such as Strobilanthes cusia

In the process, a variety of dyed plants, now used for indigo dyeing activities, fruits and vegetables were also planted to create a sustainable environment.

store that sells tie-dye products

Indeed, Zhou Ye Cottage does not only provide a good night’s stay but a wholesome experience that has to be personally tried.

showroom with indigo dye furnishings

Taichung International Airport (formerly Ching Chuan Kang Airport) is the nearest airport from the property, some 25 km away.

garden at Zhou Ye Cottage

Zhou Ye Cottage (卓也小屋)
Add: No.1-5 Bengshanxia, No.13 Shuangtan Village, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 3 787 9198
Web: 卓也小屋
Facebook: 卓也小屋度假園區

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Taipei 101 (台北101), once the world’s tallest building, is naturally what comes to mind at the mere mention of Taiwan. However, the country is so much more than this iconic skyscraper of 101 floors.

Taiwan is dominated by rugged mountain ranges on a good two thirds of the island country, parallel to the east coast. Therefore, the rolling plains in the south-west are where most of the population live. Indeed, Taiwan, or officially the Republic of China, has a lot to offer tourists, beyond Taipei, which is located in the north of the island.

Hakka village in Beipu Township

The centre of Hakka culture
About 90 minutes’ drive south-west from Taipei is Beipu (北埔), a rural township in Hsinchu County（新竹县）. Known as the centre of Hakka culture as the majority of the people are of Hakka descent, take a step back in time by visiting the well-preserved Hakka village, with faded red lanterns hanging above doorways to greet visitors.

yours truly posing in front of a typical Hakka house in Beipu, Hsinchu County

Many storekeepers here are able to converse in Hakka, and this ability is indicated in a sticker at the door. Popular items to get here include Hakka Lei-cha (客家擂茶) and Oolong tea ( 乌龙茶).

700 metres above sea level
Drive approximately a further 60 kilometres south through bumpy and winding roads to arrive at Mile High Leisure Farm (云也居一休闲农场) in Miaoli County (苗栗县), atop Guandaoshan, to participate in farming activities and partake in scrumptious Hakka cuisine.

proprietor of Mile High Leisure Farm, Tu Chiao Hsien (L) and her mother harvest strawberries at their farm

Different crops are available for picking, depending on season and weather. Some of the common ones are ginger, strawberry, peach, plum, passion fruit, pumpkin and vegetables.

A Hakka village up on the mountains
While Mile High Leisure Farm provides bed-and-breakfast as well as camping-style accommodation, you may choose to spend the night high up on the mountains in a rustic Hakka-style inn amidst lush gardens and fish ponds at the nearby Zhuo Ye Cottage (卓也小屋) in Sanyi Township (三义乡), also in Miaoli.

Hakka-styled Zhou Ye Cottage in Sanyi Township

Quirky huts with inspiring sleeping lofts offer guests a memorable stay as they take delight in the freshest of air. They can also sign up for indigo dye workshops during their time here to learn the techniques of tie-dying, using indigo dye produced from the farm itself.

Educational tours
It is interesting to note how family businesses and cottage industries such as Mile High and Zhuo Ye have been turned into successful tourism products. Over at the coastal town of Lukang (鹿港), about an hour’s drive south-west, a good number of manufacturing plants in this industrial zone on reclaimed land have also opened their doors to visitors to have a look at how their products are made.

BRAND’S® Health Museum in Taiwan

Brand’s Health Museum (白兰氏健康博物馆) is a major attraction in this area, as it is an international household name in nourishing concoctions for general wellness.

ribbons are arranged on shelves according to type and colours, like books in a library at Ribbon Museum

Its neighbouring Ribbon Museum (缎带王) is the first ribbon museum in Asia, housing a collection of fifty thousand kinds of ribbons, thirty thousand patterns of printed ribbon, twenty thousand patterns of woven ribbon, as well as a hundred types of ribbon yarns.

Another highlight within the vicinity is the Taiwan Glass Gallery (台湾玻璃馆), particularly its Golden Tunnel and Underwater World. Also noteworthy is the glass Mazu temple (玻璃妈祖庙). Said to be the only such structure in the world, the building is made with entire sheets of glass except its pillars. This temple is an engineering feat, no less. What a sight to behold, especially at night when the lights are turned on.

Lukang’s historic district
Lukang（鹿港）in Changhua County is the second oldest town in Taiwan. It is famed for its culture and heritage that have been well-preserved through the generations. A pride of this town is its historic district, where red brick buildings with traditional Taiwanese architecture still stand firmly.

Lungshan Temple in Lukang

Lukang historic district

one of the well-preserved homes in Lukang historic district

The ideal way to take in the sights and sounds of Lukang is by going on a walking tour, with Lungshan Temple (龙山寺) as starting point. From there, stroll over to the narrowest of narrow Mo Ru Lane（摸乳巷), followed by Lukang historic district, where century-old flavours of Cheng Yu Chen (since 1887) await.

