We woke up at 6am as we wanted to ensure that we have sufficient time to explore 十分 fully. (Note Day 2: 陽明山 where we only had time for 七星公园 and 冷水坑 ): because we reached the National Park only at 12pm.)
The travelling time from 臺北 (Taipei) to 十分 took quite a while as well since we had to change trains. We didn't know that using EasyCard would give us a slight discount at that time, so we bought last minute standing tickets to 瑞芳 (Ruifang) train station for 76 NTD. Thereafter, we took the 平溪 (Pingxi) Line railway to 十分 train station using our EasyCard.
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| Waiting for the train to arrive |
We reached 十分 at around 11.30am and the first thing we did was to send a postcard home.
I chose a wooden postcard as I thought it was unique and the print was nicer than the paper ones available there. It costs about three times more than average, but I would think it's money well spent since it also serves as a souvenir.
Normal postage to SG costs about 10 NTD each, which is really cheap and I ended up sending several postcards back home and to friends throughout the trip. (and there will be more!)
Next, we made our way to the suspension bridge and 十分瀑布 (Shifen Waterfall) on foot. It was a long, long walk, but definitely manageable. After all, we conquered 七星公园 right? Hahaha.
Honestly, I didn't think 十分瀑布 was that of a big deal, but I guess it's good to see it for yourself.
On the way back, we passed by 十分老街 but decided to have 榕樹下米粉湯 for lunch instead, which was nearer to the railway station. Something simple, cheap and refreshing, it was a good meal, but not filling as the side dishes didn't look appetizing to us. We had some 芋圓 (Taro Balls) there too!
Right after our meal, we spotted the railway train coming from a distance, but decided that we wouldn't be able to make it and slowly made our way back to the station.
Yet, on the way back, the train DIDN'T MOVE AT ALL. We kept deliberating whether we should make a run for it. And when we did, we realised that we were on the OPPOSITE side of the boarding platform, and there was no way to reach it without turning back, via another path. We sort of gave up then, but the next train came.
We ran for it immediately since we knew that the train timing interval was long. Successfully squeezed onto the train, but it took ages to start moving. -.- This meant that we didn't have to run for the train; and we could have went to a less crowded cabin instead.
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| Taken by a Japanese tourist |
We didn't 放天灯 (release sky lanterns) as Shi Hui didn't want to and Xin Yi and I decided that the cost split between two of us only was not worth it.
Note: Shifen is nearer to Jiufen than Taipei and we wanted to postpone our itinerary for today since we will be staying in Keelung for the next two nights. End up we didn't as our itinerary for Jiufen was tight as well, so we continued with Shifen, knowing that we will waste some time travelling to and fro.
Remember the kind old couple that we met at 陽明山? They suggested that we should go enjoy the scenery and cycle along the coast of 淡水 (Tamsui). This sounded so exciting especially for SH that just learnt cycling and wanted more practice. Hence, we almost postponed 十分 for 淡水, but decided that 十分 was more worth it. Good move!
Since we woke up at 6am for 十分, we had plenty of time and reached 瑞芳 at about 2.30pm. This meant that we still had time to cycle at 淡水!!
So we happily made our way to 淡水, ate Yoshinoya for dinner, and rented uBike for the cycling expedition. (If you are ever going there, please look for the uBike station to rent a bicycle. It's so much cheaper than renting from any bike rental shop around.)
The cycling path started well as we pedalled along the coast of 淡水.
But our happiness was short-lived.
Not long after, the flat cycling path ventured into steep slopes up and down surrounded by trees and more trees only.
For Shi Hui, the horror was the fact that it became a narrow and crowded path and she was still unable to cycle in a straight line. But for me, other than there being no scenery to enjoy, there were MOSQUITOES all around!! T.T
Those that know me would understand that I'm literally allergic to mosquitoes because any bite would become so swollen people would think that something poisonous bit me. Not that it is serious, but it would take days for the swelling to subside.
By the time I realised that I forgot to apply insect repellent, it was already too late. I quickly continued cycling, hoping that I'd find some spectacular view ahead.
I must say that at least I caught the sunset.
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| Though not really worth it ): |
Not wanting to go further anymore, we headed back to 淡水 along the same horrendous path which surprisingly felt shorter than before.
Snapped some pictures of the Fisherman's Wharf before returning to our hotel in Taipei. It was a long day and we were all tired, hence we had the consensus to avoid the crowd in 淡水老街 (Tamsui Old Street) and skipped it totally.
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| 淡水漁人碼頭 |
Changed into comfy but lupsup (quote XY) clothes as we wanted to wash the dirty ones. While waiting for our clothes to be washed, we had dumplings for dinner at 寧夏夜市 (Ning Xia Night Market) (變肥#1.2).
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