I'm back from my 5 Days 4 Nights educational trip to Taiwan with my dearest poly cliquemates! :D All of us were looking forward to the arrival of this day! Had a fun time there with them, and it was a great experience! :D Heehee! Travelled with my friends for the first time!
TAIWAN TRIP DAY ONE
Parents woke me up, washed up, checked everything was okay, moved off! I was really touched and thankful cause my parents wanted to send me off! :') and also, not forgetting my dear boy, who took the effort to get up so early and bus over to my place before we head over to Changi Airport together. Parents, Baby and I had our breakfast together at the cafeteria before I was asked to check-in at the airport. Took some pictures and constantly waved goodbye to my parents and Baby when all of us had to move to the departure hall. And the journey to Taiwan begins! Coincidentally, I was allocated to a seat beside Twinny! :D We had our lunch on the plane, where we were being served Chicken meat with Mashed Potatoes and Vegetables, Bread and Butter, Pasta and Ham, Biscuit with Cheddar Cheese and also our Ice-Cream from King's too! :)
NYP Travel mates
My loved ones :')
Poly Clique
Our flight to Taiwan
Meals served during our flight to Taiwan
After four hours of flight, we've finally set our foots onto Taiwan's Tao Yuan International Airport! It was drizzling in Taiwan and our very first activity upon arrival was to have our dinner! Dinner was served at City Suite Hotel's restaurant with a total of about nine to ten dishes! Prolly because of the reason that we were too used to the way dishes were being cooked in our local context, the dishes were not very much to our liking. But still, it was acceptable!
Dishes served at City Suite Hotel's Restaurant
Wu Fen Pu (五分埔)
After dinner, we travelled to Wu Fen Pu (五分埔), the best known wholesale garment market for our "shopping experience"! It looks like it is a wider version of the shops we see in Bugis Street. All of us were rather disappointed and turned off due the the point that it was drizzling and people are riding on bikes with bags of wholesale garments along the pathway! We had to constantly dodge both the oncoming bikes and drizzle. Didn't manage to buy anything cause nothing captured my attention. Oh! Steph, Vivien and I visited their public toilet before we leave, which is known as 化妆室! The cubicles for both gents and ladies are just side by side within the same place. :0 After shopping aimlessly for close to two hours, we returned to the coach, as we were being transported to our hotel for check-in! :D
Snapshot of Wu Fen Pu (五分埔)
Asia Pacific Hotel located at Taiwan's Dan Shui (淡水 - 亚太饭店)
Finally we've reached Asia Pacific Hotel located at Taiwan's Dan Shui (淡水 - 亚太饭店) ! The first thing everyone did was to request for a Wi-Fi password from the check-in counter because each of us will be receiving different passwords, with Wi-Fi available only at the Lobby. :I Received room keys, shared room with Vivien and headed over to the nearest convenience store known as Family Mart together with clique to buy some foods and to explore! :) This marks the end of our first day in Taiwan! :) Now here are the pictures! :)
TAIWAN TRIP DAY TWO
Vivien woke me up cause she was woken up by my phone's alarm that was ringing and ringing non-stop while I was sleeping like a log! :x hehe! Too tired to the point that I couldn't hear my alarm ringing! :x Washed up, prepared and met the rest of our clique! Had our complimentary buffet breakfast together and off we go to Les Enphants for company visit! :)
Les Enphants
Upon reaching, friendly staffs of Les Enphants showed us their museum showcasing their collection of Chinese Children's Textiles that was collected by their lady boss from all over the world. Each patchwork of chinese textiles will definitely have flaws that are made on purpose to signify that there is always room for improvements! How meaningful right! :) After which, we toured around the company's office and sat through a presentation given by the company's staffs and each of us received a goodie bag with cute notebooks too! :) Received extra notebooks from Wei Yang and Yi Hui! hehehe! :D Gonna give them to my niece when she's older :)
Lunch
It's lunch time! :D After our first company visit, we had our lunch at 金大碗! :D Cute name? Cause in dialect it means Super Huge Bowl! :x HAHAHA! Anyway, it is well-known for its beef noodles with free flow of noodles and soup as recommended by our tour guide! But I didn't have the feeeel to have beef for lunch so I ordered Pork Ribs instead! :) Side dishes were served too! :)
Local Delights Store (土产店)
With our stomachs filled, our tour guide brought us to one of their famous Local Delights Store (土产店)! Bought lots and lots of local delights snacks such as Tai Yang Pastry or Sun Cakes (太阳饼），Sesame with Pork Floss Pastry (芝麻肉松饼), Pineapple Pastry (黄梨酥）etcetc. Spent like about SGD100+ there cause I need to buy them back home for my family members and friends! :x
Intel's Press Conference
After buying so many stuffs, we moved on to attend a press conference by Intel! Actually, the press conference has already come to an end when we enter the venue itself. :x But we managed to see how grand the press conference was and how does it actually looks like. Managed to see the way Intel hosts the reporters and media during the press conference and heir refreshments prepared for them was great too! :) Walked around the venue and sat through another presentation made by Intel's representative before we head off to our next destination, Taipei 101.