Mo Ru Lane in Lukang

2nd generation proprietress of Cheng Yu Chen in Lukang

From these traditional biscuits to the fashionable pudding of Simple Delicious Workshop, from classic street food fare of fried oyster omelette (蚵仔煎) and large intestines rice vermicelli (大肠面线) to hipster cafés, the saying that one can get to know a place well through its food holds true in Lukang.

fried oyster omelette

Oyster harvesting
Lukang actually means “Deer harbour”, a name adopted for its primary business of exporting deerskin during the Dutch Colonial period (1624 to 1662). Due to the geographical location of this port town by the coast, seafood features prominently in the diet of locals. Oyster is a common food here, so for a tourist to Changhua (彰化), one of the best experiences to be had is oyster harvesting (採蚵体验) in Fangyuan (芳苑).

yours truly (L) harvests oysters for the experience

Be taken on a motorised cart to the shore of the Taiwan Strait during low tide for a crash course on oyster harvesting and participate hands-on in this local cultural heritage. For all your “hard work”, you are more than welcome to feast on fresh oysters grilled over charcoal fire, on-site, as a reward for your labour.

Taiwan’s oldest city
After the back-breaking work of oyster harvesting, it is time for a good night’s rest. Take a short trip to Tainan（台南）, the country’s oldest city, just 1.5 hours’ drive south. Spending the night in Tainan would put one on a good footing to sample local delicacies offered by street hawkers at Yongle Market (永乐市场) at the crack of dawn. After all, many well-known Taiwanese dishes originated from Tainan.

junction to YongLe Market in Tainan

Stretching the length of Guohua St. Section 3, the top four food picks are: spring rolls（春捲）, rice cakes（碗粿）, meat mantou (割包) and calamari rice vermicelli (小卷米粉). To give your breakfast a further touch of traditional flavour, wash it down with a cup of Taiwanese black tea（红茶）.

meat mantou from one of the street stalls near YongLe market

Taiwanese black tea from a store near YongLe market

Tainan is well-connected by public transport, and is in fact, a major stop on the Taipei – Kaohsiung (高雄) High Speed Rail line (高铁), giving Tainan easy access to all major cities on the East Coast.

From here, you are free to explore further, or reserve it for another visit. After all, the food, culture and warm hospitality of Taiwanese people are definitely something to enjoy again and again.

For my full Taiwan itinerary:
6D/5N Taiwan Small Town Ramble: Day 1
6D/5N Taiwan Small Town Ramble: Day 2
6D/5N Taiwan Small Town Ramble: Day 3
6D/5N Taiwan Small Town Ramble: Day 4
6D/5N Taiwan Small Town Ramble: Days 5 & 6

This trip was arranged by one of Ipoh’s top travel agencies, Golden Century Tour & Travel.

Note: An edited version of this article is published in the March 2019 issue of Malindo Air in-flight magazine. Photos used here are for illustration purposes only.

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arrival at Shengxing Train Station and Old Mountain Line

The Shengxing Train Station along with its Mountain Line is a fairly new tourist attraction in Sanyi Township, Miaoli County.

Shengxing Train Station

What makes Shengxing so popular is because it was built in 1908, which means it is 111 years old to date. It was part of the famous Taiwan Rail Mountain Line, constructed by the Japanese to transport camphor wood out of the mountainous area.

This rail mountain line ceased its service in 1998 due to route change from the old trunk line. The station and tracks subsequently suffered from a 7.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed the tracks.

ticket counter but tickets are not sold here

Did you know that when it was in operation, the train serviced nine mountains with a peak altitude of 405 metres, over a distance of 15.9 km? Also, the Shengxing Station is an architectural marvel, built without nails. It was refurbished in 2003.

Today, Shengxing Station serves as a great photography backdrop for shutterbugs.

passengers being briefed while waiting for the ride

There is also a rail service for tourists. Tickets for the train ride are only sold via website at NT$280 per person, a promotional price during this trial run.

There are two routes at this station, both services begin in February 2019:
A. Sheng-Hsing Train Station ←→ B. Long-Teng Station
B. Long-Teng Station ←→ C. Tunnel 6

Duration is 90 minutes for the round trip, a total of 12km journey. Cancellation of ticket and refund is to be made latest one hour before departure time.

tourist train

As the route goes through up and down hills, tunnels and elevated iron bridge, passengers have to be in a medically and mentally fit condition. Those who have one of the following conditions are not allowed to board: acrophobia, hypertension, heart disease, drunk, asthma, or pregnant.

Children under 7 years old or below 110cm in height are also disallowed.

the trains are ready for the day

A short walk from Shengxing Train Station is an “Old Street”, where there are many quaint shophouses as tea shops, souvenir kiosks, and traditional Hakka restaurants . The road is curved like an S, and is undulated. It takes some effort to stroll this old street, especially when there are cars squeezing through and crowded over the weekends.

one of the trains with cat-themed café as backdrop

For further information and to purchase your tickets, visit the official website of this Old Mountain Line Rail Bike at this LINK.

one of the street snack stalls

Shengxing Train Station
Add: 367, Shengxing Village, Shenghsing Village, Sanyi Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Email: RB168999@oml-railbike.com
Phone: 037-878599
Fax: 037-878051
Website: Old Mountain Line Rail Bike

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BRAND’S® Health Museum in Taiwan

Located on the reclaimed land of Lukang on the west coast of the island of Taiwan, is BRAND’S® Health Museum. BRAND’S® is an international household name in concoctions for general wellness, and it is only one of the many factories and galleries open to visitors and group tours at this Lukang industrial area, named Changhua Coastal Industrial Park.

