2013 Taiwan Trip Day 6 ~ 境外漂流

19/6  花蓮賞鯨+市區慢遊180度看海→洄瀾海灣→坐船出海賞鯨→撒固兒步→道將軍府→
     從花蓮坐火車回台北

The above was the intended itinerary for the day. However, we started the day late due to a few reasons...

We woke up at about 5 plus in the morning to catch the sunrise. After crashing back into bed, we knocked out till about 8am. Oops. By then, my parents were already having their breakfast and raving about it...

Home-made soup with the freshest ingredients

Second or even third helpings are welcomed. Freshest ingredients from all over Taiwan.

Wanderlust's boss introducing every item on the plate

With the boss introducing every item (origin, how it was prepared...) on the plate to every guest and offering second helpings, you probably can understand why breakfast took a long time. The service was impressive. What surprised me was he promised a different breakfast each time the guest returns. His record is 10 times! 

Although service and food quality is top-notch, somehow it did not impress me for long. Not that I am someone fussy, but in my honest opinion, the service was professional yet something was lacking. Perhaps we did not managed to interact much with the boss and his wife? However, I must compliment them on their thoughtfulness by setting aside our tea set in the fridge knowing we will miss it (The accommodation comes with a tea set). There were 3 to 4 pieces of cakes and pastries in the box and we were told this was not even half the set! 

Besides providing a sumptuous breakfast and tea, instant noodles were provided too. No wonder the boss told us proudly that his HK guests did not have to go out for meals the whole day. ;p

The room was comfortable and spacious. It was generally clean but not the cleanest of all. 

Full-length window 

Some massage shower which I did not bother to use

 

Love the handle

Interesting structure

Generally, I would recommend this minsu which was awarded top by Yahoo in 2009. Make sure you catch the sunrise, take your time to slowly enjoy the food and simply laze around the garden or balcony. That will be a relaxing holiday. :)

境外漂流

花蓮縣壽豐鄉鹽寮村福德65號

电话：+886 928 671 403

www.wanderlust.com.tw/‎

2013 Taiwan Trip Day 5 East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung - Hualien) Part 1

18/6 花東海岸線(花蓮) East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung→Hualien)

花東海岸線(花蓮)三仙台→巴歌浪船屋→獅球嶼→月洞→石梯坪(單面山)→喝coffee看大浪→芭崎瞭望台→境外漂流民宿 

As mentioned in my previous post, I will share more about my stay at 寂里雅岚。Besides having a clean environment, this place offers the sea view. The locals come here to relax. If I were a local, I would have come here for a weekend getaway. The breakfast was typical home-cooked local porridge served with a few dishes. Forgot to take pictures of my room!

Traditional breakfast

Brightly lit living room

The dining area

Staircase leading to the rooms

The weather was so hot we went back into the living room after snapping a few shots. It would have been nice to sit outside and enjoy the lovely view if not for the sweltering heat. 

Catch some great views here!

It was a very hot day! 

Lovely seaview! 

Relaxing minsu in Taitung

Overall, a value for money minsu. As we did not get to talk to the lady host much, I am unable to comment much on that. No complaints on the cleanliness and environment. 
We proceeded to 三仙台 after bidding goodbye to the lady host. 

It was so hot we were perspiring just standing under the sun. There was no shelter at 三仙台，so we only made a brief stop. If the weather is good, one can walk up the curved bridge. 

三仙台

Nice stones

台东寂里雅岚VILLA
地址：台东县成功镇石雨伞路77-40号
电话：089-871-721 / 0937-900835 陈小姐
http://www.jiliyalan.idv.tw/main.php 

2013 Taiwan Trip Day 3 East Rift Valley (Hualien & Taitung)

16/6 花東縱谷一日遊(花蓮南部~台東)

瑞穗牧場→掃叭石柱→羅山有機村(泥火山、大魚池、羅山瀑布)→大波池(池上飯包中餐)→伯朗大道→武陵綠色隧道→鹿野高台熱氣球→台東民宿愛的真地

Great morning sun and scenery greeted us as we welcomed the new day.

