Octie Appetie

18 February 2017

Koh Talu, Thailand

If you live in Thailand, you will know that there are heaps of public holiday in one year period. Kinda top five countries in the world that have lots of day off. Any public holiday that fall on Saturday or Sunday, the government will alter into following Monday. That's why in a year we will have a few long weekend holidays. In this short break, most of Thais love to travel within country. And this summer long weekend we decided to spent our three days two nights in Koh Thalu. We went with the whole family members, 6 adults and 2 toddlers.

Koh Thalu or Talu island is located in Prachuapkhirikhan which is about 5 hours drive from Bangkok. Then another 20 minutes away from the coast by speed boat. The island is privately owned and is all inclusive type of resort. All meals, private beach, kayaking, catch and cook fresh squids, visiting the turtle nursery, and so on.

Two bedrooms bungalow

Peaceful and quite private beach

Hmm.. What should we do now?

Kayaking

Soccer

Turtle nursery

3 buffet meals a day

Extra bbq at midnight accompanied with beers (on your own expense)

30 January 2017

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall And Shilin Night Market

Previously:
Qingjing Farm, Taiwan

Today is our last day in Taipei, we just leisurely walked around Chiang Kai Shek and spend a good night at Shilin Night Market. However, the weather wasn't be on our side. Sprinkling nearly all day. But we still can tried a few more Taiwanese cuisine and snacks. Only covered a very little of Shilin Market, next time will definitely come back here again.

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall

Taiwanese style lunch at one of the mall basement opposite our hotel

Taiwanese Douhua - silky soft tofu served with sugar syrup and topped with peanut and red bean

Shilin Night Market

Lu rou fan topped with floss pork

It is like a steamed glutinous flour with Chinese style stew minced pork, mushroom egg (top left on the menu)

At the Touyuan International Airport Lounge - unlimited lu rou fan (I have to maximize eating this dish before departing from Taipei - I will definitely miss this dish so much)

Thank you all to read my Taiwan posts. Will see you again soon in my next journey. You guys are rock!! Octie Appetie...

24 January 2017

Qingjing Farm, Taiwan

Previously:
Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan

From Sun Moon Lake, we took a bus to Cingjing Farm in Ren'ai township. There is no direct bus from there, we need to make a short transit at Puli. It was a little bit hard for us who speaks no mandarin. In Puli station, it was none English sign and the people in there also speak very little English. We were watching the group that look more likely going to farm (youngsters with backpack, it is just stereotype though) and pay attention on the bus number as well.

We stay at Mone Garden Inn, the bus stop is right in front of the hotel. Once you pass the Cingjing Farm, is another 5 minutes away from there, you can let the bus driver knows, just in case you do not know where to get off.

The dummy part was the shower. It is located next to the bath tub but the floor is leveled and the drainer which at the other far end (underneath sink) was somehow blocked. So the water didn't go anywhere.

The look of him is priceless

This hotel is very homey with a spacious and clean room. You can also borrow DVD to watch in your own room for free of charge. However, the best part from all (not me but my son) was a bunch of cats on the house. Apparently, the owner is a fan of cats, they have nearly 10 of them. They are very kind and playful. At certain time, the owner will feed them and they all are gathered around the main reception area.

Feeding time

Cingjing Farm

The hotel provide us with shuttle bus to go to Cingjing Farm (only 100TWD). But on the way back, we didn't bother to use the shuttle bus as they have certain time only and we catch taxi back to hotel (200TWD). Taxis in here do not use the meter, normally it will cost 200TWD for one way.

It was a very very beautiful and enchanted farm. You feel like you were on top of the world, watching the clouds below you. With a cold breeze and hilly mountain scenery plus the peak is surrounded with lush green land and sheeps. Don't have any words that can perfectly define this place. Just absolutely loving it.

I'm on top of the world!!

Some snacks

Fresh fruits

Cingjing Guest House (for lunch)

We headed to Cingjing Guest House to have lunch there. They are famous with their steak. It is actually a hotel as well, but we didn't stay here as this place is full with group tours and over crowded. By then we arrived there, it was around 2pm and lunch time is nearly over, but the waitress still kindly served us and we have the whole dining area for our own.