Sunday, September 17, 2023

Taiwan plan

night #1

Grand Hotel

reviews say to skip the breakfast buffet, not worth it

https://www.grand-hotel.org/en/official/main.aspx

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/the-grand-hotel

rent a scooter at 'ZOCHA' near train station

explore Jiufen Old Street / stay overnight

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/642

https://www.nickkembel.com/jiufen-old-street-taiwan/

https://newtaipei.travel/en/Attractions/Detail/112939

Explore gold museum

Explore Ximending Walking District

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/ximending

Explore Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

https://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002090&id=73

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/martyrs-shrine

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/445

explore a night market

( my region doesn't have night markets )

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/shilin-night-market

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/gongguan-night-market

National Palace Museum

Explore Temples

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/confucius-temple

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/dalongdong-baoan-temple-and-gardens

Beitou Hot Spring ( private hot springs room )

https://www.gvrb.com.tw/en/service/%E6%B9%AF%E5%B1%8B-2/

https://www.springresort.com.tw/en/fac/ins.php?index_id=2

http://www.passportchop.com/asia/6-things-you-must-do-in-beitou-and-tamsui/

Stay overnight to Wulai Hot Springs?

easy to get too

https://www.jaredsdetours.com/wulai-taiwan/

https://www.nickkembel.com/wulai-hot-spring-taipei-taiwan/

Fort San Domingo ( hilltop Spanish fort constructed in 1629 )

https://www.travel.taipei/en/attraction/details/660

Taipei 101 Observatory

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/taipei-101

Taipei Christmas Lights & Markets

https://www.taipeitravelgeek.com/christmas-lights-2019

Ride High Speed train to Taichung City 300 KPH

stay overnight in Taichung City

sample different restaurants:

Yakiniku restaurant ( Japanese barbeque )

Teppanyaki restaurant

Ramen restaurant

Korean restaurant

Swiss restaurant / fondue

Russian restaurant

Bulgarian restaurant

overview:

Home base will be in Taipei,

with a couple overnight / day trips

Taipei is easier than Tokyo

everything is organized & easy

We will tour the Taipei sites ( lots of worthy stuff )

overnight trip to Jiufen ( fabulous village )

day trip to Pingxi Sky Lantern with Mike & Kelly ( 03 Mar )

KB, Natasha, Diem may do a flower run, using the high speed rail ( 03 Mar )

The last 2 nights will be in the 5star Grand Hotel ( 1949 )

Taiwan list of options

BKK-TPE

( there are cheaper flights, if you don't mind 737's )

STARLUX Airlines 742 Airbus A350-900 1:45 pm – 6:25 pm

EVA Air 62 Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner 11:20 am – 4:00 pm

TPE to Taipei central 28 minutes

Inside Taipei:

Ximending Walking District ( on arrival?)

Ximending Walking District

Liberty Square Archway

Liberty Square Archway

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall

Taipei 101 Observatory

Taipei 101 Observatory

Taipei Rose Garden

Taipei Rose Garden

National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine

National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel

The Grand Hotel

Costco Wholesale Taipei

Costco Wholesale Taipei

Taiwan Cherry Blossoms

( northern part of the island / Taipei region )

Taiwan Cherry Blossoms ( northern part of the island )

Taipei Rose Festival dates not released yet ( in March)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44dhQkSde6w

https://www.flowersfestival.taipei/en/article.html?id=21

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHxwY4Bvmqk/

Taipei hop on / hop off bus

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day trips from Taipei:

Pingxi Sky Lantern Mar 3rd

stay in the Hot Springs district for a night

( very close to Taipei City )

Taipei City ─ Beitou Hot Springs

https://maps.app.goo.gl/8gEcnSwRFkrXL2jR8

Jiufen Old Street ( overnight , easy bus ) must do**

https://maps.app.goo.gl/5Xv4oNr55v3TQn3M7

https://maps.app.goo.gl/zS33TMAv3dmBnSRp6

I made non-refundable reservations here 2 times,

had to cancel twice (disappointing)

Jiufen Chiu Chunt Dint Inn

Jiufen Chiu Chunt Dint Inn

( stayed here last time )

https://www.klook.com/en-US/activity/159812-golden-waterfall-jiufen-shifen-day-tour-taichung/?spm=SearchResult.SearchResult_LIST&clickId=f30cbfb10e

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High Speed Train / rental car / overnight stay

Zhongshe Flower Market

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JpsR58xwQMmis1xe7

Xinshe Sea of Flowers

https://maps.app.goo.gl/cEeAkHei3qTKPPAQA

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https://www.flowersfestival.taipei/en/article.html?id=18

Alishan Forest Railway ( it's a little too far, not enough time )

Sunday, November 27, 2022

Thailand 2022

01 November

Sun Country fly MPS- LAX Zoya drove

Griffith Observatory overlooking LA

02 November Los Angles to Seoul ,South Korea

finally got to fly on the A380 , largest passenger plane in the world

two jetways to load this plane , we scored tix on the top floor

they served a traditional Korean meal

& included instructions on how to eat it

Natasha gave it a thumbs up

Mt Fuji Japan

03 November 2022 Seoul to Bangkok

I hate the late night flight into BKK ,

but we have been grounded for 3 years, not going too be fussy :)

