Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

To get to Sun Moon Lake, I will need to get to Taichung and take a bus from there. Head to the Taichung Kan Cheng Station at Shuangshi Road or High Speed Rail Taichung Station and look out for Nan-Tou Bus (南投客運) . 1-way ticket costs NT$200 and return ticket costs NT$350.

Things to do!

• Wenwu Temple (文武廟) - The biggest temple on the Northern bank of the lake.

• Ita Thao (伊娜達)- The village of the Thao Aborigines, and also called Dehua village (德化社).

• Lalu Island (拉魯島) - In the middle of the lake. Lalu (lit. "Lake Island") is the name the Thao tribe, the original inhabitants of the area, gave to this sacred land, though it was changed to Guanghua (光華 or "Glorious China") during Chiang Kai-shek's rule of Taiwan. After 1999's September 21st earthquake the Taiwanese government, attempting to show greater respect and political awareness towards the Thao, reverted the island's name back to its original Lalu.

• Ci-en Pagoda (慈恩塔) - The Chinese style pagoda is 46 meters tall. It was built by the Chiang Kai-shek in memory of his mother. It was completed in 1971 and sits on the hill southeast of the lake.

Sun Moon Lake Hotel

No.5, Mingsheng St., Yuchih Township, Nantou County 555, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Telephone : 049-2855-855

Source:

http://www.sunmoonlake.gov.tw/sun.aspx?Lang=EN

http://wikitravel.org/en/Sun_Moon_Lake

Alishan!

Alishan or Mount Ali is located at Chiayi County and can be reached via coaches and trains from the other cities/counties.

The Typhoon Morakot August 2009 damaged most transportation links to Alishan and this includes the iconic trains that go all the way up the mountain. So the only way to get up is via bus from Chiayi at NT$221 each way. Entry fee is NT$150 if we go in via public transportation, otherwise it is NT$200 person.

Things to do!

• Jhushan (祝山),

• Giant Trees Trail

• Shoujhen Temple (受鎮宮).

• Two Sisters Pond (姊妹潭).

Things to Eat and Drink!

Being a tea lover, I will definitely not miss the chance to taste the High Mountain Oolong tea! It should be pretty cool up there in the mountain; hence I think having hotpot for dinner sounds like a fantastic idea. Imagine eating vegetables and animals planted or caught from the mountain, now that is what I call, 'Organic'! Now Fenchiu Lunch box is rather famous too, so it is a must-try item too!!

Where to stay?

As for staying for the night, I think I will go with Gao Shan Ching Hotel!

One more day to submit my itinerary!

Yushan (玉山) Mount Jade

How to get to Yushan? (from wikitravel)

The nearby major cities are Taichung (台中) and Chiayi (嘉義).

• Taichung → Shueili (水里)→ Heshe (和社) → Tongpu (東埔) → Tataka Recreation Area (塔塔加遊憩區)
• Chiayi → Alishan (阿里山) → Tataka Recreation Area

From the Tataka Recreation Area:

• Main route from Tataka Visitor Center (塔塔加遊客中心) (2600m) and leads to the top in 10 km, with a hut very near the top.
• Tongpu to the summit, 23 km and 2800 vertical meters.

If you take the main route, you can park in three different places and reach the trailhead differently[1]:

• From Tataka Visitor Center
• From Shangdongpu (上東埔)
• From Lulin Pass (鹿林)

The Hike (from wikitravel)

Getting from the Tatajia Visitor Center to the trailhead, a journey of over 2km, can be done on foot, or by a regular shuttle service that costs NT$100.

The hiking trail leading from the trailhead at Tatajia Anbu to Paiyun Lodge is 8.5km long. Paiyun Lodge at an elevation of 3402 metres is located below the west slope of Yushan Main Peak and is an important base for climbing the Yushan Peaks. As high mountain hikes go, it is relatively easy, with few steep or technical sections. In some sections the trail goes downhill, and there are plenty of level grade sections. The trail is clearly marked, with a distance post every half km showing distance traveled and distance remaining. There are also some interpretive signs on the way, explaining the flora and geology with varying degrees of informativeness. Along the way there's a side trail to Yushan Front Peak, which can be explored by those with the time and energy. It takes 4 to 8 hours to reach the lodge from the trailhead, depending on fitness level.

The trail from Paiyun Lodge to the peak is 2.4km long. It only starts becoming technical around the last half kilometer or so, with the last 200 meters being the steepest and most difficult section...though by high mountain standards, still relatively easy. It takes 2.5 to 3 hours to reach the peak from the lodge.

