金琦之旅 Amazing Voyage: Taiwan Day 1 : Taoyuan Airport

After rest for 2 weeks in my home, it is time to continue this Gap year journey.

I reached KLIA2 yesterday evening even tough my flight was 7:40am in the following morning. After having dinner, we found a place near the exit of arrival hall to sleep. It was too noisy there and hence we weren't sleep well. After boarding at 7am, we continued sleep.

Once we reached the Taoyuan Airport, before we walked to the immigration and luggage claim area, there is three shops selling the SIM card. Hence, we bought a Tstar 3G 30 days unlimited data and few hundred credit calls.

After luggage claim, it was already around 2pm that we was so hungry that just simply find food to eat at the convenience store while buying the ticket card (悠悠卡). We want to buy the student ticket card as we have ISIC identity but it is only sold in Taipei Station.

After had lunch, we took the intercity bus or keyun （客运）to Taoyuan Station. This bus can paid with the ticket card. Once in the bus, i checked the train express to Hsinchu was sold on from 3:30pm to 5pm. Then we had to took the local train which is slower than need 1 hour to reach the Hsinchu Station. This local train is widely used by the local people as their train system is very good like MRT which arrive on time.

When reached the Hsinchu Station, our couchsurfing host was waiting us for putting the backpack so that we can start out sightseeing in the Hsinchu City. The motor rental shop that able to rent the scooter to foreigner is GuoXiang (国翔) which is few minutes walk away from the station.

Scooter renting in Taiwan is quite expensive. The rental fee is TWD600 for the most basic scooter. I was thinking for a while that shouldn't we rent it or not. At last we rent it as going back to the couchsurfer house was quite difficult at night. We rent it for TWD750 for 38 hours.

Since the driver is driving on the right side, I need a time to suit for this road traffic especially turn left in the junction. It is like turn right in Singapore where the driver had to go to the middle of the junction when it is green light and turn once there is no incoming car from the opposite road.

The Taiwan sky turn dark faster than in Malaysia as the Taiwan is located more east side than Malaysia while the time is still remain the same. Once we reach the Nanliao (南寮) Harbour, there is nothing to see as all was in darkness.

Then we rode back to the night market we saw it when going to Harbour to fill up the stomach. This night market doesn't only sell food. It also have mini game for the local people to have fun.

After that, we rode back to the couchsurfer house early as we're so tired since the morning flight.