My Taiwan Trip 2016 - Day 1

Taoyuan airport, Taoyuan HSR, Kaohsiung City

It has been two years since the last time I visit Taiwan, back then I followed my university summer exchange program to visit Taiwan for 3 week. Even though I was there for 3 week, most of the time was spend in class, so I did not explore Taiwan that much.

This time I have decided to visit again Taiwan and to explore what Taiwan can offer. This time we are going to Taiwan in a group of 8 people including me. After months of planning, finally the day to fly off to Taiwan has come.

KLIA 2 International Departures

Our flight to Taiwan was at 10.00am in the morning, since we need to be at the airport 3 hour earlier, we have decided to meet up around 7.00am since we are coming from different places. Since each of us did not bring much thing to Taiwan, we have decided to only bought 60kg (around 7.5kg per person) for luggage check in and utilize the 7kg hand carry up the plane. 

After boarding the plane, you will be given an “Arrival Card” that you need to fill up and submit it at immigration counter at Taiwan airport. 

Arrival Card

The flight took around 4.50 hour and the flight journey was not pleasant as the weather was windy which make the plane shake a lot. Since we arrive at Taiwan airport safely, I could not complaint much.

After getting down the plane, before you reach the immigration counter, you will see many Taiwan booth that is selling phone data plan. It doesn’t matter which company you sign up with as all company has good connection. The one I sign up was with Chunghwa Telecom and I took the 15 day 3G data plan which cost NTD 700 (RM 87.50) (including NTD100 airtime credit). Also if you are traveling in group, its best 2-4 people share one data plan as it is unlimited.

Throughout the entire trip, I have no problem with the Wi-Fi connection. If you need more airtime credit, you can visit any convenient store to top up. Do make sure you Taiwan sim-card is activated before leaving the counter and if not mistaken the data plan is only offer at the airport only.  

You can visit Chunghwa Telecom website to know more about their data plan.

After we collect our luggage, we went to the bus station one floor below the arrival hall to take the bus to Taoyuan HSR station. Take note that Taoyuan airport and Taoyuan HSR is not located in the same building, you need take a bus which take around 15 min to reach. You can just follow the signboard to find the counter to buy your bus ticket and each ticket cost NTD 30 (RM3.75). Do ask the counter which platform you need to take the bus. Our platform was at platform 12, so we line up to wait our turn to go up the bus.   

Ubus ticket to Taoyuan HSR station

Bus Platform to Taoyuan HSR station

After 15 minute bus ride, we reach Taoyuan HSR station. From the station, we plan to take to the train to Kaohsiung where we are staying for the night. For those who are planning to explore Taiwan from the south to north, I would highly recommend you to buy your flight ticket to arrive at Kaohsiung airport and fly back to your country from Taoyuan Taipei airport, then you don’t have to waste time taking the HSR from Taoyuan to Kaohsiung.

But if want to experience riding HSR, then I would recommend to purchase your ticket ahead of time through their online booking platform. Buying the ticket ahead of time allow you to confirm your train seat as the ticket might be sold out if you plan to purchase on the spot and you can enjoy discount up to 35% for certain train time schedule. You can purchase your ticket 1 month ahead of the date you plan to ride HSR. Take note that once you book your train ticket, the ticket is not refundable if you miss your train ride, so do plan your time properly. Make sure you are at the train platform 10 min before the train arrive.

The HSR online booking platform is easy to use and only require one person passport to purchase for multiple ticket. After you complete your online purchase, you will be given an online booking receipt with “Reservation number” which you will need to key in when getting your ticket at the kiosk machine. Do remember that the last 4 digit of your booking ID is your DOB (MM/DD), if you need any assistance, you can ask the customer service counter for help next to the kiosk machine.

Since we arrive 1.30 hour earlier, we decided to get our HSR ticket at the kiosk machine first, then we had our late lunch at 7-eleven.  

HSR ticket

Every transport at Taiwan is very punctual, so remember not to be late. After arriving at Zuoying HSR station, we took Kaohsiung rapid transit from R16 red line Zuoying station to R10 redline Formosa Boulevard station where our hostel located. While exiting the station, you will surely come across the famous Dome of light. 

We took our time to admire the artwork before taking exit 2 to our hostel. Our hotel is called Rest Twenty-Two Hostel that we book through Agoda website and it is locate at a strategic location as it is located near the Formosa Boulevard station and Liuhe Night Market. The hostel location might be hard to find but you can follow the guide below to find the hostel. 

Prior to reaching the hostel, I have notify the hostel owner through WeChat ahead of time to let him know what time we will reach.  When I notify that we will reach around 9pm, the owner told us he might be out and unable to let us in to the hostel. Luckily the owner told us the password to the hostel main door and the where the room key is located, so we help our self in to the hostel and our room.

