Taiwan No Kids! Day 1: Chaiyi

Daddy Lim and I started traveling without the kids 3 years back. This is our 3rd year and 3rd time traveling (on a plane) without the kids. They are now so busy and no longer whine when we tell them that we are jetting off. They do whined about the need to find their way to school and back and feed themselves and the Chis in the our absence. We have left them with enough $$. 

We had a last minute family dinner on Tuesday evening. I went to the office to work but came home during lunch, so that I could have time to do a last load of laundry and the last vacuum. It is then over to the kids to do adulting for the next 5 days. 

Our flight was at 1am and an email notified that online checkin was not available and we should be at the airport 3 hours before. We finally left the house at about 10pm, after I sent the last email. Done, all done! 

We joked that so long we have our passports and $$, nothing else matters. Then we happily got into the cab, and realised that we forgot our jackets. Zzzzzz…. Luckily the taxi uncle was ok to wait while I ran home. 又流汗了.

We made it safe and sound to the airport. The immigration office wished me “happy birthday”! Oh yes! I had planned this on my bday so that I didn’t have to work on my bday. Life is tough enough. 

Bcos we were both tired and still very full from dinner, we spent the next hour sitting outside the gate, dooms scrolling and charging our phones. We took scoot and there is no charging on the plane. 

At least I bought us seats with extra leg space. It was a full flight. 

I was already dozing off before the flight took off. The flight was about 5 hours and we slept; we needed to sleep for the long day ahead. I woke up several times and at one point, the sun was rising. 

Good morning!

The flight was uneventful but I wished I had slept better. 

Hello Taiwan! Happy birthday to me! 

We needed to take the MRT to the HSR station. I had imagined that it is a short ride but it actually took 20 mins and we were still in Taoyuan. Taiwan is too big. 

I had bought the HSR tickets via Klook and enjoyed a one-for-one deal. We had to go to the HSR website to redeem the tickets and then exchange for the tickets at the counter. This part was a little challenging; I was worried that we ended up choosing a train time and missing the train, so only did the redemption only when we had arrived at the HSR station. In the end, we had to wait an hour for the 8.20am train bcos the earlier trains were full. 

There are not many eateries around the HSR station and we ended up with 7-11 food. I don’t mind. Taiwan’s 7-11 is a different level. 

We were dozing off at the waiting area and soon, it was time to board. Bcos the seats were running out, Daddy Lim and I were seated separately, in different train carriage. I was anxious.

Daddy Lim walked to my carriage when we were nearing the station. We made it! Nobody got lost!

With the HSR tickets, which I almost threw away, we got a free bus ride to the Chaiyi City Center. The bus ride was about 20 mins long. 

After alighting from the bus, barely a few mins walk, we saw the 火鸡饭, which is famous in Chaiyi and Daddy Lim decided that we should have brunch. Never mind that we already had bfast. 

Nice!

With a filled tummy, we walked to the hotel to keep our bags. Our 1st stop was the Tiles Museum. There was plenty to see enroute to the museum, including Giant. I didn’t buy a new bicycle. Haha.

The museum is tiny and cost us S$5 each but good enough to entertain us for 45 mins. 

We ended up doing the crafts; the kids would be the ones if they are around. 

There were several pieces of furniture with warning that they are over a hundred years old. The sink in the toilet is 70 yo. 

The next stop was the Kinoki Village, which was a cluster of tiny shops. It was a walk away and it was so warm, but still much tolerable than walking outdoors in Singapore. I was hoping for cool and nice weather in Taiwan but already knew that it was fat hopes when we checked the weather forecast earlier.

We would be changing hotels every night and are traveling with only backpack. We have to be very conscious in restricting shopping for now. Else we have to lug the loot for the next 5 days. Control, control.

We left at 2ish and were looking for a cafe to rest our tired legs. Ya, eat again. Hoho. We cannot load our bags with shopping for now, but can load our tummies with good food.

We were back to the hotel at 3pm, just in time to check in. I took a much needed nap. The hotel is decent. Clean and not funky smell.

Daddy Lim woke me up at 4ish bcos he was hungry. Dinner plan was to the Wenhua night market. Yum, yum, chomp, chomp. 

I told Daddy Lim that I must play that pin ball machine or I would not go back. He found me one. Haha. 

Now, I am happy to go home.

Our loot. Control, control! 

It was an early night but we needed the rest bcos we are old people. I like this pace, it was a leisure walk and explore and relax pace.

Mummy Lim