Henderson William Brand’s commercial vehicle

If you are not aware, BRAND’S® Essence originated from the early 19th century, a chicken soup by Mr. Henderson William Brand, the royal chef for His Majesty King George IV at Buckingham Palace.

The King was in poor health then and Brand boil chicken soup for him. In 1835, upon Brand’s retirement from the royal household, he further experimented on his chicken soup recipe and began to create his own chicken soup brand for commercial sale, today known as BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken.

a tour conducted by museum manager, Ruby Wu

Over the years, this drink for convalescence made its way from England to the Far East, where the Chinese community in Malaya quickly embraced the health tonic with open arms.

Today, with 180 years of history, BRAND’S® products are available for sale in over 19 countries, with 150 million bottles already sold worldwide. BRAND’S® is owned by Japanese company Cerebos Pacific Limited, headquartered in Singapore.

first commercially-packed Brand’s essence of chicken

BRAND’S® Health Museum in Lukang, Taiwan is the very first BRAND’S® museum. It opened its doors in 1999 but was rebuilt in 2008, spending some NT$20 million. It is now the largest BRAND’S® Health Museum in Asia.

I love visiting factories because I have a curious mind to learn how a product is made. Therefore, at BRAND’S® Health Museum, I was really at my element as we were taken on a tour of the production section, called the Aerial Corridor, to have a look at the actual manufacturing process of BRAND’S® essence.

in the Film Briefing Room

Are you interested to know how BRAND’S® essence of chicken, the company’s best seller, is concocted? Here are the 11 extensive steps taken to produce the essence from fowl to bottle.

Step 1: Prepare the chicken
Kill or slaughter, whatever you call it, no explanation is required. The meat is minced to allow extraction of essence.

Step 2: Extraction
Through double boiling at high temperature (above 110°C) and high pressure for ten hours, the chicken meat protein (big molecules) are broken down into peptides and amino acids (small molecules) which facilitates body absorption.

Step 3: Fat separation
Essence of chicken undergoes high speed centrifugal fat separation to remove fats and cholesterol completely.

Step 4: Concentration
The essence of chicken is concentrated to the desired concentration level by vacuum evaporation. The nutrition from concentrated essence of chicken can be absorbed by the body more efficiently.

Step 5: Filtration
Filtration procedure efficiently removes the chicken residue and sediment while preserving the nutrition value of the essence of chicken.

Step 6: Standardisation
Adjust the concentration of the essence of chicken to ensure the consistency in nutrition in every bottle of the chicken essence.

Step 7: Filling and canning
The essence of chicken is bottled with a filtering and vacuum sealing process in a safe and hygienic facility. All essence of chicken undergo uniform bottling and vacuum-sealing procedures.

Step 8: Foreign matter inspection
Application of far infrared detection method to ensure each bottle of product does not contain foreign matter.

Step 9: Sterilisation
Vacuum sealed essence of chicken will be sent to the retort chamber and sterilised under high temperature (>100°C). This is the reason BRAND’S® essence of chicken can be preserved for two to three years without the addition of preservative.

Step 10: Light inspection
Prior to packing, every bottle of the product will be passed through light source for inspection of appearance and foreign matter.

Step 11: Vacuum inspection
Advanced vacuum inspection technology to ensure every bottle of essence of chicken is completely sealed so that the product safety and high quality are guaranteed.

gift store

A visit to BRAND’S® Health Museum is highly educational and I would recommend a tour here to anyone visiting Changhua Coastal Industrial Park in Lukang.

the many BRAND’S® products

It was a splendid experience at BRAND’S® Health Museum. Whether one consumes BRAND’S® products or not, a visit to this museum is an eye-opening tour as it gives a lowdown on how its signature product, the BRAND’S® essence of chicken is prepared from scratch. It certainly gave visitors a new appreciation for BRAND’S® products on the shelf.

on-the-spot nourishment

As a BRAND’S® consumer myself, the visit gave me an opportunity to try out all BRAND’S® products, and purchase them, especially those that are unavailable in our own local market.

BRAND’S® Health Museum
Add: No. 18, Lugong Road, Lukang Township, Changhua County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 4 781 0077
Facebook: 白蘭氏健康博物館
Website: BRAND’S® Health Museum

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Ribbon King Museum in Taiwan

Ribbon King Museum (緞帶王觀光工廠) is actually adjacent to BRAND’S® Health Museum in Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, Lukang. Established in 1988, this is a one-of-a-kind museum, the first ribbon museum in Asia.

garden decor

a pair of piggies to welcome the Year of the Boar, made from plastic tubes

Winnie The Pooh land Art made from plastic tubes of material yarn

Similar to BRAND’S® Health Museum and a handful of factories in this area, Ribbon King Museum is open to the public for an educational tour and organises workshops that allow visitors to get hands-on-experiences with their products, in this case, it is ribbons. Activities here include ribbon weaving using machines, as well as learning various ribbon-tying techniques.

art from ribbons

welcome to the library of ribbons

ribbons are arranged on shelves according to type and colours, like books in a library

