Shifen Train station

Previous entry here: http://thengveronica.blogspot.sg/2012/12/taiwan-day-3-jiufen-part1.html

From Jiufen to Shifen.
As mentioned, I took the bus from Jiufen back to Ruifang Station 瑞芳.

Basically, I think its worth the trip gg to Shifen station.



Things to do there:

1. Its a place for you to put sky lanterns and I dont think you will have alot of chance putting the v colourful lanterns into the sky, on the railway track itself. I enjoyed myself tremendously writing nonsense on the lantern. LOL. Its a truly amazing experience.


2. Its a place well known for the mini watefall. the little Niagara. (oh pls, thats exaggerating. LOL.)



You will probably be 10 times happier coming here.. HAHA.
I think I am 10 times more tired coming here though!



How to go:
Head back to Ruifang Station to purchase tickets to Shifen Station.



okay, pls note.
There are specific timings for the almost hourly train towards shifen.
Cause there is only 1 track for the train in/out of the mountains.
LOL.

Pls take note of the timing and make the necessary arrangements so that you dont waste your timing waiting. Else, you can roam around Ruifang Train station (although there is really nth much). XX found the timing for me so i make it a pt to leave Jiufen just for my train to Shifen! Say yes to perfect time management. HAHAHA.

You will go to Shifen train station via the Pingxi Line (平溪线).

Train tickets: Differentiate the words highlighted in black. Go and Back.
There will be someone to check the train tickets.
Random seating. You either stand or sit.


Supposed you are just gg to Shifen for the sky lanterns or to go the waterfall, there is no need for a day trip ticket.

Cost: 2 single journey tickets will do (NT36)
A day trip ticket (unlimited stops) is 59NT per person.

Time: Approx 30 mins to Shifen station.


These are the train stations on the Pingxi Line (平溪线)! Should you be interested to alight at the other stops for sight seeing, then you can consider getting the day trip ticket instead!

Along the train journey, you will see mountains and rivers. Although all of us decided to slp instead. HAHA.

Fact: You wont get electrocuted standing on the railway. I stupidly asked that question.
Okay fine. I am a failed Science student. LOL.


Trains for the  Pingxi Line (平溪线) are all colourful!! Why arent our MRT this colourful? LOL.


Its my first time seeing shops so close to the train. LOL.






Well, the plan was to take a cab to the waterfall. Cause i read that there will be alot of walking and I don want my parents to make themselves tired from the walking. Besides, its only 100NT per trip.

The thing is, I have no idea where is the cab. I thought I will find the cab along the road, but i was so wrong. I was on the wrong side of the tracks, where i missed the entire row of cabs.
!@#$%^&*()(*&^%$#@

Le sigh. My mama walk until face blue sia. LOL.
oh, my legs were literally breaking apart too! T.T

If you are seeing this, pls cross the tracks. The taxis are on the other side.
I am on the side where the yellow flags are. Cross the tracks!


I did ask how to go Shifen.
Either way of the tracks will bring you there.
Apparently, I was suay enough to stand on the wrong side for the cab. LOL. I thought I will be able to find a cab along the way. Well, I thought.

The conclusion is not to think so much and just ask. T.T

Perhaps I should count my blessings that I head to the waterfall during winter season. Just kill me if i were to walk that distance during summer. Honestly, the waterfall is not near the Shifen station at all. Pls take a cab instead.

Its abt 20-30 mins walk.
Along the way, I saw the pretty star-like-stigma flower I last saw at Eva's hometown.





Well, I took a different route from the mass.
I didnt see any suspension bridge that everyone said. I thought papa to go to that center. He didnt want. He followed the cars in, and we ended up covering a longer distance instead. OMG.

Pls visit this forum for a detailed directions on how to go: http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/taiwan-291/getting-shifen-waterfall-3678781.html

But honestly, don bother finding directions how to go la. Save your legs and take the cab. You can overseas to spend money and enjoy. Not to walk for long distances. You need to comb alot of distance while travelling alr!

But eventually, we reached our destination.
Perhaps its the distance we need to covered on foot that raise our expectations.

Entrance fee: 100 NT.






I got scolded by my papa for making them conquered such long distance just to see a stupid small waterfall. Its just 50m X 50m. Oh, i think thats a over estimate. HAHAHAHA.

Honestly, I find a 100 NT entrance fee a little ridiculous. Like seriously, there are much more to see at Yeliu and the entrance fee is only 50 NT. LOL.

Sorry, I cant help but compare.

