It is now time for us to indulge in sharing about our recent trip to Taiwan. For this year, we spent only 4 days in Taiwan and though it was a short vacation, we managed to cover quite a number of attractions and we returned back to Singapore tired but happy.
Our 4 Days 3 Nights itinerary were as follows:…
Day 1- Taichung & Taipei Taiwan: -Lavender Cottage -Xinshe Castle -Mushroom Farm -Carton King Creativity Park -Banana New Paradise -Xi Men Ding
Day 2- Taipei, Taiwan: -Xi Men Ding -Raohe Night Market
Day 3- New Taipei & Taipei, Taiwan: -Jingtong Railway Station -Shifen Old Street -Shifen Waterfall -Jiu Fen -Gold Ecological Park -Golden Waterfall -Shuinandong Smelter -Ying Yang Sea -Shilin Night Market
Day 4- Taipei, Taiwan -Shuang Lian
As we have previously written some articles about our earlier trips to Taiwan in 2011 and 2012, we might be repeating some of these entries as there are some new and updated information to include. Hence, do give us some time as we do our best to consolidate our various experiences in Taiwan.
As usual, we took the midnight flight to Taipei via Scoot Airlines and we arrived at Taoyuan International Airport at 05:55am in the morning. Having picked up our baggage and cleared the customs, we took the U Bus, Bus Number 705, to Taipei High Speed Rail Station. The cost of the bus trip is NT$30 per person and it took about 20 minutes.
Since we arrived early at Taipei High Speed Rail Station, we had some light breakfast and then boarded the High Speed Train to Taichung.
Last year, we took the Business Class Seats but for this particular trip, we decided to go for the Economy Class Seats as we wanted to save more for our shopping spree. The cost of the train trip was NT$540 per person and it is way cheaper than the Business Class Seats. Furthermore, the only difference between the Economy Class Seats and Business Class Seats is that the Business Class Seats are wider and Business Class Passengers get some complimentary light snacks.
Before we even embarked on our flight to Taiwan, we had prearranged with our hired driver to pick us up at Taichung High Speed Rail Station. Hence, this really save us a lot of hassle and trouble from having to lug our luggage around, and the best part is, we had more time to cover more attractions.
Our first stop for the first day was the Lavender Cottage.
Having done some extensive research, we decided that we wanted to reconnect with nature and hence this was the very reason why Lavender Cottage was part of our itinerary. The car journey from Taichung High Speed Rail Station to Lavender Cottage took about 45 minutes and because it is situated in the mountains, there aren’t any public bus that plies the area. Hence, the only mode of transportation to get there would be via private transport and if you’re up for the challenge, you could hike up too but it will be quite a long journey up.
The operating hours for Lavender Cottage are as follows:
Monday to Friday 10:30 – 18:30
Saturday to Sunday 10:00 – 18:30
In case you’re wondering whether there’s any entrance fees to Lavender Cottage, yes there is. It will cost NT$200 per person to enter Lavender Cottage but to be honest, the price is really worth it as the entrance ticket also comes with a NT$200 voucher that you can use to shop for souvenirs or buy food/drinks.
When we were there, it was the season for Salvia Flowers and though we expected to see tons of Lavender Flowers, we didn’t have the opportunity as it wasn’t the season for it. In case you’re wondering, the season for Lavender Flowers is from November to April.
The Lavender Cottage offers tons of opportunities for photo-taking and we really like the setting.
When we reached Lavender Cottage, the first thought that came to our mind was to take a deep breath of fresh air! The sky was indeed beautiful and what do we see? A heart-shaped cloud!
Even the souvenir shop has lots of interesting stuffs that you can purchase too.
We were quite spoilt for choices as there were so many souvenirs to choose from. They had tea leaves.
Handmade Soaps…
Bathing Salts…
Oil Essence…
Scented Creams and Lotions…
Of course there are tons of other souvenirs that are available at Lavender Cottage but it would be too much to list them all. So, if you’re wondering what you should get if you happen to be there, we will highly recommend you to get their handmade soaps or their scented bags.
An overview map of Lavender Cottage.
When you start walking around Lavender Cottage, you might spot some Geckos like these and it is said that they are attracted to people wearing white t-shirts. I’m not too sure if they bite or what not but it is better for you to stay clear of them.
Here are just some shots that we took while exploring Lavender Cottage.
A cart full of logs for the fireplace.
Looks somewhat like our Singapore Botanical Gardens.
The colourful signages that points to the various attractions in Lavender Cottage.
They even have the merry-go-round ride in what seems like a jungle.
Jacqueline playing with the stuffed toys.
One of the food and beverage outlets where you can purchase some cakes and drinks.
If you wish, you can have a picnic in the jungle for that nature-feel.
There are postcards available from the souvenir shop and you can actually buy one and send it to your family members and friends, or even to yourself.
A nursery room in the jungle!
How I wish there was something like this when we were outfield.
Pretty flowers!
The owners of Lavender Cottage stays in this really huge house and in case you’re wondering, yes, there are people currently living in it.
The really beautiful ladies bathroom/toilet that every lady dream to have at home.
To go or not to go to the Lavender Cottage?
Well, we say, “To Go!”
The Lavender Cottage is a worthy attraction and like we mentioned, there are really tons of opportunities for photo-taking. Moreover, the scenery is really beautiful and when you stepped into the surroundings, you will find yourself relaxed and calm.
Given the opportunity, we will definitely visit this beautiful place of nature again. Though it may be quite a distance, the journey is definitely worth it. However, do bring along some insect repellent as there will be pesky mosquitoes that are eager to feed on you. If you would like to check it out for yourself, the details of Lavender Cottage are as follows:
Address- No. 20, Zhongxing St, Xinshe Dist, Taichung City 426, Taiwan Telephone- +886425931066
If you also want to find out more information about Lavender Cottage, you can check out their website that is written in Mandarin at: http://www.lavendercottage.com.tw/