Ribbon King Museum (緞帶王觀光工廠) houses a collection of fifty thousand types of ribbons, thirty thousand patterns of printed ribbon, twenty thousand patterns of woven ribbon, as well as a hundred types of ribbon yarns.

other ribbon products

guided tours are conducted at Ribbon King Museum

another section of the museum

You must be wondering how there can be this volume of ribbons. Well, I was informed that in a year, Ribbon King produces an average of 4,000 designs! My, that’s a lot of brain juice to expend. Luckily, there is BRAND’S® next door!

the factory

demonstration on ribbon weaving

another type of ribbon is made

Ribbon King Museum is a Lukang attraction that I would highly recommend for people who are into arts and craft. Simply put, this is ribbon haven! There are also DIY workshops to participate in.

demonstration on ribbon-tying technique

different products made using ribbons

Ribbon King Museum (緞帶王觀光工廠)
Add: No. 15, Lugong Road, Lugang Town, Changhua County, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel: 04-7813366
Fax: 04-7813377
Email: ly.ribbon@msa.hinet.net
Website: 緞帶王觀光工廠

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Nadias Hotel, Langkawi

Of the number of times that I have visited the Jewel of Kedah, I only recall staying at beach resorts: Four Points by Sheraton, Meritus Pelangi Beach Resort and Resorts World Langkawi come to mind.

lobby

During my most recent trip to Langkawi, on a weekend retreat hosted by the Ipoh City Council, we put up for two nights at Nadias Hotel. As you can see, it is not a fancy hotel. In fact, exteriorly, it looks like a dormitory.

Nadias Café

However, facade can be deceptive. Do you know that the 3-star Nadias Hotel can easily be regarded as one of the most ideal hotels for its price range, due to its prime location, in the heart of happening Cenang?

twin-sharing deluxe room

Located adjacent to Cenang Mall, duty free stores, popular F&B outlets and a few minutes’ walk to Cenang Beach, one of the pristine beaches on the island, guests at Nadias Hotel are guaranteed a valued stay, without compromising on comfort and convenience.

complimentary bottled water as well as coffee and tea-making facilities

The hotel also offers motorcycle rental. However, it was not necessary for me as everything that I needed was within walking distance.

washroom

Nadias Hotel Cenang Langkawi boasts 136 rooms of various categories: Deluxe Twin, Deluxe King, Deluxe Quad, Deluxe Family and Junior Suites, including disabled-friendly rooms.

Quiet Zone: corridor

All guest rooms are thoughtfully appointed and equipped with modern amenities, such as flat screen television set with selected satellite channels, individually-controlled air-conditioner, hot shower, mini-fridge, iron and ironing board, as well as safety box. Hair dryer is available upon request.

Flo Spa

For the convenience of business travellers, guest rooms are also fitted with a work desk and in-room WiFi connection. If required, three function rooms are available for small meetings and workshops.

indoor swimming pool

To cater to holidaymakers, tours, island hopping and other recreational activities can be arranged. For those who require transfers, do make a request at the front office.

Flo Lounge (rooftop bar)

Although there are numerous eateries near Nadias Hotel, guests who wish to dine in-house may do so at the many dining options offered by Nadias, from its coffee house (Nadias Café), to Flo Lounge, Echo Pool Bar, Flo Street, or even in-room dining.

Flo Lounge (rooftop bar)

Obviously, Nadias Hotel Cenang Langkawi, with its friendly services, offers value for money to guests. If I could just spend my time fully within the hotel, I would.

overlooking Cenang beach

Nadias Hotel
Add: Lot 977, Pantai Cenang, Mukim Kedawang, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah.
Tel: +604 955 1401
Fax: +604 955 1405
Email: sales@nadiashotel.com
Web: Nadias Hotel Cenang Langkawi

Flo Street

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Although I have visited Langkawi quite a number of times, I took a flight to the island for all those trips, flying from Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (Subang Airport).

1. ticket counters at Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal

Last weekend, I had the chance to head to the Jewel of Kedah again, and to my delight, we would be taking the ferry. It would be a new experience for me and I was looking forward to it, despite being alerted by a friend that the sea would be choppy and I should prepare myself for seasickness.

Going to Langkawi from Ipoh is actually not as difficult as I had thought. One just needs to drive about 5 hours north to Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal, and from there, take a ferry to the island.

There are other ferries that go to Langkawi as well, from Kuala Kedah and Penang, but this post will be a recount of my personal experience, and I crossed the sea from Kuala Perlis.

2. floating mosque Masjid Al Hussain Kuala Perlis

The Kuala Perlis Ferry Terminal is just a short walk from the floating mosque Masjid Al Hussain Kuala Perlis, which makes it most convenient for Muslims to perform their prayer before heading out to Langkawi.

3. the ferry to Langkawi Island

There are also food shops here, so there’s no fear of going hungry, although spicy Malay food may not suit everyone.

4. boarding the ferry

Ferry tickets are sold at the “dataran” opposite the ferry terminal. Just like a bus station, there are different operators and their schedules differ.

