[TW; 2011] Jiufen & Shifen

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DAY4

#1 85Building > Zuoying HSR Station

It was still pouring in the morning. Our breakfast plan at kaohsiung was forced to cancel. ):

Anyway, we took a cab to Zuoying Station; NT$250.

#2 Zuoying HSR Station > Taipei Main Station
In case you are wondering how is the toilet within the hsr looks like...

NT1490 for one way trip, http://www.thsrc.com.tw/tc/?lc=tc

MOS burger Breakfast on the bullet train! Took the backseat again!

On the bullet train, passengers are also allowed to buy drinks & snacks directly from them. Or you can purchase food (MOS burger etc) around the train station before boarding!

#3 Taipei Main Station > Ruifang Station

2.5years ago there wasnt something like this; a specific big area to buy the train tickets. Actually i feel Taipei Main Station is really confusing, anyway it's not recommended by me to stay in hotels near there.

We got the no-seats tickets; got to stand at random spots on the train. ): Actually i have no idea why.. lucky it is just a short ride like 30mins. (:

NT$76 for one way trip http://www.railway.gov.tw

 

look at [TW] FQA for more details on how to travel to Jiufen and/or Shifen!

#4 Ruifang Station > Jiufen (Windsor B&B)

溫莎堡景觀民宿, http://windsor.idv.tw/, 台北縣瑞芳鎮輕便路282號

We stayed in the famous jiufen's minsu 溫莎堡涵館! We chose 涵館2, which is the underground of the minsu's cafe. LOL

The toliet is semi-OPENAIR! Should taken our expression when we saw the toilet. Anyway i dont think anyone peep from the toilet's window because behind the window is a steep slope. The room is pretty and spacious but expensive. But it's a great experience living in such a minsu. (;

As it's a family-run minsu, the owners were very friendly. The guy owner came down to Ruifang and drove us up to Jiufen. Their son carried jl&cons bulky luggage down the flight of stairs. The lady owner gave us lots of directions and even asked us to try climbing the nearby mountain. -.-

#5 Windsor > Jiufen (random) Street

Jiufen is like all about stairs. One stretch after another stretch. We gave up climbing to the main old street after a few stretch of stairs and settled down for lunch at some restaurant the lady owner recommended. Affordable lunch, although it's at some tourist spots, around NT$200-NT$250. I think the side dishes were better than the main, although i've no idea what they were. Adding on, the restaurant has a great sea view! (happy) (;

#6 Jiufen Street > Ruifang Station

The lady owner asked us to walk down this freaking long flight of stairs for the nearest bus stop. (This picture is only 3/4 of the flight of stairs) Anyway, we cant find the bus stop after walking down, thankfully we met a few nice people that directed us to the bus stop. There were an ahgong and grandson helping us to look out for the bus from their house balcony. Aiyo why were they so cute.. (':

Grandson: 公車來了！公車來了！

Ahgong: 快點舉，快點舉！

Bus fare from Jiufen to Ruifang Station NT$15

#7 Ruifang Station > Shifen Station

NT$20 for one way trip, NT$54 for unlimited usage for one day on pingxi line http://www.railway.gov.tw

#8 Shifen Station > Shifen (random) Street

Shifen Station is really, cool. The shophouses are like right along the train tracks.

We went to release the KongMingDeng! We chose a 4-colours KongMingDeng; cant really remember what all the 4-colours stand for; health, wealth and some other stuffs.. But it was really fun putting up on the train tracks because you've to release it before the train passes by. After releasing we had to rush back to the station to catch the train as the next train wait is like 1hour+ long.

#9 Shifen Street > Windsor B&B

Caught the train back to Ruifang Station. Went to buy dinner at Ruifang Streets; fried beehoon, beef noodles, honey chicken and some other stuffs.

We caught the second last bus back to Jiufen; super lucky! And the driver was very friendly, talking a lot of random stuffs on the way that really made us laugh throughout the journey. We climbed down a long flight of stairs back to our minsu and guess what we dont know how to lock the main door! It was so easy to lock yet we spent like 15mins. -.- I bet if there is people watching the CCTV will laugh at us for being such entertaining.

Anyway bought low/zero calories magi-mee from 7-11 and it tasted surprisingly nice! :D

TIP: The last bus from Ruifang train station to Jiufen old street is around 9plus. Please check the bus board located at the Ruifang train station bus stop for the actual timing, if not taking the taxis stand-bying near the train station confirm will get carrot-headed.


TIP: Please inform the driver that you will be heading to Jiufen old street so that he/she can inform you when the stop reaches. The stop you should alight should be near a 7-11 store.

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