Leaving Higashi, we drove up to the nearby 瑞穗牧场。There were only some cows and a few ostriches.

Nothing much to do there besides trying some milk products and feeding some cows and ostriches. Probably just worth a quick stop. :p The 金香馒头 and 木瓜牛奶 were pretty good.

金香馒头

Visitors can relax at the alfresco dining area

Nice view

Fast eater!

Next up, we went to 扫叭石柱、北回归线标 and 罗山有机村。Saw the 羅山瀑布 and 泥火山。There are lots of greenery in Taitung, a feast for the eyes.

台东地区最大遗石

羅山瀑布

I was expecting something bigger

The weather was almost unbearable. We drove up to 池上 for authentic 便当 from 全美行。Interestingly, they only sell one type of 便当。We asked for takeaway and ate on board an old train at 池上饭包博物馆。It was a lovely museum and I found the classroom setting interesting.

Receipt

Collection of 便当

怀旧

Eat onboard an old train

Special wooden box

Interesting setting

There is always room for dessert. Since 池上 is famous for its rice, we had the 多力米冰淇淋。There were bits of authentic purple rice in the low fat ice cream.

紫米冰淇淋

With full stomachs, we travelled to 伯朗大道、天堂之路. Simply loved the view there!

Spot me!

Jump!

天堂之路~Nice winding road

This year's Taitung Balloon Fiesta (鹿野高台热气球嘉年华) takes place from 1st June to 11th August. To experience a 5-7minutes not-very-high ride, one pays NT$500. There is a 30-45 minutes ride from 0500hrs to 0730hrs every day. It probably charges a few times more. For more information, check out: http://balloontaiwan.taitung.gov.tw/

We were quite lucky to catch some of the balloons going up. It wasn't spectacular but worth a visit if it is your first experience with hot air balloons. As it was getting quite late, we missed the chance to enjoy a cuppa at the 武陵綠色隧道. We headed straight to 海草健康轻食馆 for dinner, followed by dessert at  宝桑汤圆。The boss at the dinner place was extremely sociable and talked to us like old friends. He decided we should try a variety of food and gave us a special order of different 饺子all in one basket. Some of the food served tasted a bit bland but definitely healthy. There were seaweed and wholemeal mixed into the noodles and 饺子. It seems popular with many celebrities too.

Wholemeal skin

Different ingredients for each dumpling

Dessert was not too bad, but nothing beats the peanut soup at 花莲庙口红茶。See http://mytravelraves.blogspot.sg/2013/06/2013-june-taiwan-trip-day-2-hualien_21.html

Finally, time to check in to 爱的真地民宿。

Clean toilet with powerful shower head

Healthy fruit salad with 8 types of fruits

Wholegrain egg and potato sandwich. Great coffee too!

Dining area

Level 2 open area

Lovely hosts :)

爱的真地 is near the Taitung Forest Park. Taitung has many cycling tracks, thus drawing many to tour the area on bicycles. There is a cycling track just outside the house. Besides cycling, the area is also suitable for running. I had a great morning jog with my hubby.

If you would like to meet sincere and hospitable 民宿owners, 爱的真地 is one place you can consider coming to. Besides having clean rooms and scenic views, the owners were interested in making sure we get the best experience out of our trip.They offered to give us a ride to the Forest Park early in the morning and fetch us back. Nutritious breakfast was lovingly prepared by the lady host too. Her husband loves water sports and offered to bring us surfing. This is one place worth staying for more than a night.

At NT$2200 per room per night including breakfast and with lovely hosts, I think this place is worth recommending. :)

Great view from Level 2

Bicycle tracks on the road

台东爱的真地民宿
地址 : 台東市馬亨亨大道915號
電話：089-221819
訂房專線：0928-705158 李小姐
http://www.loveplace221819.idv.tw/