The hostel is quite nice and it has washer machine facility which is great for washing and dry our cloth. What I like about Taiwan is that most places has washer machine and dryer machine which allow you to wash and dry 100% of your cloth. 

Rest Twenty-Two Hostel lobby

One of the hostel Bedroom

Washer & dryer machine

After settle in, we immediately head out to Liuhe Night Market which locate 10 minute walk from our hostel. Liuhe Night Market is one of many night market in Kaohsiung. Liuhe Night Market is quite busy even around 10.00pm, we walk around and had our late dinner. Around 11.00pm when the shop started to close, we head back to our hostel to rest. Tomorrow we will have a full day to explore Kaohsiung.

Stay tune for more of my Taiwan trip 2016, Thank you!!!

Thing to do before visiting Taiwan (Malaysia Edition)

For any Malaysian who are planning to travel around Taiwan, you should visit the Taiwan Tourism Bureau KL office to get as much information as you can before planning your trip.

FREE Gift!!!

Who doesn’t like free thing, just print out and bring along the following document to get some free stuff:

1.      Flight Itinerary (round trip)

2.      Confirmation of 2 night hotel booking

Depending on month you travel, you can get different type of free gift. For me, because I am traveling in august, I gotten free Taiwan Easy Card (similar to Touch & Go card) which you can use for traveling on local bus and train. 

Taiwan Tourism Bureau KL office

Address: Suite 25.01, level 25 Wisma Goldhill, 67 Jalan Raja Chulan, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 03-20706789

Office hour:  Monday to Friday 9.00am till 5.30pm (close on Saturday and Sunday)

Lunch hour: 12.00pm to 1.30pm

Taiwan tourism KL office name card

Getting there:

You can either drive or take the monorail to get there, but I would recommend taking the monorail as you know KL traffic is very bad and expensive parking fee.

The Taiwan tourism office is located near to monorail Raja Chulan station

Google map direction 

Raja Chulan station Map direction

After getting off the monorail at Raja Chulan station, follow the sign below to exit the station.

By following the Google map, you have to walk for about 7 minute which then you will find Wisma Goldhill located opposite the road.

Wisma Goldhill building

Upon entering the lobby, you will need to register with the guard before taking the elevator up to the 25^th floor where the office is located.

visitor pass

Once you reach the 25^th floor, you will find the office on your right

You can get different type of brochure about Taiwan, and you can also ask the person at the desk regarding any inquiry you have about Taiwan. 

Taiwan brochure 

Also do remember to ask about how to apply for FREE Wi-Fi in Taiwan. You will get a iTaiwan guidebook that show you how to get Free Wi-Fi.

To know how to register and activate for an account, you can see my previous blog which show you step by step guide to get Free Wi-Fi in Taiwan 

iTaiwan Guidebook 

Taiwan Free WiFi online registration & account activation guide

FREE WiFi!!!

For anyone that is traveling to Taiwan, don't forget to register for an taiwan account to enjoy FREE Wi-Fi. 

There are more than 5,000 Wi-Fi hotspots (access points) have been established to provide citizens with free basic Wi-Fi access service. This service is called iTaiwan and provides 1Mbps bandwidth for the public to access the internet. The Wi-Fi hotspots are available in indoor public area of local tourism attractions, transportation nodes, cultural and educational facilities, and government offices

Hotspots coverage

Just looking at the Google map above, surely there is enough coverage area for you to enjoy free Wi-Fi when traveling in Taiwan

Step by Step Guide for online registration

Step 1: Visit iTaiwan Website. Don’t panic if you don’t understand Chinese, you can select the language option to choose your preferred language. I have chosen English as my preferred language

Step 2: After selecting English as my preferred language, you will reach the page as shown below. Next, click on the “iTaiwan Wifi” as shown in the picture below

Step 3: after clicking “iTaiwan Wifi”, you will come to a page where you see 4 option. For individual registration, click on “Fit Travel Register”  

Step 4: Next fill up detail as mention below, once you finish filling in the detail click “Check”

Step 5: Once you click “check”, you will need to fill up the detail mention. You can choose from 30, 60 and 90 days for your Free Wi-Fi account to be active. You will also need to choose your arrival airport. Once you have complete all info, click “Submit” and you will need to agree with the T&C.

After completing all the step above, you have complete your registration for Free Wi-Fi account.  

Once you have register an account for the iTaiwan Free Wi-Fi service, you can only activate your account upon arriving in Taiwan. While going through immigration, you can activate your iTaiwan account online by using the airport free Wi-Fi or any iTaiwan hotspot.

You can follow the instruction shown below to activate your account:

Applying at Travel Service Centre

If you don’t have time to online register, you can also go directly to any Travel Service Center located at any major airport, train station, or mass rapid transit (MRT) station in Taiwan.

You just need to present your passport and the service personnel will help to applied for an account number for you. 

You can visit iTaiwan Wifi website to know more about it. 
Hope the guide above is helpful