Family short trip to Taiwan

My sister was generous enough to bring the whole family to Taiwan for a short vacation. I didnt want to go at first but I'm glad I did. Taiwan isnt really a country you would hear if given a chance to visit neighbor countries but it surprised me of how beautiful and progressive this tiny country is. Totally smittened by Taiwan specially their train system. Coming from a previous station master, it WOWed me.

See Pictures

Left Manila March 10,  here is a copy of our itinerary made tediously by my lovely sister.

TRIP TO TAIPEI, TAIWAN
10-15 March 2018

Date	Time	Destination/Activity	Details
Day 1 Mar. 11	2:05 am - 4:00 am (approx.) Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport 2:05 am (arrival)	Taiwan Youth Hostel B1, No.11, Qingdao W. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 100, Taiwan Tel: 02-2361-3000 Location: 1. After getting off the bus, please find M3 (yellow sign)→take the escalator→go out from M8. 2. You will see (convenience store) and the  police station at your left side, please turn left after seeing the police station and TYH will be at your left side. 3. If you arrive here during 00:45-5:50, please follow the BLUE route instead since MRT system will not be in operation during that time. (1) Take Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819 to Taipei Main Station and walk for 5 mins (2) Take CitiAir Bus 1961 to Taipei Main Station and walk for 20 secs MRT: Leave at MRT Taipei Main Station exit 8 and walk for 1 min (please see the map)
	4:00 am - 4:30 am 4:30 am - 6:00 am 6:00 am – 9:00 am 9:00 am – 11:00 am 11:00 am – 12:00 nn 12:00 nn – 1:00 pm 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm 4:00 pm onwards	Check in at the hostel Settle down/Breakfast Rest/sleep Prepare for afternoon tour Buy/load EasyCard at 711 Taipei 101 Lunch at Din Tai Fung (inside Taipei 101 mall) Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall National Palace Museum Back to Taipei Main Station Early dinner at nearby resto/fast food of hostel	Metro Taipei fare: https://english.metro.taipei/cp.aspx?n=46A82F0C116392CB&s=6792451B411431CA Taipei 101: Take the MRT red line to Xiangshan Station and alight at Taipei 101/World Trade Center station. About 14 minute(s). Chang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall: Take the MRT to Chiang Kai-shek (CKS) Memorial Hall station (Red Line 2 or Green Line 3). About 10 minute(s). National Palace Museum: Take the MRT to Shilin station (Red Line – 2) and then take Bus R30 to the National Palace Museum. About 14 minute(s) train. From Shilin MRT station, head out exit 1 to Zhongzheng Rd and catch R30 (red 30). About 15 minute(s) bus. Shilin Station to Taipei Main Station Station is about 11 mintues.

Day 2 Mar. 12

6:26 am – 8:09 am 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Alishan Cherry Blossom tour (Klook) https://www.klook.com/activity/498-discover-alishan-mountain-kaohsiung/ THSR (Taipei Main Station) to Chiayi Chiayi to Taipei Main Station Dinner at a nearby resto/fast food of hostel

Itinerary: Pick up: 9am (select your preferred location at check out) Pass by Zhongpu Aboriginal meal at Longmei Tsou dance performance Alishan Forest Recreation Area Return drop off: 5 pm – 6 pm (OR stay overnight and continue with the Two-Day tour) Inclusive of: 8 hour local tribes and nature tour Transportation Tsou Dance Performance ticket Insurance Services of an Chinese-speaking guide Aboriginal lunch Mineral water Not Inclusive of: Alishan admission ticket By MRT:  Take Taipei MRT to Taipei Main Station (台北車站), HSR Taipei Station (台北高鐵站) is located on the underground floor. Taipei High Speed Rail (THSR) Timetable and fare search: https://www.thsrc.com.tw/en/TimeTable/SearchResult

Day 3 Mar. 13	8:45 am – 5:30 pm 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 7:15 pm 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm 9:30 pm – 10:00 pm	Jiufen, Yehliu, and Shifen (Kkday) https://www.kkday.com/en-ph/product/2287 Lunch/snacks Shifen to Taipei Main Station Taipei Main Station to Jiantan Station Shilin Night Market/dinner Shilin/Jiantan to Main Station to hostel	Meeting Time: 8:45am Meeting Point: East Gate 1, Taipei Main Station Duration: ~8 hrs Returning Time: ~5:30pm  Returning Point: Taipei Main Station Vehicle Type: dependent on number of travelers  Guide Language: English Take Tamsui-Xinyi Line (to Beitou/ to Tamsui) from Taipei Main Station => Jiantan Station. About 9 minutes.
Day 4 Mar. 14	8:30 am – 9:00 am 9:00 am – 9:30 am 9:30 am – 11:30 am 11:30 am – 12 pm 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm 1:00 pm – 3:30 pm 3:30 pm – 4:00 pm 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm 7:00 pm – 7:03 pm 7:30 pm – 12:00 mid	Hostel to Taipei Zoo Zoo Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (no entry after 4:00 p.m.) Leave for Maokong Gondola from Taipei Zoo station (crystal cabin) Walk around Maokong Village and try their food/tea Cable car back to Taipei Zoo (normal cabin) Lunch at Taipei Zoo Start Taipei Zoo tour Taipei Zoo to Ximen Station (Ximending) Ximending/Dinner Ximen Station to Taipei Main Station Rest/prepare for the airport	http://english.zoo.taipei.gov.tw/content.asp?Cuitem=1126771&mp=104032 Brown Line Take Bannan Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Taipei Main Station => Zhongxiao Fuxing Station => Transfer to Wenhu Line (to Taipei Zoo) => Taipei Zoo Station About 26 minute(s) Take Wenhu Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Taipei Zoo Station => Zhongxiao Fuxing Station => Transfer to Bannan Line (to Far Eastern Hospital/ to Dingpu) => Ximen Station About 29 minute(s) Take Bannan Line (to Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center) from Ximen Station => Taipei Main Station Station. About 3 minutes.
Day 5 Mar. 15	12:00 mid – 1:00 am 4:00 AM	Hostel to airport Departure from Taipei to Manila	Kuo-Kuang Bus 1819