For example, Langkawi Ferry Line Ventures Sdn. Bhd. offers the following ferry times from Kuala Perlis to Langkawi: 7am / 8.30am / 9.30am / 10am / 11am / 12.30pm / 2pm / 4pm / 5.30pm / 7pm

On the other hand, Dragon Star Shipping Sdn. Bhd. departs from Kuala Perlis at 7.30am / 10.30am / 2.30pm / 4.30pm / 6.30pm

Ferry fare is RM18 per adult one day. Child and senior citizens pay RM13, while OKU card holders pay RM10 per trip. Duration is about 1 hour 15 minutes.

5. on board the ferry to Langkawi

While ferries cater to a different category of passengers, having been on the ferry twice for this trip over the weekend, I would say that the crowd is as orderly as can be expected. The numbered seating and air-conditioning help.

6. luggage stacked up at the baggage holding area as high as a person

I was taken aback though, by the way the luggage was stacked at the baggage holding area, as high as a adult person. You can imagine the wait and the jam, should your luggage be trapped at the bottom of the heap.

Therefore, having personally encountered this situation, I would think twice about carrying my valuables in my luggage that I am unable to carry with me at all times onboard the double-decker ferry.

Having your bag squashed is one thing, not being able to keep an eye on your bag during the journey is another. With the hundreds of passengers on the ferry, one could easily lose the bag, either by accident or intentionally “mistakenly” taken away by someone else.

7. Jetty Point @ Kuah, Langkawi

The disembarkation point at Langkawi is known as Jetty Point, in Kuah, the island’s main town.

8. ticket counters

Jetty Point is also very busy, particularly on weekends, as the ferries here head out to Kuala Kedah and Penang domestically, as well as Koh Lipe and Satun in Thailand.

9. ferry ticket

10. depart Langkawi

Ferry Line Ventures Sdn. Bhd. operates ferry to Kuala Kedah from Langkawi at the following hours: 7.30am / 8.30am / 10am / 11.30am / 1pm / 2pm / 3.30pm / 5pm / 6pm / 7pm. Fare is RM23 (adult), RM17 (child 3 – 12 years). Duration is about 1 hour 45 minutes.

11. departure

12. departure

Andaman Ferry Ventures Sdn. Bhd. sails to Satun from Langkawi twice a day at 9.30am and 5.15pm. Fare is RM35 (adult), RM28 (child) and RM12 (infant). Duration is 1 hour 15 minutes.

13. departure

14. trolley for rent at RM2, not exceeding 50kg in weight

Langkawi is a shopping haven by virtue of the fact that it is a duty-free island. If you have shopped too much, not to worry, there are trolleys for rent at RM2 each, not exceeding 50kg in weight.

15. waiting hall

16. to the ferry

For the return trip from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis, the scenario at the baggage holding area is similar, just a lot worse, due to the purchases of most passengers. It makes you realise why it seems more sensible to pay more to take a flight instead, despite having to keep within weight limit of the flight.

17. long queue to board the ferry

18. on board the ferry from Langkawi to Kuala Perlis

Anyway, despite the unsettling sight of free-flow of vomit bags hanging around the ferry, I am glad to report that the journey was uneventful, despite what the warning that my friend gave me.

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Although I have travelled the length and breath of Malaysia, Perlis is the state that I have yet to explore. On the way home from Langkawi to Ipoh by coach last weekend, we made a detour to Padang Besar for shopping.

1. Padang Besar

I am not a shopping kaki but I welcomed the opportunity to have a look at Padang Besar, and see what it offers. Obviously, I have heard from friends that there are plenty to buy, especially Thai products, at discounted prices.

2. Arked Niaga Padang Besar

Having spent two hours here on Sunday, I can say the top three items that are purchased at Padang Besar are, in no particular order: Zebra stainless steel ware, cashew nuts and Thai sauces.

3. mural

Why Thai? Padang Besar borders Thailand and is deeply influenced by Thai Muslims. In fact, many of the traders here are of Thai descent and speak Thai among themselves.

4. Arked Niaga as viewed from the first floor

Besides the above top three items, many other items are available at this bazaar-style shopping complex, such as clothes, shoes, bags and accessories, stuff that you can get from any pasar malam (night market).

5. Padang Besar stalls

Besides the bazaar, known as Arked Niaga Padang Besar, there are shophouses around the complex, selling similar wares.

6. Thai sauces and food stuff

Oh, while you are here, don’t forget to indulge in a Thai meal, among them: tom yum, som tum, pad Thai, and mango sticky rice, using the state’s famous harumanis. Enjoy a taste a Thailand without having to get your passport stamped.

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Golden Tunnel & World Under the Sea

Located within the industrial area on reclaimed land off Lukang in Changhua County are these attractions known as Taiwan Glass Gallery and glass Mazu temple, both built and owned by Taiwan Mirror Glass Enterprise Limited (台湾玻璃馆), or TMG in short.