Taipei 101
Off we go to Taipei 101 with Intel's representative with us. Toured around and visited Intel's store, as their representative continues their presentation. Explored around and we had our free time to shop around in Taipei 101! But it was all surrounded by high end boutiques such as Louis Vuiiton, Gucci, Prada etc that is similar to Singapore's Marina Bay Sands. After we've explored, we walked over to the other shopping mall just directly opposite Taipei 101, ATT 4 Fun! It isn't as high end, but we didn't buy anything from there either. :x When it was about time to gather at the meeting point, we headed back and managed to snap some pictures before we board the coach to Rao He Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市) ! :D
Rao He Night Market (饒河街觀光夜市)
Our first night market that we are visiting! I must say it is really much much better as compared to Day One's Wu Fen Pu (五分埔)! One of the best place that we have visited during our trip to Taiwan! :D Didn't capture any pictures of the night market! Busy shopping around, looking for gifts and apparels for our family and friends and not forgetting ourselves too! We sacrificed our dinner for shopping! This is what women will do as compared to men! HAHAHA! Seriously, me love this night market! Definitely gonna visit this night market with my friends and family if we are planning to go on a trip to Taiwan! :D
Dan Shui Asia Pacific Hotel (淡水 - 亚太饭店)
My usual routine as soon as we have reached the hotel: Sitting at the hotel's lobby, "Whatsapp" and "Viber" Baby! As for my parents, Daddy usually tries to get to me through phone either in the afternoon or at night! So I'll usually drop Daddy or Mummy a text cause they don't use "Whatsapp" and "Viber" if they didn't manage to get to me for the day! After which, headed to Family Mart to buy a mini sponge cake and some other foods! Bathed and headed over to the guys' room for a gathering and...to have a mini celebration for the Wei Yang, the birthday boy! The cake looks small and plain, BUT IT'S REALLY YUMMY! :) Tucked in to our beds after all of us shared the cake!
TAIWAN TRIP DAY THREE
Woke up and off we go to the lobby level for our breakfast! After we're done with our breakfast in our fastest speed, we headed to the coach and our journey for the day begins! :) Managed to capture some sceneries along the way, and along the way, we started singing on the coach! :D The coach was equipped with portable TV screens, microphones and audio systems! We could choose what song we wish to sing as well! :D and our clique started singing together with the tour guide! :D
Xi Men Ding (西门町）
Our first stop for the day! :) And it was quite saddening and disappointing cause the shops were mostly closed until a rough estimate of about two hours after we arrived at this destination. :( Thus, we decided to locate the local delights store (港记) that Twinny's family asked her to look out for and eventually we found it! :D and it was open already! :D heehee! Continued with the purchase of more goodies back for my family and friends! :x Their Tai Yang Pastry or Sun Cakes (太阳饼）and Pineapple Pastry (黄梨酥) tastes reeeaally nice! ♥ Shopped around at shops that are opened and eventually when most of them are opened, it's time for us to gather at the meeting point. ):
Look at Stephanie's Jumbo cup of Milk Tea! :D
Carrefour (家乐福） Company Visit
We arrived our next destination at Carrefour's office, in which we received a folder together with a pen that was given to each of us and have sat through another presentation! After the presentation, I believe we should understand more about the company itself and what do they actually do for their employees! Without further ado, we made our way to Carrefour's retail store itself to understand how merchandises were placed onto the shelving and the store's logistics as guided by their staffs! :) We were given free time to shop around the retail store and make our purchases as well! Oh! And not forgetting the point that each of us received a goodie bag each that comprises of snacks such as chips and popcorns! :)
Shihlin Night Market (士林夜市）
The place that all of us were looking forward to! :D We were suppose to have our dinner as we shop! But it seems like shopping became more important as compared to our stomachs! So all of us didn't actually settle down for main courses but we bought mini bites along the way! :x Passed by this stall that sells malt or sugar coated strawberries! It's really sweet and tasty! :) Continued shopping till we've decided to grab some bite!
We decided to settle down at one of Taiwan's famous dessert shop to satisfy our hunger. I had Red Bean Shaved Ice that costs about SGD$3! It tastes kind of different from the one I tried in Singapore! Anyway, Eldon and Steph had Mango Shaved Ice while Twinny and Vivien had Chocolate Shaved Ice! Yum yum! :) After we are done with our desserts, we continued our shopping spree! :) Then, we decided to buy some other mini bites! Came across this particular stall that sells Fried Chicken Meat (大鸡排）with quite a long queue. So we decided to join in the queue! And as we join the queue, each of us were given a plastic bag! So we were like holding on to the plastic bag as we queue all the way until we receive our fried chicken meat! HAHAHA! :) It is actually cheaper as compared to the Shihlin Franchise Stall that we usually spot at Singapore's shopping malls! I couldn't comment on the taste cause when I took my first few bites, it has turned a little soggy already. Why? Busy shopping! :x I remember I had fried quail eggs too! :) Steph, Eldon and Twinny successfully persuaded me in buying the quail eggs sold at one of the stalls and it was really nice too! :) Time seems to fly quite fast as we shop and unknowingly, it was time for us to gather at the meeting point! ):
Dan Shui Asia Pacific Hotel (淡水 - 亚太饭店)
Back at the hotel, Vivien borrowed me her netbook while she was bathing! Logged on to MSN and chatted with my beloved boy! :) But we didn't end our conversation pleasantly on that day for some reason. ): Steph, Twinny and Vivie were playing the "Guess Who" game in the room with lots of laughters! HAHAHA! :) I was feeling kind of troubled, and I decided to speak out what was on my mind! Chatted with Vivie, Steph and Twinny! :) The more I say, the more emotional I get. )': After chatting, headed over to Jane and Lydia's room and the guys were there too! All of us began playing "Guess Who" and started laughing! :D It was a great and fun bonding game! :)
TAIWAN TRIP DAY FOUR
IT'S TIME FOR OUR BREAKFAST! :) Didn't know my breakfast was full of...carbohydrates. ): But the bread was nice though! Favourite. ♥ As usual, rushed up the coach after breakfast.
Taiwan World Trade Center - Nangang Exhibition Hall (台北世界貿易中心南港展覽館)
Reached our destination, toured around the place and sat through a presentation made by their staffs. There are many exhibition halls which is totally like Singapore Expo! Managed to chat with Baby on Whatsapp with WIFI connection that was available in there! :) and he was in the middle of his lesson! :x heehee!