A bed with a view

04 November

The Quarter Hua Lamphong Hotel

Breakfast is REALLY good at this hotel, this may become the 'Headquarters Hotel'

Our first day , is basically a recovery day

Mango & sticky rice ( best food ever )

yeah....this is how potatoes are grown :)

view from the roof of our hotel

I needed a haircut.

the challenge was to get a haircut after 10pm in Bangkok

surprisingly, we failed

I really didn't think it would be a problem

ended up getting some good grub at a Japanese place

and found a yummy lemon booze drink

sunrise in BKK , didn't sleep all the way thru the night

05 November

an ancient pattern on our door:

swastika or svastika, meaning “conducive to well-being.”

a symbol of prosperity and good fortune

throughout the ancient and modern world

Another fabulous breakfast, a completely different selection

while we are at breakfast,

our other team member is ready to board in SGN

Diễm arrives from Saigon 💓

using the subway back to hotel

using the skytrain to get to Soi 33 neighborhood

back in the old neighborhood , our fav Greek restaurant

cheburek and sour cream & cherry vareniki

totally worth the long flight!

https://www.avrabkk.com/

Fabulous place!

used tram & scooter cab to the go cart track

there are LOTS of funny bar name in Bangkok

speedy pants

skinny pants

1st prize for being the most cautious :)

we walked to a train stop, that wasn't really a stop

called a taxi for a bail out

some travelers need a haircut while on vacation

some travelers don't need a haircut while on vacation

finding our way back to the hotel

06 November

our dear friend BooBoo is going to take us on a tour of the

Royal Palace & other point of interest in Bangkok

BooBoo showed up a full hour early :):)💓

so, she had breakfast with us :)

Diễm gets a language lesson from BooBoo

she is learning the name of Bangkok, in Thai

(longest name in the world )

Mmmmmmmm, cashew chicken

we didn't know at this time,

2 weeks later we would have to walk thru this restaurant to our hotel room

we had a key to the restaurant, so we can get to our room after hours

after lunch BooBoo walked us down this alley & into a flower market

insane inside , getting ready for the festival

Chinatown in Bangkok

didn't go in, but looks pretty fancy

https://goo.gl/maps/1H2npNRNh1FLd3By5

one last look off the roof, before bed

07 November

looking forward to breakfast

another fabulous breakfast

a little Chinese propaganda in the hotel lobby:)

Taking the subway to the airport

Catching the train to airport to Chiang Mai

landed Chiang Mai

on foot, looking for our hotel

Ratana's Kitchen

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ratana's+Kitchen/@18.7881241,98.9954074,21z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x30da3aa3926aec45:0x4a03f9fbb31813b4!8m2!3d18.7881241!4d98.9955442?coh=164777&entry=tt

original wall , near the old gate

Loi Krathong

( Thailand's Festival of Lights )

our little floating lantern

08 November late start

sampling Mexican food in Chiang Mai

( actually pretty good )

absolute mayhem

Yee Peng Lantern Festival

09 November

10 November

rent car, drive 10 hours on the left side of the road to Ban Rak Thai

rented a Honda at the CNX airport , time to drive on the left

11 November Village of Ban Rak Thai

sunrise is a big deal here

I ran out to the car to check the temperature

chopstick lessons

they are growing tea on the hillside, you can smell the tea

our little Honda, a very nice little car

Natasha found another cool place

It's only open for about 6 weeks

All the work is done by teenagers, supervised by adults.

all the adults are volunteers ,

giving the kids a little income & starter job training

Rice harvest in progress!

Posaho Cafe

https://goo.gl/maps/MUWNnVPqLeMVAcwi7

https://www.facebook.com/posahocafe/

12 November flower mountains

breakfast at "Dad's Garden" ( cafe )

https://goo.gl/maps/pxLLRJpCgjvPkr1N6

stopped in a village with zero English spoken. Ordered a delicious bowl of noodles

( non spicy )

Throughout the day we were seeing corn fields. Corn planted in the strangest places.

I didn't dare stop for pictures ( because driving here is insane)

But there were large fields of corn planted on 40 degree hills

We came across a threshing operation in full production.

13 November

Natasha found us a cool place to stay

Our hotel is connected to a children's home & helps sustain the youth home

The adorable teenagers working at the coffee shop are from the children's home

we got to meet some of the kids & and the staff, we loved the place

balancing a coin for good luck

I accidentally put my Kikkoman packets in my phone pocket.

I dropped one at the highest point in Thailand. Dîêm saw it,

14 November

Back to Bangkok

sadly, we say goodbye to Diem & she flies back to Saigon😔

took the rest of the day off

15 November

this is the view from our hotel room

fabulous view from our room.

( have to make sure my feet point away from any buildings )

mango sticky rice 💓💓💓

that's good advice

view from our room ....the other direction

we had a key to the restaurant, so we can get to out room after hours
this was the restaurant that BooBoo took us to, 2 weeks ago

16 November

Japanese booze

McDonalds Corn Pie - Fabulous

not sure where you would were your naked Hitler shirt

17 November

18 November

18 November

19 November

20 November

21 November

22 November

23 November

Tblisi Fix = cherry juice and chacha

24 November

Seoul Korea:

The cleanest and most organized airport yet

Carpet and flowers in the men's room.

A large digital clock in the rest room, that you see as you wash your hands

Natasha gave Korean food a thumbs up.

25 November

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