Taiwan Day 3 (15 Dec Taichung -> Sun Moon Lake)

As promised, this was the served breakfast - 2 sandwiches & 2 packets of drink (1 milk tea and the other just plain milk). No surprise lah hehe..

After breakfast, we went to the bus station and boarded the 仁友客运 to Sun Moon Lake - NT370 per pax (round trip), 2hrs journey. We suspect this could be the cheapest compared to what other bus companies offer cos the bus was really quite "log-kok" haha!! Maybe the receptionist thought we really had a tight budget ;p

Immediately right after we alighted at Sun Moon Lake, a taxi driver approached us and offered to drive us around for a fee of NT500 per pax. For this price, he will drive us half-round the Lake, including certain scenic spots such as Wenwu Temple, Peacock Garden, Aboriginal Tribe outlet, and then a boat ride on the Lake back to the starting point. We were told the entire journey will take about 2hrs.

Lake view

Pavilion by the harbour
Wenwu Temple
Peacocks at Peacock Garden

So, seeing how impossible it was to cover the Lake on foot, we decided to do just that. FYI, one round the Lake is about 42km! The driver wasn't a very good host. After we dropped us at the Aboriginal outlet (last stop before the boat ride), he didn't even bid us farewell or tell us that was the end of his service. We were only told we would be taking a boat ride across the Lake. We were wondering if that was it, and if the boat would bring us back to the starting point, or if we need to meet him again for a drive back to the starting point. Anyway, we asked the lady who drove the boat. She was surely different! Very friendly and enthusiastic about her work, and explained everything around and about the Lake to us. Now, that was service!

Local food before we board the boat - shrimps （潭虾）and fishes （奇力鱼）caught from the Lake. Basically they fry the shrimps and fishes, then added some powder thinggi. NT100 per pack - can mix 2 types in a box. Quite tasty!

Frankly, I don't think there's anything great about Sun Moon Lake. Over-hyped, I think. They have a 日潭 and 夜潭. 日潭 is where the sun rises, 夜潭 is where the sun sets. That's how it got its name, apparently. Nice scenery but not impressive - it's just a lake loh... So if there's no time, one can give it a miss ;p

When we got back to Taichung, we went for dinner at a local shop opposite the hotel. Took pictures using my mobile but didn't bring my USB to download.. so no pictures for now. The locals call it 卤味 but it's something like our yong tau foo. When the auntie knew we are from Singapore, she gave us more food, FOC! She added extra daicon into our soup, gave us a plate of vegetable and also a small cup of their specialty brewed chicken soup! Such warm hospitality!! Actually, this was really amazing.. My hubby was just talking about wanting to eat vegetables this afternoon cos we haven't yet much vegetables and fruits in the past few days, and then we had the vegetable offered to us. Thank God!

Then we went to a nearby shopping mall - Taichung Central. Huge shopping centre with lotsa eateries! My hubby said we should have come back from Sun Moon Lake earlier for this haha!! I bought a pair of jeans. It was on offer - NT390 per pair hehe..

We also visited Carrefour within the shopping mall. Bags had to be sealed before entering the mega mart. Obviously, this is for security reason but definitely not environmental friendly loh...

We're leaving Taichung tomorrow for Alishan via Chiayi.. See ya!