Lunch @ 伍角船板
As it is highly recommended by our tour guide, we decided to sacrifice our lunch on the previous day in order to dine here! :) Indeed, it was a great experience! The ambience, interior design and layout was really nice. Look at these pictures and you'll understand why! :)
Retail Visit - SOGO (太平洋)
Paid a visit to their departmental store and the retailers are selling higher-end products. Basically, the stores are selling branded products. :x Didn't manage to snap any pictures! :( Vivien led us to another SOGO departmental store that totally looks like Robinson, OG, Metro! Saw Head Porter and wanted to buy one for Baby, but it was quite expensive! :( Headed back to our meeting point after we meet the rest of our clique at Starbucks! :)
Jiu Fen (九份)
I was sleeping throughout the entire journey up to Jiu Fen! When I open my eyes, the coach was already halfway up the highlands! It's similar to the journey up to Genting Highlands! :) There are many many stalls in there selling foods, local products and delicacies! Twinny and I shared two bowls of Fishball soups! :)
Xi Men Ding (西门町）
We returned back to Xi Men Ding as requested by all of us cause we didn't manage to shop for anything on our first trip there! :) Thankfully we came back here with all the retail shops open! Visited STAGE (小猪 罗志祥's) shop! Twinny bought her Manhanttan bag and she was really happy! :) As for me, I didn't have any idea on what to buy for Baby, so I bought him a Tee-shirt while shopping with Jane! :) And I manage to buy what my brother has asked me to buy! :) -Happy girl-
Dan Shui Asia Pacific Hotel (淡水 - 亚太饭店)
With all that we have bought, it's time to squeeze in all of our loots into our luggage! But before that, all of us gathered at Jane and Lydia's room as we played cards and drank alcoholic drinks! :) I had ONE sip only! :) Heehee! I still remembered the after taste of it - Bland. :x After we're done with playing cards, WE HAD A FEW ROUNDS OF PILLOW FIGHT over at the boys' room! Lydia, Twinny, Jane, Eldon, Yi Hui, Wei Yang and I! The guys versus the girls! Lots and lots of screaming, hitting and snatching of pillows! We stopped our pillow fight after one of our travel mates knock on our door that ruin the entire thing. ): We returned to our rooms and continued with the packing of luggage! :x Helped Lydia pack her luggage and we went to bed after that! :)
TAIWAN TRIP DAY FIVE
Woke up, wash up, did a final check, took pictures of Vivie's and my room and packied up before moving out of the room to meet the rest of our clique with our luggage with us! Had our last breakfast at the hotel and board the coach to our next destination.
The nuggets are the four shapes you see on poker cards!
Dan Shui River (淡水河)
Here we are at our last destination before we head off to the airport! Tour guide guided us and told us certain facts and history about this tourist attraction. After that, we were given time to shop around at Dan Shui Lao Jie (淡水老街) Managed to make a final purchase on a few more packets of local product and souvenirs for family and friends before leaving for the airport!
Taiwan's Tao Yuan International Airport
Reached the airport, checked-in and have my luggage weighed after doing some final squeezing of products purchased into my luggage! :) Proceeded to the waiting area as all of us started snapping pictures before boarding the plane! Twinny sat beside me once again! :) We had our dinner on the plane and arrived in Singapore at approximately 7pm! :)
Texted Baby and he told me that he wasn't at the Airport waiting for my arrival! Daddy called and chatted with me, accidentally exposing the fact that Baby was with my mum! :D Heehee! Bought Vodka at the duty free shop before collecting my luggage! Met Mummy, Baby Niece, Beloved Boy, Grandma, Eldest Brother, Auntie, Uncle and Cousins! Missed them so! As they haven't had dinner, we went for our dinner at one of the restaurants within Changi Airport! :) Baby handed me two bags of surprises. He gave me a necklace from Swarovski and a box of heart-shaped chocolate! ♥ He said that it was a welcome gift, to welcome me back home! That's really sweet of him and I was really touched by the note he wrote for me. (': Love him much! ♥
My Pretty necklace from beloved boy! :D
This marks the end of my 5 Days 4 Nights Taiwan Educational Trip with NYP. It was a great experience and a great bonding session with my poly clique-mates! :) and I felt blessed to know how much my family and baby loves me! :D Do stay tune for my next update, readers! :) Lots of love! ♥