Permit is required to climb Yushan, it is possible to apply for it online in advance.

http://barkingdeernews.blogspot.com/2009/04/yushan-diy-package.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yushan_(mountain)

http://wikitravel.org/en/Yushan

YT Gadgets

Suddenly, it occurred to me that Youth Trekker sounds like a super hero... like Spiderman and Batman... Youth Trekker (YT), the Adventure Seeker!

A hero will definitely requires many special gadgets to assist him on his missions. And the following gadgets are super duper 'confidential':

(1) Youth Travel Card

With this card, youths enjoy discounts at retails, F&B shops and more. Check out the whole here.

(2) Digital Tour Buddy

A mobile phone can be rent FOC throughout the duration Youth Trekker explore Taiwan! Cool huh... More details here.

(3) Taiwan Rail Pass

With this TR Pass, the holder will enjoy unlimited access to Taiwan Rail's services. What a way to save money and time! Details!

(4) Tour Buddy

NYC has invited university students to come up with a few itineraries and visitors can sign up for them and be shown around by them. Click here for the details!

Mount Lala 拉拉山

Source: http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/10/the-ancient-trees-of-lala-shan/

Got this from 维基百科 (Chinese version of Wikipedia):

拉拉山，又名達觀山，位於桃園縣復興鄉和台北縣烏來鄉交界，海拔2,031公尺。農委會林務局在1986年成立達觀山自然保護區於該山與塔曼山稜線南側地區，屬於國有林自然保護區，已將保護區內的檜木巨木群、山毛櫸、台灣扁柏、台灣黑熊、台灣獼猴、帝雉、水鹿等動植物列為保育類。

Mount Lala, also known as Mount Da Guan, is situated between Fu Xing Xiang of Taoyuan County and Wu Lai Xiang of Taipei County, it is 2,031m above sea level. In 1986, the Foresty Bureau, COA set up the Mount Da Guan Nature Reserve; together with the southern region of Mount Da Man, they form the Na

tional Nature Protected Area. The plants and animals that can be found in this area are all protected species.

Source: http://blog.taiwan-guide.org/2008/10/the-ancient-trees-of-lala-shan/

From what I found online, ancient trees can be found at Mount Lala. Visitors will get to enjoy "Forest Shower" (森林浴) as they hike along the trails. The name, Lala originated from the Tai Ya Tribe (泰雅族) "R,ra" which refers to the action of climbing up to a high point and look far. The people from the Tai Ya Tribe used to climb up the top of Mount Lala to look out for invaders.

I would really like to go to Mount Lala, stay there for a night, enjoy a meal or two and hike through the ancient trees. Now that is what I call enjoying life! Seriously, I think Mount Lala is not on most overseas visitors's radars. Maybe the information on Mount Lala is inadequate so I am going to share what I found online.

So, how to get there?

First, take a coach (every 20-30 minutes interval) from Taoyuan Rear Train Station (桃園後火車站 Taoyuan Hou Huo Che Zhan) to Da Xi (大溪).

From Da Xi, take another coach to get to Ba Ling, Upper Ba Ling (巴陵、上巴陵). The schedule for the buses are: 07:10 08:30 10:10 11:10 12:45 14:00 16:20 17:40 but only the 7.10am and 11.10am buses go all the way up to Upper Ba Ling.

Where can I stay?

拉拉山古道山莊, Source: http://kudow.okgo.tw/

There are many guesthouses to choose from but this particular picture caught my eyes. I think staying here for the night would be the best; imagine waking in the morning with the mountainous view ahead of you... NICE!!!

Contact Number: 02-26922073 03-3912928

Address: 桃園縣復興鄉華陵村8鄰巴陵31之5號

I want to be a Youth Trekker!

The National Youth Commission of Taiwan is looking for Youth Trekkers for the 3rd time!!! And some how, I really want to become one next year. If I get chosen, I will get to travel to Taiwan between 1st March and 31st August 2011 which is the best time to visit Taiwan!

From what I know, the trekkers selected from Singapore in 2009 and 2010 are all females!!!

Source: http://tour.youthtravel.tw/2011youthtrekker/page7_e.html

What happened to the guys?

I say, let's have some MAN POWER from Singapore to be the next Youth Trekker!!

Whenever somebody talked about going to Taiwan, he/she will definitely mentioned Shih Lin Night Market, Taipei 101, Chiufen and everything else in or near to Taipei City. Come on people, there are so much more to explore in Taiwan.

My plan as a Youth Trekker would be to walk out of Taipei City and walk into the forests, climb up the mountains and jump into the seas! All N.A.T.U.R.A.L... of course, at the end of the trip, I will want to do what normal people do as well... haha... Shih Lin Night Market, Taipei 101, Chiufen and everything else in or near to Taipei City

Pick Me! Pick Me!! I want to be a Youth Trekker!