[TW; 2015] Solo Backpack Series | Part 15 - Taichung

Route Info: Lukang > Chaoma Bus Interchange > Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang > Wenxin Forest Park > Zhenping Village > Maple Garden Park > Lane 62 Hostel > CMP Block Museum of Arts > Mollie Second-Hand Bookstore > Tunghai Night Market
(鹿港 > 朝馬轉運站 > 新光三越台中中港店 > 文心森林公園 > 南屯區鎮平里 > 秋紅谷 > 62巷青年旅館 > 台中勤美術館 > 茉莉二手書店 > 東海夜市)

DAY11
1. Lukang > Chaoma Bus Interchange > Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang
The Tai17 owner informed me the next bus heading to Taichung was about to leave, and guide me a shortcut to get to the mini bus interchange.

和欣客運 HO-HSIN BUS, http://www.ebus.com.tw/ebus/information04.html

As I wanted to do some cycling before checking into the hostel, googled and found out that Shin Kong Mitsukoshi do have lockers for visitors to place their luggage.

But I do not have coins to insert into the locker, so I headed to the customer service counter hoping they will have coins for me to exchange... To my surprise, the lady was so nice to inform me that the customer service counter do provide FREE luggage storage. So I was given a tag that I can flash afterwards to claim back my luggage. THANK YOU 新光三越!!!

After some recommendations from the customer service counter lady, decided to grab some Soba from the foodcourt at the basement.

The person serving me recommended Cold Soba. I never tried Soba before, and afraid that I won't enjoy Cold Soba, I ordered the set of mini-rice bowl + mini-cold soba. Incase Cold Soba is not for me, I still have a bowl of rice as backup. I think it costed me less than NT$150. What a steal.

2. Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Taichung Zhonggang > Wenxin Forest Park > Zhenping Village

I wanted to go for the Taichung Land Art Festival at Zhenping Village. After reading tons of blogs, one of the Taiwanese Blogger recommended to cycle from Wenxin Forest Park to Zhenping Village.

So blindly trusted the blogger, I rented a uBike near Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. The uBike maintenance guy happened to be there and he kindly guided me how to cycle to Wenxin Forest Park. It was a half an hour journey; battling with the cars and motorcycles on the road. Sounds scary?

 

Wenxin Forest Park is quite modern, but so deserted... hardly no one is at the park.

After taking a 10mins rest, I continue on my journey to Zhenping Village. Battled with the never ending cars and motorcycles on the road, and lost with maps. After another half an hour, I finally found the entrance to the village!

After turning many bends within the village... I finally reached the Taichung Land Art Festival's highlight - The Lost Bear!

台中地景藝術節 Taichung Land Art Festival, https://www.facebook.com/TaichungLandArtFestival

The main aim of the Bear sitting in the middle of the rice field is to create awareness of the lands in villages. Due to urbanization, many lands in the village were cleared to make way for the modern buildings. So this little effort is trying to allow visitors to appreciate the beauty of the villages, so as to avoid the government from urbanizing that area.

Thus they prepared a small route around the village to follow with, but due to time constraint I did not went for it.

PS: This event has ended. If you're interested, do check out their facebook for more details of similar events.

Really impressive art piece; no regrets cycling one hour and more for this bear and learning more about land usages.

Paddy fields in such serene village. Cant imagine if the government cleared this plot of land for high rise buildings.

3. Zhenping Village > Maple Garden Park > Lane 62 Hostel
Utilized googlemap to guide me directly back to Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, I took more than a hour to cycle back, super exhausting. It wasn't easy to cycle along with cars and motorcycles.

Decided to cycle pass the more popular attraction in Taichung, Maple Garden Park.

Rather pretty man-made scenery.

Shin Kong Mitsukoshi is just beside Maple Garden Park, so effortless I reached Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and collected my luggage.

Great things about Taichung was, the newly opened BRT. Which means I can travel from Shin Kong Mitsukoshi to Tunghai University area comfortably.

(Click photo to enlarge)

Trying to be different, I booked a hostel far away from the famous areas like Fengchia and Yizhong. Thus, introducing Lane62 hostel, locating near Tunghai University.

 

Blue line BRT is just outside the hostel - Ping Ding Station.

The owner wasnt in, but he gave me a code where I could access the door and wait for him at the common area.

After 20mins or so, the owner arrived and guided me around the hostel. Rather cool design! Very DIY type of hostel.

Lane62 Hostel-62巷青年旅館, https://www.facebook.com/lane62/

Their walls were quite pretty, suitable for people who likes to camwhore or to take model shoots. I would say their facilities are quite good and very spacious area in the rooms for backpackers to throw their stuffs around.

4. Lane 62 Hostel > CMP Block Museum of Arts > Mollie Second-Hand Bookstore > Tunghai Night Market
The hostel owner highly recommended me to take the blue line BRT and stop at National Museum of National Science. He thinks I am quite an art enthusiast (aka 文青少女). Anyway being an obedient customer, I forgo going to Tunghai University for the famous Church.

After alighting, walked around 3-5mins to this CMP Block Museum of Arts.

I think this is rather a good place for youngsters to date. And not really for solo travellers to explore.

From far, I saw this famous second hand bookstore - Mollie 茉莉, hence eagerly crossed the road.

茉莉二手書店 Mollie Second-Hand Bookstore, www.mollie.com.tw, No. 161, Gongyi Rd, West District, Taichung City, Taiwan 403

They have a large range of books. How I wish I could lug all my books to Taiwan and sell them to Mollie.

One of the my favourite page found among the books, “到陌生的街道走一走 walk on foreign streets”, totally a good match with what I am doing at that time.

PS: I saw a super good looking guy in the bookstore!!! Should have tried to be-friends with him. ):

Unwillingly left the bookstore, because I was hungry. Took BRT to Tunghai Bie Shu Shopping District.

So many motorcycles in that area, that I could not multi-task - taking good street photos and avoiding the busy traffic.

Settled down at a stall, selling affordable Japanese food to students.

They offer too much choices, after a long time I eventually decided to have my favourite curry rice.

After I settled my dinner, headed back to Lane62 which was one stop away, and the hostel owner double checked whether I headed his advice and went to the CMP Block Museum of Arts. He also recommended me some other places in Taichung and Miaoli which I will definitely check it out during my next Taiwan trip.

The fortunate thing was, I wasn't alone in the hostel, but accompanied by an Australian girl. But we did not communicate with each other until the next day when I was about to leave the hostel. Such a pity.

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