Sun Link Sea Forest Recreation Area

Sun Link Sea is a 40-hectare scenic area that is located 1,600 meters above sea level in Nantou County. It is fantastic for hiking: if not for the fresh, crisp air, then definitely for the beautiful waterfalls. There is a hiking trail and a bus trail; the hiking trail, while a more strenuous workout, is much more rewarding because you really feel like you're inside a forest. The bus trail, as the name implies, is for the tour bus to drive up and down the mountain. We took the bus up and hiked our way down to where our hotel was located. Sun Link Sea is a wonderful place to relax. Imagine meditating on a big rock next to a waterfall...now imagine letting all your fears and worries flow away like the water...perfect serenity.

A huge dead tree trunk

Cingyun Waterfall (plunges 116 meters, I couldn't capture the bottom part)

Niaosong Waterfall

A pair of eyes?

Great midnight snack place: 世界豆漿大王

At night, whenever I feel hungry or just feel like having a bite after dinner, I usually head to 世界豆漿大王 in YongHe for their famous 豆漿(soy bean milk) and 燒餅油條 (chinese pancake with fried dough). It's so good! This place is open 24 hours. I have never been there in the daytime so I can't say but at night, this place is packed! I can tell this is one place I'll miss about Taiwan when I do leave.

2008 Taipei Multimedia Show

Went to a multimedia show at the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC) last weekend. There were so many people there; it was very crowded and quite uncomfortable for me to walk through. The products displayed range from plasma TVs, to cameras, to computers. We went mainly to check out the plasma TVs because we have to buy a TV for the living room in the new house.

Sun Moon Lake

Sun Moon Lake, located in central Taiwan, is the island's largest lake. It's elevation is approximately 760-meter. According to our tour guide, the lake used to be two separate lakes. During Japan's occupation of Taiwan, the Japanese built a dam which caused the water level to rise and eventually merged to become one.

At the center of the lake is a tiny island, Lalu Island. After the earthquake in 1999, more than 50% of Lalu Island became submerged in water. By the time I got a chance to see it, it was a very tiny island.

The lake derived its name by its shape; the eastern part of the lake is round like the sun while the western side is shaped like a crescent moon.

Beautiful overview of Sun Moon Lake (notice Lalu Island in the middle)

Lalu Island (notice how parts of the island is submerged in water)

A temple destroyed by the earthquake of '99

Happy one year anniversary!

On Tuesday, Dennis and I celebrated our 1st anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been a year since we got married; time really do fly by.

To celebrate, we decided to eat out at a French restaurant where we had a five course dinner (appetizer, soup, salad, main entree, dessert with coffee/tea). The dinner was really good, definitely worth going back to again.

Eateries in Taiwan: New York Pizza

8, Alley 54, Lane 118, HePing E Rd, Sec 2

(02) 2738-4747
Hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 am- 9:30 pm, Sun 12-8 pm
Credit cards not accepted. No service charge.
www.thenewyorkslice.com

In honor of Fourth of July, my friends and I decided to have New York style pizza for lunch. So where in Taiwan can we get a slice of New York style pizza? Well, New York Pizza of course! New York Pizza sells their pizza by the slice; a slice of pizza will set you back about $75 NT (less then $3 US). I ordered the Larry's Favorite (which is basically Hawaiian style with ham and pineapple) which cost $95 NT. My friends ordered the Brooklyn (pepperoni, sausage and ham) which cost $115 NT. My pizza was actually pretty good. The crust was thin all around and crunchy at the edge. The pineapple tasted fresh (as opposed to canned). Ham didn't disappoint. Overall, a good slice of pizza.

After dinner, went to watch "Sex and the City" (it's all about New York today). I know there were a lot of bad reviews but I don't care; I like it. I thought it was a good movie with a good closure to the entire TV series. What really touched my heart was how Charlotte, Miranda, Samantha, and Carrie stuck with each other through their ups and downs, always sharing their grievances and joys. After all, wasn't this the central theme of "Sex and the City"...friendship?

Anyways, Happy Independence Day!

Eateries in Taiwan: Five Cent Driftwood House

Saw "Kung Fu Panda" over the weekend. There were funny moments but overall thought it was only so-so. I wouldn't recommend seeing it unless you are bored.

Went to the Five Cent Driftwood House restaurant in NeiHu afterward.

8, Lane 32, NeiHu Road,
Sec. 1, Taipei; (02) 8501-1472
Hours: Lunch 11 am-2 pm Dinner 5-9 pm

Five Cent Driftwood House is the fifth creation of Hsieh Li-Shian who didn't even use a blueprint for her restaurants. The result? Really bizarre looking, massive restaurants around Taiwan made out of scraps of iron, driftwood, clay and stone, and an abstract sculpture of two Tao Aborigine girls dancing. There is a pretty cool winding entrance to the restaurant. Naturally, the restaurant is filled with her artworks. In fact, all the bowls are handmade. We were seated at the bottom level right next to the artificial pond with fishes swimming. Aside from the artwork, the food was pretty good actually (Taiwanese food). I especially like the beef and tomato stew with vermicelli (sorry, can't remember the official name). Prices per entree range from $200-500 NTD (~$6-16 USD). Definitely worth checking out, if not for the food then for the artwork.

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera so...I'll borrow the pictures from another site:

Exterior

Interior

http://www.taiwanfun.com/north/taipei/dining/0608/0608Fivecent.htm