The Next Three Months

I'm teaching myself how to take day and weekend trips during my last six months in Taiwan, partly so I don't have to spend too much time here after my contract ends, and partly because learning how to leave my apartment on weekends even when I only want to sleep and watch TV is a good skill.

Here's my schedule for the next three months:

Saturday, March 22nd, 2014: Sun Moon Lake

8:10am bus from Nantou Bus Ticketing Office (10:10am arrival at Sun Moon Lake).
*Across from Military City (15 minute walk from Train Station)
**Get discount package (includes bus ticket, possibly a return ticket?, cable car ticket, boat tour ticket).

Explore! (take the cable car, go on the lake boat tour, bike around Sun Moon Lake).

Last bus leaves Sun Moon Lake at 6:40pm (8:10pm arrival in Taichung).


Saturday, March 29th, 2014: 921 Earthquake Museum Day Trip

Take the 50 bus between Taichung train station and 921 Earthquake Museum (trip takes about an hour).

Learn about earthquake that took place on September 21st, 1999.
http://www.921emt.edu.tw/e_content/about/about01.aspx


Sunday, March 30th, 2014: Science Museum and Minsu Folk Park

Spend the morning/mid-afternoon exploring the National Museum of Science, then go to Minsu Folklore Park (recreation of a rustic/old-fashioned Taiwan) for the afternoon.


Friday, April 4th, 2014: Alishan National Park Day Trip

(This is a day off from school for Children's Day, so I'm going to push myself to wake up hella, hella early to explore the bamboo and red cypress forests of Alishan National Scenic Area.)

5:22am train from Taichung to Chiayi (7:03am arrival). Try to catch the 7:10am bus to Alishan (if not, get the 8:10am bus).

-Take the Jhushan train and hike back
-Walk the Giant Trees Trail
-See Two Sisters Pond

See: giant red cypress trees.
Try: Oolong tea!

5:10pm bus (THIS IS THE LAST BUS!!!) back from Alishan to Chiayi, then take the train from Chiayi to Taichung.


Saturday, April 5th, 2014: "The Parkway" and Taichung Park Mid-Lake Pavilion

"The Parkway" is an area between Wuquan 3rd and 4th streets, from the Art Museum to the Science Museum. It has a lot of small, local shops and restaurants, and a lot of cool artistic and cultural displays. After that I'll head over to Taichung Park. I'm not sure what is there, but I was typing a location into my Google Calendar and the Taichung Park Mid-Lake Pavilion showed up, so I figured I'd check it out.


Saturday, April 12th to Saturday, April 19th: USA! USA! USA!


Sunday, April 27th, 2014: Dakeng Hiking

From the Taichung Wikitravel page:
"Dakeng in Beitun District has several hiking paths along elevated wooden walkways. Trails are connected and some loop around to connect with other trails. Trail #5 leads to the highest point in Taichung City."

Also, I've heard there are monkeys all around this area.


Saturday, May 3rd, 2014 to Sunday, May 4th, 2014: Taipei

-Modern Toilet: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_Toilet
-Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall
-Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
-See the National Theater and Concert Halls at night
-Taipei Zoo
-Spend an hour or so hanging out at the Hua Shan Cultural and Creative Industry Center
-Peace Park
-Beitou Hot Spring Museum
-Daan Forest Park
-228 Peace Park
-Dajia Riverside Park


Sunday, May 11th, 2014: Guanziling Muddy Hot Springs

Train to Chiayi, bus to Guanziling.

"Fire and Water". WATER IS ON FIRE. Methane gas comes up from the ground, so the rocks in the hot spring are on fire.

Guanziling is famous for muddy hot springs. I'm going to a spa! The experience seems to be similar to the Dead Sea mud.


Sunday, May 18th, 2014: Tainan

In Anping District (安平區； Ānpíng qū)
-Anping Old Fort (Watch the sunset here)
-Anping Tree House
-Eternal Golden Castle/Fortress/Fort
-Chihkan Towers (the landmark of Tainan and its most famous historic site)
-National Museum of Taiwanese Literature


Friday, May 30th, 2014 to Monday, June 2nd, 2014: Kaohsiung, Kenting National Park, and the Dragon Boat Festival

Friday night I'll take a late train to Kaohsiung, stay the night, then take a bus to Kenting National Park the next morning. I'll stay over in Kenting National Park on Saturday night, and stay over in Kaohsiung on Sunday night. Monday, June 2nd is the Dragon Boat Festival, so I'll watch that in Kaohsiung, then take the train back to Taichung that evening!

Kenting National Park is supposed to have the best beaches in Taiwan. I plan to veg out and read on the beach for two days. Mmm.