Happy Chinese Snake Year 2013

d e s m o n d c k w ◦ p h o t o g r a p h y wishes all of you a Happy Chinese Snake Year 2013 !

合歡山 Hehuanshan, Taiwan

This is one of my best experiences in Taiwan, the Hehuanshan (合歡山). We took the local sunrise tour package available at the hotel reception that we were staying a day before the tour which cost us NT$400 per person. We were told to wait for the tour bus at the pick up point at 4:00 a.m. So we got into the bus and traveled in total darkness road for about 30 minutes to an empty land half way of the peak. We got off the bus and gather around for stars viewing !

This was my first time seeing so much stars and the not-so visible milky way. It was really awesome ! We stayed there for about half an hour hearing some stories about the stars by the tour guide. After that, we proceeded to the first viewing spot for the sunrise. It was very cold with some freezing wind blowing.

5:42 a.m.

5:43 a.m.

After viewing at the first spot for about 15 minutes, we got back to the bus and transferred to the second viewing spot. I personally prefer this more than the first one as this has a nice curvy road that improved the composition of my photos in my opinion.

6:10 a.m.

6:15 a.m.

6:20 a.m.

Lastly, the third spot. When we reached there, the sun was already blazing very brightly which helped to warm my body. Thanks to that !

6:40 a.m.

7:00 a.m.

So here ends the sunrise tour of Hehuanshan (合歡山). By the way, the photo below is the tour bus we took. Very easy to recognize isn't it ?

Click here for the full 8D7N itinerary.

Merry Christmas 2012

d e s m o n d c k w ◦ p h o t o g r a p h y wishes all of you a Merry and blessed Christmas 2012 !

清境 Cingjing, Taiwan

In my last post on Fengjia (逢甲), I shared about how I got to THSR Taichung Station (高鐵台中站). Initially we planned to go Cingjing (清境) by taking public bus to Puli (埔里鎮) from THSR station and switch to another bus from Puli (埔里鎮) to Cingjing (清境). This whole journey would have costed us NT$257 and 2 hours of our time. However, fortunate enough we were approached by two tourists asking whether or not we are willing to share a taxi with them. We agreed and we paid for only NT$300 per person which is slightly more expensive than taking public buses but we shorten the traveling time to only 90 minutes !

So the taxi driver dropped us at Misty Wonderland Villa (雲濛仙境). We first dropped our luggage while waiting for the room to be cleaned before check in. We headed to Green Grassland (青青草原) by taking the local bus. The bus fare is only NT$15 per person and 15 minutes of traveling time. So here we are, the Green Grassland (青青草原). Not to forget the entrance fee of NT$200 or NT$120 if you have the Youth Travel Card.

Ok, why were we here ? The sheep ! There are lots of them which are more than 400 as claimed by the locals. Besides, there are horses also !

At first all the sheep were locked by the fences but there were released during and after the show. By the way, there are sheep show twice a day at 9:30a.m. and 2:30p.m. This little girl in the photo below was excited for the show.

So here starts the show... My personal advice, do not sit at the front row if you are afraid to get really close to sheep. There will be 400 sheep crossing through the crowds during the show !

After the show, feel free to take photos with the sheep or you can even hug them.

We had something for dinner nearby before we headed back to the hotel.

They are selling lots of souvenirs and foods around. Don't forget to try the fresh sheep milk too ! So here ends the day in Green Grassland (青青草原).

Our next stop... Hehuanshan (合歡山) ! Stay tune !

Click here for the full 8D7N itinerary.