Truth is, you really pay 100 NT just to see the waterfall that makes you bored after 10 mins. Well, just that small waterfall. hmm, even my trekking to stong is better than this. LOL.







 

I spot fishes in the water!


At the waterfall, there is an area that rear chickens, ducks, sheeps. And a mini swing.
LOL. Perhaps this explains why my entrance fee cost 100NT. Part of it goes to buying food for the animals.








I dont dare to touch it though. HAHAHA. I am scared of anything fury and alive. The only thing I ever touched is Koala and Kangaroo. LOL.


I left the place covering another route.
Its the railway route.

Again, its not what most take. In fact, the route is so well hidden, i cannot emphasize how grateful I am to follow the 2 teenagers out of the tracks.

There is a hidden path up the slope after i cross the bridge, and up i go to the roads.
oh boy, I cut the distance by 50%. LOL. out of sheer luck. seriously.

My legs almost go jelly from all the walking all day long.

When we finally head back to the station, its abt 430pm.
Its winter season, so the sky starts to get dark at 5pm.

So i chop chop and anyhow write!!! Whatever that comes to my mind is written down. LOL.
Some girl prepared an essay in her phone. LOL!!! HAHAHA.




lose 10kg is HAHAHAHAHA.








 As its goes up into the sky, i screamed: "pls bring my wishes up above and make them come true! byebye!"

and everyone laughed at me.

Apparently, my wishes were heard.

1. One of the no. i wrote opened 2nd prize. Except that mama couldnt find time to buy while driving and didnt ask me to buy cause i don know how to buy. O.O Else, we would have win 4D and our Taiwan trip shall be sponsored by the Singapore pools. LOL!!!

2. My bro job case came to an happy ending. say yeah! we won and he has found a new job in a short period of time.

3. I received good news from my job after i come back. (although, they have yet process it till now. why so slow!)

4. Two Namaste is really getting married soon. (hey! its after i wrote it okay)

4 of what i wrote came true leh. ACCURATE A NOT.
Perhaps everyone should just go Shifen and put sky lanterns.



Head back to Ruifang Station and head to Keelung Night market for dinner!
Where to take bus: Bus stop OPPOSITE where I board the bus to Jiufen.
Oh boy, i am famished.

In my itinerary, I am supposed to wait for bus 1013.
But i saw a mini bus that says 基隆 (keelung). I am not sure if it would be the same. So i decided to wait for my bus 1013. The locals told me to just board the bus. Its the same anyway. Else its gg to be a 30 mins wait.

And so, I board the bus. LOL. But i specifically tell the driver that I wanna go Keelung Night market. Since I board a different bus, so there is no 獅子橋 忠一路(Chung Yi Rd) as mentioned in my itinerary.The driver tell me there is no such bridge alr!! LOL. But as advised by the driver, he told me where to alight and how to walk to the night market. Its not a long journey. Should you get lost along the way, just open mouth and ask. LOL. And then I saw the iconic yellow lanterns!

Food I tried:

This is nice! One of the recommended dish in reviews.




One of the recommended dish in reviews. Perhaps this is fried food. I don really like it. OMG.
I can imagine the oil. Thats the only oily food I ate in Taiwan. LOL.


Octopus that I bought for papa. its HUGE.


Oyster omelette! My bro got so sick eating this. HAHAHA.


Honestly, this freak me out. I will nv put this in my mouth.
Look at the skin!! Look at the belly. OMG. We chinese, really eat everything. T.T


And this is my Favourite food! Pls give this a try! I tried a similar one at Shilin night market and its not even close to nice. LOL. The one at keelung is really TOK GONGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG. HAHAH. I enjoyed the thick starchy crab broth.


Mama really like the Carb rice.


Bread for 40 cents! I bought 6 of them and all end up in papa's stomach. I always end up eating sth I think is nicer in the morning.


Head back to Taipei after that!
And pls, dont even think of walking from the night market to the Keelung Railway Station.
Its so far. Take a cab. Its just 70 NT. (:

Save your legs. Its my best spent 70NT. LOL. Its kind of far! (in case you are wondering, taxis in Taiwan go by meter. You dont have to bargain like in BKK. LOL)



Its not a v long journey back to Taipei.

Cost: 41 NT
Time: approx 45 mins.

I realise, all their trains has different kinds of seats. LOL. Some are free seating. Some comes with allocated seats. I wonder if there is a price difference. Anyone knows?
And that concludes the end of day 3!!! (: