Taiwan Revisited 2019, Day 2

On my second day, I headed to Houli Farm, Shifen and Rouhe Night Market. 
 
HOULI FLOWER FARM
I took the high speed train (HSR) for a fast 45 minute ride to Taichung Station  then transfer to local train Xinwuri Station which is just adjacent to Taichung Station. The flower farm is Instagram worthy due to numerous colorful blooms. The owner of the farm set up nice structures where visitors can take lovely photos.

HSR ticket

Gate/Entrance to the flower farm

How to get to Houli Flower Farm
Take the HSR or TRA to Taichung (if HSR NTD700) , transfer to Xinwuri Station and stop at Tai'an Station, hail a taxi to the flower farm , fare NTD150;   farm is quite far and I advise to take a cab to spare the long walk

SHIFEN OLD STREET

The town of Shifen has railroad tracks running through its old street. Along the side of the railroad are shops & restaurants, plus sky-lantern lightings.

Visitors are drawn to releasing lighted sky lanterns along the tracks. Visitors buy the lanterns , paint their wishes on them and release them to the sky.
 

There is also an old bridge across the train station and a river runs underneath.

You will never go hungry as there are lots of food stalls. Try the peanut ice cream, chicken wings, fried squid to name a few

Shifen Waterfall park has a schedule and it was already closed when I got there at 430pm

How to get to Shifen Old Town

From Taipei Main Station, take a northbound train (except Keelung-bound trains) towards Ruifang Station. walk to the other side of the track via underground walkway and transfer to the Pingxi Line

RAOHE NIGHT MARKET

A must when in Taiwan is to visit at least one night market. At the night market, one can see plenty of food selection cooking right in front of you. There are also different merchandise from clothing, electronic gadgets, toys and nicknacks.

Must try food : crispy pork pepper bun, pork sausage, aiyu lemon jelly, 

must try crispy pork pepper bun NTD50 each

squid takoyaki balls,  6pcs @NTD100

pork sausage , NTD50 each

selfie pod, ring light, zoom lens for smartphones

 
 How to get to Raohe Night Market

Take the MRT green line and alight at  Songshan Station. Follow the directional sign upon exit from the train.

Gardens by the Bay

Gardens by the Bay consist of three main gardens - Bay Central Garden, Bay East Garden, Bay South Garden.

The Bay East Garden can be accessed from the Tanjung Rhu Promenade. One can see a beautiful view of Marine Bay Sands, Bay South Gardens, Singapore Flyer and the marina skyline. This garden has wide biking and jogging lanes which start at the National Stadium all the way to Marina Barrage.

The South Bay Garden is the biggest of these gardens and most visited. It has several attractions : two conservatories- Flower Dome and Cloud Forest, OCBC Skyway, SuperTree Grove, Children's Garden, Dragonfly and Kingfisher Lakes, Heritage Gardens, World of Plants, The Canyon, Sun Pavilion and Art Sculpture. The conservatories are under controlled temperature.

At the Flower Dome it's like perpetual spring. It is a huge green house and you will be amazed by the display of flowers and plants from the Mediterranean and semi arid or sub tropical regions in the world. One can see Boababs, cactus and other succulent plants, Australian garden, and other flower fields.

 

Featured in March are various cherry blossoms trees.

 

Other colourful flower collections can be seen inside the dome.

The Cloud Forest showcases the world's tallest indoor waterfall at the entrance. A 35 metre tall mountain is covered with lush vegetation and other plant life from tropical highlands .

One can take the lift to the top of the mountain and then take a scenic walk along a secured walkway in the clouds for an aerial view of the forest and down below.

Skytree Grove gives shade during daytime and comes alive at night when they are lit up. These 25 and 50 metre tall vertical gardens are illuminated by different colorful lights which change every 5 minute or so. There is a skyway or aerial walking connecting some of the trees and one can stroll to see a panoramic view of the skytree grove.

view from the Dragonfly bridge

Wear comfortable shoes. A light jacket may be worn at the conservatories to warm you up. There are a couple of food outlet selling snacks outside the conservatories. A bigger food court and Mcdonalds are located near the Skytree.

Spend minimum of three hours at the gardens.

Conservatories Hours & Admission Fees

• Daily: 9am - 9pm
  
  
• Standard Rate for foreign tourist - Double Conservatories
  Adult: $28
  

Outdoor Gardens= Free

How to get to South Bay Garden

Take MRT Circle Line or Downtown Line  and alight at Bayfront Station , take Exit B; follow the underground path , exit and cross the Dragonfly bridge to the garden's ticketing gate