Golden Tunnel

Cantonese-speaking guide

The highlights of Taiwan Glass Gallery are Golden Tunnel and Underwater World. As you can probably imagine already, the Golden Tunnel is a maze-like space that is surrounded by glasses and mirrors. The effect of seeing your own reflection everywhere you turn may cause dizziness, so tread with care.

yours truly pose for a photo in the World Under the Sea, made of glass, of course

glass exhibits

Visitors have to take off their shoes and wear a pair of Japanese slippers (flip flops), as well as gloves, as they would need to feel their way around the tunnel, looking for the exit. From personal experience, this Glass Tunnel is not suitable for those who easily lose their equilibrium.

more items on display

impressive glass craft

The other attraction, the Golden Tunnel, is more “friendly” to one’s senses. If you have been to the Museum of Illusions, either in Kuala Lumpur or another world city, you would be able to spot similarities with some of the displays. Have fun with the mind-bending illusions with glass!

Kottor Bear in a mirror kaleidoscope

a meal at the Glass Gallery, where diners are allowed to take home glassware, but don’t take my word for it

Within the complex are many glass art-crafts, glassware and masterpieces. I understand that glass crafters would host demonstrations and workshops regularly to impart knowledge to members of the public who are interested in the craft.

glass Mazu temple

glass Mazu temple

Adjacent to the main complex within the same compound is the glass Mazu Temple, believed to be the only such structure in the world, made entirely with sheets of glass, except its pillars. This temple is an engineering feat, no less. What a sight to behold, especially at night when the lights are turned on.

main altar with a mountain backdrop made of glass

For more details about Taiwan Glass Gallery and Glass Mazu Temple, visit the website of TMG.

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this Mazu temple is the meet-up point for those who have signed up for oyster harvesting activity

Due to the geographical location of Fangyuan, a port town by the coast, seafood features prominently in the diet of locals. Oyster is a common food here, so for a tourist to Changhua, one of the best experiences to be had is oyster harvesting in Fangyuan.

ready on the cart with water shoes, gloves and face mask

out to the seabed of Taiwan Strait

Be taken on a motorised cart (or bullock cart, depending on the tour operator) to the shore of the Taiwan Strait during low tide for a crash course on oyster harvesting and participate hands-on in this local cultural heritage.

oysters

I’m convinced this is a self-made cart

Off the Taiwan Strait coast, it was exceptionally windy during the time I visited in mid-January. Therefore, we were advised to tie up our hair, tuck in our clothing and wear a windbreaker. We were also provided with a face mask, a pair of gloves and water shoes as we were required to walk on the wet seabed, and harvest the oysters in hard, sharp shells.

cultivating oysters

our guide explains how the harvesting should be done

From personal experience, I wish to alert you that the wind could be exceptionally strong, and there were times when I felt like the wind could lift me off the ground.

I’m trying my hand at it

the crew did most of the work, actually

Also, as we were “in the sea”, the sand was very fine and with that wind, the sand went into our eyes, ears, hair, clothes, skin and even mouth, which explains the face mask that was provided to us by the operator.

guide washes the oysters that have been harvested

one of the activities is to dig holes in the ground with bamboo poles

The time spent out in the sea was probably 1.5 hours; before leaving, we were given joss paper to be thrown into the sky behind us, as a superstitious gesture to appease the sea spirits. Visitors of other faiths other than Buddhism and Taoism, feel free to opt out of the ritual.

throwing joss paper into the air to appease sea spirits

back to land

For all our labour, we were more than welcome to feast on the freshest oysters grilled over charcoal fire, on-site, as a reward for our effort. My oyster harvesting experience in Fangyuan is easily one of the most memorable of my Taiwan trip. If you are in this area, I strongly recommend that you sign up for this package as well.

grilling oysters and clams

freshest oyster ever

For further information, search on Google Maps: 芳苑海牛車隊／潮間帶集合點

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Lungshan Temple

Lukang (also Lugang) in Changhua County is the second oldest town in Taiwan. This modest town is famed for its culture and heritage that have been well-preserved through the generations. A pride of this town is its historic district, where red brick buildings with traditional Taiwanese architecture still stand firmly.

giant fortune sticks at Lungshan Temple

photoshoot at Lungshan Temple

The ideal way to take in the sights and sounds of Lukang is by going on a walking tour, with Lungshan Temple that features carved dragon poles, pagoda ceiling, and beautiful garden courtyards, as starting point. The 233-year temple, with Goddess of Mercy as resident deity.

street of Lukang

Mo Ru Lane

From there, stroll over to the narrowest of narrow Mo Ru Lane, followed by Lukang historic district, where century-old flavours of Cheng Yu Chen (since 1887) await.

Lukang Old Street

second generation Cheng Yu Chen

Cheng Yu Chen traditional biscuits

all in the family

From these traditional biscuits to the fashionable pudding of Simple Delicious Workshop, from classic street food fare of fried oyster omelette and large intestines rice vermicelli to hipster cafés, the saying that one can get to know a place well through its food holds true in Lukang.

鹿港童年往事之懷舊柑仔店

Simple Delicious Workshop

Xinzu Temple

Chinese biscuits that are also available in Malaysia

Also well known in Lukang is Ellen “Bicycle” Café (ELLEN鐵馬咖啡 – 鮮烘咖啡專賣), popular among the locals for its freshly baked bread and snacks, as well as coffee products, such as delicate coffee, drip coffee, coffee gift packs, coffee-making utensils, and more.

ELLEN 鐵馬咖啡 – 鮮烘咖啡專賣

Ellen, herself

From what I understand, Ellen began her coffee business from a tricycle. Due to overwhelming support for her aromatic coffee, she was able to move her business to a permanent shop.

frying oyster omelette

Lukang street food

Lukang street food

I wouldn’t say that Lukang is an “exciting” town, as its glorious days as a port town is long gone. However, tourists who enjoy a laid-back lifestyle will like it, so would foodies, because of the array of street food options.

Lukang street food

Lukang street food

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Child Story 童年往事莊園民宿

Just a short distance away from the historic district of Lukang, and the Changhua Coastal Industrial Park, is a nostalgic guesthouse called Child Story 童年往事莊園民宿.

entrance

front courtyard

lobby

It reminds you of your childhood, and brings out the inner child in you with an array of vintage toys and memorabilia from the 1950s as decorations.

decoration

living room

dining room

It amuses me that just like in Malaysia, Taiwanese people are also beginning to appreciate the bygone years by offering time-tunnel themed hotels, e.g., Child Story, and cafés that take one back in time.

items for sale

guest room

guest room

Although I do not have much information on Child Story due to my inability to engage in small talk with the operator or his employees, I managed to take a peek at some of the rooms. They are all individually furnished with specific themes of the old days.

ceiling

washroom

garden

From what I read, Child Story offers dorm-style accommodation as well, although I did not have the chance to have a look at these.

dinosaur

mock cinema

Anyway, despite the era that it projects, worry not, Child Story is equipped with modern amenities for a comfortable stay. Have a look at my photos and say “hello” to its resident doggie.

resident dog

Instagrammable spot

Child Story 童年往事莊園民宿
Add: 62-500, Fuxing Road, Fuxing Township, Changhua County, Taiwan 506 (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 932 603 599
Web: 童年往事莊園民宿

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The Naked Cafe, Lukang

One morning in Lukang, we had our first meal of the day at this modern Western-style eatery by the name of The Naked Café. Having dined here, albeit once only, one question lingered on my mind. What is naked? Is it the chef, the customers, or one of the many bears that sit around the café? Guess this will be a 64 million dollar question forever.

order counter

decorations

Although The Naked Café is not a conventional eatery for tourists to patronise, as they would prefer to go for traditional Taiwanese breakfast instead, it was a refreshing change for us to try a local hipster café. I really enjoyed its teddy bear theme, which provided plenty of photo-taking opportunities.

the camera eats first

Sub Sandwich

Have a look at what our small delegation had for breakfast, selected from the café’s breakfast menu. Although I loved its plating, do not expect to be wowed by the taste, as it’s nothing extraordinary.

English Meal

look at the bear coffee art

Service could also be a tad slow, despite the lack of customers the morning we were there. And the pricing, obviously, it’s many times higher than a local coffee shop.

The Naked Cafe Chef Meal

German Meal

However, The Naked Café is a nice place to come for a cuppa, to chill alone or with friends, and to enjoy its overall ambience, either on the ground or upper floor.

huge bear enjoying itself

upper floor

The Naked Café
Add: 420, Zhongshan Road, Lukang Township, Changhua County, Taiwan 505 (R.O.C.)
Tel: +88647756988

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ShingLong Textile

ShingLong Textile in Huwei Township, Yunlin County is a textile manufacturer, with towels as their main product. However, ShingLong, or more commonly known as SL Towel, offers educational tours to visitors, which allow them to learn how towels are produced, including the different qualities available.

towel products

towel bear family

cake cabinet

Similar to the many factories in Lukang industrial area, ShingLong (SL) also conducts DIY workshops that give visitors hands-on experience to create souvenirs from towels.

various towel products

bathrobes

towel bouquet

During our workshop, the instructor taught us to shape a dog out of a napkin. The pup was our souvenir from the visit as we could take it home with us.

towels are arranged like cakes

towel doggie family

record-breaking towel cake

Visitors to SL Towel, whether they participate in workshops or not, never fail to shop for quality towel products at the store here, after having learned how towels are produced, from cotton.

compound of SL Towel

Miimi (L) & Tony (R)

cotton tree

If you’re someone who enjoys factory visits and learn how things are made, SL Towel would make a great destination.

guided tour

bales of cloth

spools of thread being spun

ShingLong Textile
Add: 84-1, Huwei Township, Yunlin County, Taiwan 632 (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 5 622 0559
Web: sltowel.com.tw
Facebook: 台灣興隆毛巾

materials for DIY workshop

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entrance to Bantaoyao Craft Studio

An art village decorated with pottery artwork, Bantaoyao was a large pottery factory that utilised tunnel kiln to produce pottery and mosaics for temple decoration, also known as temple roof folk art.

village setting

deities

fruit plucking

Founded by Chen Zhong-zheng, a potter who created fragmented ceramic art and pottery, and with the decline of this traditional industry due to lack of skills in the younger generation, Mr Chen decided to dedicate his time into preserving the traditional craft, and in an effort to introduce it to visitors in a fun and hands-on way.

Jiao-Zhi (Koji pottery)

Chien-Nien technique

exhibition hall

While guests at Bantaoyao Art Village appreciate the beauty of ceramic art of both Jiao-Zhi and Chien-Nien techniques, they can also learn how to make pottery dolls and mosaic art at workshops, an activity that is enjoyed by the whole family.

exhibition hall

this piece shows the difference between Chien-Nien technique of Taiwan and Southern China

Koji pottery art

Jiao-Zhi means clay figurines while Chien-Nien is the “cut and glue” technique using broken ceramic bowls and pieces of glass to decorate temple roofs with arrangements of ceramic human and animal figurines, since the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

drawing

colour matching

garden

Basically, Jiao-Zhi (Koji pottery) uses clay while Chien-Nien utilises ceramics, and they complement each other in traditional art. There are seven major steps in producing Jiao-Zhi, while Chien-Nien, six.

cute decoration

roof decoration

Bantaoyao is an art village

The seven steps of Jiao-Zhi are:
1) Drafting – draw outline of the shape required
2) Shaping – use six main techniques alternately: pinch, stack, mould, paste, carve & draw
3) Air drying – place the article under the shade, leading to a semi-dry condition
4) Pumping – pump out air and water from article to make pottery compressed evenly and not chapped and cracked during firing
5) Prior to firing – place dried article into kiln, powered by electricity. Make it heat up to the region of 1100°C
6) Glazing – high concentration and attentiveness are required during glazing. The colour before firing is pink-like, and slowly becomes brightly coloured later on
7) Posterior firing – Although the firing temperatures are usually in the range of 800°C to 900°C, the atmosphere within a kiln could affect every glaze complexly, so it’s important to adjust the temperatures in order to maintain balance. Time required for this procedure is approximately ten hours.

photo spot

The six steps of Chien-Nien are:
1) Drawing – draw outline of the shape required
2) Shaping – use wires to put the skeleton together
3) Mixing cement – mix clay, grinding limestone and flax evenly by stirring
4) Hand building – apply cement onto the skeleton, layer by layer – usually requires at least three days
5) Cutting – cut bowls or glasses into different shapes as required, and polish them
6) Decoration – paste these pieces on the subject using cement

wall mural

posing in front of the gigantic cat

Chiayi is home to Jiao-Zhi (Koji pottery); the Japanese even call it “Chiayi pottery”. As one of Taiwan’s traditional art forms, in the past, the masters of Koji pottery were all trained here.

One very comprehensive write-up on both Jiao-Zhi and Chien-Nien is found in this article: Temple Roof Folk Art. Feel free to read.

Bantaoyao

Bantaoyao Craft Studio
Add: 45-1, Xingang Township, Chiayi County, Taiwan 616 (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 5 781 0832
Web: bantaoyao.com.tw

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Smart Fish 林聰明沙鍋魚頭 (光華店)

When in Chiayi, the eatery that came strongly recommended was Smart Fish. The outlet that we went to for lunch was the branch, just around the corner from its headquarters.

large intestines at the counter

casserole fish head

We had to queue up for about 30 minutes before we managed to get a seat. If a restaurant is packed with locals, it has to be good!

turkey rice

fish dish

As Smart Fish is famous for its casserole fish head, of course that was what we savoured, among other dishes.

blanched vegetables

blanched vegetables

Similar to the experience of my very first meal in Taiwan at 斗六門當歸鴨麵線, I had difficulty ordering my food. So, my lunch here was what my tour guide wanted me to eat. What? Did you expect me to pick up Mandarin in a matter of days? Oh, I wished!

our lunch

Have a look at my lunch of turkey rice together with casserole fish head and fresh vegetables. If only I could state all their names as listed in the menu.

Smart Fish 林聰明沙鍋魚頭 (光華店)
Add: 122, Guanghua Road, East District, Chiayi City, Taiwan 600 (R.O.C.)
Tel: +886 5 227 0661
Web: Smart Fish

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huge statue of Zheng Chenggong (Koxinga) on horseback

The Koxinga Shrine and Museum are said to be Tainan’s major tourist destinations. In fact, the Koxinga Shrine has been voted by the public to be one of the Top 100 Religious Scenes of Taiwan.

Koxinga Museum

Koxinga, or Zheng Chenggong, born in Japan to a Chinese father and Japanese mother, is a national hero in mainland China and Taiwan. The Koxinga Shrine is actually a family shrine complex dating back to 1663. Featuring traditional Fujian architecture, it was built to honour Zheng, Prince of Yanping (27 August 1624 – 23 June 1662), who defeated the Dutch outposts on Formosa Island.

arch to Koxinga Shrine

The House of Koxinga was a dynasty established by Zheng, who ruled the island, essentially as the Kingdom of Tungning from 1661 to 1683.

Koxinga sits at the main altar

It was turbulent times in China and Taiwan back in the 1600s, and Koxinga even made plans to invade the Philippines if his demands for tribute from the Spanish were not met, but Koxinga’s life was cut short by malaria, and he passed away in 1662, at the age of 37.

front courtyard

While Koxinga Shrine and Museum make a pleasant visit for those who enjoy architecture and photography, the visit can be maximised if one reads up on Koxinga preceding to the trip, to gain a greater appreciation of Koxinga’s sacrifices to Taiwan.

temple roof folk art

Luckily, signboards are in Mandarin and English, making it easy for foreigners to delve into the life and times of Koxinga.

Koxinga Shrine
Add: 700, Kaishan Road, West Central District, Tainan City, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

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