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TAIWAN 2024 TRIP

FLIGHT  - KKG4FZ / WT 20 KG / 4 HR 25 MIN

26-Mar-24 TUE  25 MAR 2024 - 8.45 PM TO AIRPORT/2120 PM  ETD 0020 AM 26 MAR 2024  TR 996/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1 26 MAR24 ETA 0445 AM
5-Apr-24 FRI 8.45 PM TO AIRPORT 2230 PM 5 APR 24 /           ETD 0130 AM 6 APR 2024 TR 897/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1 6 APR 24 ETA 0555 AM

TRIP SCHEDULE

1             26-Mar-24          TUE        TAOYUAN-CHIAYI

TR 996/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1 -26 MAR24 ETA 0445 AM

TAOYUAN - CHIAYI - 1 HR / 8 AM TRAIN- NT 920 X 2    - HSR THSR 26 MAR 2024

RESERVATION NO 03634264

TENGGUANHOW WILLIAM REDEEM CODE WBMY3N6F

SUITJIE ANG REDEEM CODE EGY7BVAW

Taiwan High Speed Rail to Chiayi City

Chiayi 2D 1N Itinerary | Taiwan Travel Vlog

 

CITY TOUR

HOTEL: YOYO HOTEL   /120

HOTEL: CHAI YI YOYO HOTEL 

600, Taiwan, Chiayi City, West District, Zhongshan Rd, 617號11樓

TEL:886-52281818YOYO HOTEL 11 F NO 617 ZHONGSHAN RD WEST DISTRICT CHIAYI TAIWAN  

 116 875 6581            Ref 4028366083

 

2         27-Mar-24              WED      CHIAYI- ALISAN                                      

BUS CHIAYI-ALISAN / KLOOK DIY 

Taiwan #2 Chiayi to Alishan by bus / breakfast / hotel

FENGQIHU

ALISAN

ZHAOPING

BACK TO CHIAYI

Alishan Township阿里山鄉 Solo travel to Alishan National Forest HOW TO PLAN A TRIP TO ALISHAN • Budget Travel Guide (Part 1)
    7 Best Things to Do in ALISHAN, TAIWAN • TRAVEL GUIDE (PART 2) • ENGLISH • The Poor Traveler

 

HOTEL: CHAI YI - YOYO HOTEL

3             28-Mar-24          THU       CHIAYI-TAI CHUNG

CHIAYI - TAI CHUNG 30 MIN / 8 AM TRAIN- NT 380 X 2          - HSR   

BOOKING CODE 4118124    CHIAYI- TAICHUNG       8.57 AM - 9.51 AM  /      

PUYUMA EXPRESS 162/   CAR NO 3 SEAT 46 AND CAR NO 3 SEAT 48  ( TOTAL TWD 448 @224 EACH) 

High Speed Train from Taichung station to Chiayi station

WUQI FISHERMAN HARBOUR

GAOMEI WETLAND

RAINBOW VILLAGE

LUCE MEMORIAL CHAPEL

梧棲漁港

高美野生動物保護區

LuceMemorialChapel路思義教堂 
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

   

HOTEL :  TAI CHUNG  GREEN HOTEL TEA WAY 

No. 173, Jianguo Rd, Central District, Taichung, Taiwan, 400
建國路173號, 中區, 台中市, 台灣, 400

TEL:886-0422262777

GREEN HOTEL -TEA WAY NO 173 JIANGUO RD CENTRAL DISTRICT TAICHUNG  TAIWAN 400

117 141 3225 REF: 4059196551

4             29-Mar-24          FRI          TAI CHUNG - SUN MOON LAKE       

Taichung High Speed Rail to Sun Moon Lake (Shuishe) | Bus 6670                     

GOOD FRIDAY - GBT SHAMMAH / TRUE JESUS CHURCH                                                                                               

SUN MOON LAKE / KLOOK DIY

Sun moon Lake日月潭 Sun Moon lake Travel SML Map  Walking lakeside
     

 
 

 

HOTEL:     TAI CHUNG  GREEN HOTEL TEA WAY                                                        

5             30-Mar-24          SAT        TAICHUNG- YILAN

BOOKING CODE 4736398     TAICHUNG - YILAN  

7.50  AM - 11.03 AM  /  TZE-CHIANG EXPRESS (3000 280/ CAR NO 4 SEAT 7 AND   CAR NO 8 SEAT 3              

(TOTAL TWD 1184 @592 EACH) 

Taiwan Railways 臺鐵 | Tze-Chiang Express 自强號 (3000) | Banqiao - Yilan (板橋-宜蘭) | Trip Report

WUFENGQI SCENIC AREA

CUANG TANG HOT SPRING SPA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

HOT SPRINGS      

   
     
     

HOTEL: YILAN- XIANG ZHAI JIAO C

No. 58, Deyang Rd, Jiaoxi Township, Yilan County, Taiwan 262

TEL:886-937976193

XIANG ZHAI JIAO C NO 58 DEYANG JIAOXI TOWNSHIP YILAN TAIWAN 262008  

117 377 7389     REF: L7UKTKG099

6             31-Mar-24          SUN       YILAN                                         

EASTER SUNDAY / PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH / JIAOXI ROAD NO122 SEC 4

TAI PING SHAN / KLOOK

GEOTHERMAL                            

CAOLING TRAIL 

CAOLING TRAIL Taipingshan National Forest Recreation Area 

(太平山國家森林遊樂區)

Cueifong Lake Circular Trail and Jianqing Huaigu Trail.

Yilan map

Bitoujiao Trail

 

Kavalan Distillery (金車噶瑪蘭威士忌酒廠) 

 

CUEI FONG LAKE AND CIRCULAR TRAIL  

 

   
   

HOTEL: YILAN- XIANG ZHAI JIAO C

7             1-Apr-24              MON     YILAN -HUALIEN

LOCAL TRAIN YILAN TO HUALIEN

BOOKING CODE 4736426   YILAN - HUALIEN  9.25  AM - 10.41 AM  / 

TZE-CHIANG LTD EXPRESS 272/CAR NO 3 SEAT 8 AND  CAR NO 3 SEAT 6 

(TOTAL TWD 446 @223 EACH) 

CITY TOUR/ DIY

PINE GARDEN

MANOR HOUSE

MEILUN XI RIVERSIDE PARK

DONGDAMEN

Hua Lien花蓮

Hualien

Hualien travel  

hualien

QIXINGTANG CHISHAN  
 

HOTEL:HUALIEN SHAN SHUI HOTEL

No. 73, Guolian 3rd Rd, Hualien City, Hualien County, Taiwan 970

TEL:886-937976193

SHAN SHUI HOTEL NO 73 GUOLIAN 3RD RD HUALIEN CITY HUALIEN TAIWAN 97055 119 253 2949     

8             2-Apr-24              TUE       HUALIEN - TAROKO

HUA LIEN TO TAROKO

TAROKO/ KLOOK DIY

BACK TO HUA LIEN -

Taroko Gorge

Taroko gorge travel

   
 

     
     

     
     

 

 

EARTHQUAKE 403

     
     
     
     

HOTEL: HUALIEN SHAN SHUI HOTEL                                                             

9             3-Apr-24              WED      TAIPEI                  

PRIVATE CAR NT 4000=S$170     / FROM RUI FANG STATIONS          

HUA LIEN-TAIPEI 

YEHLIU GEOPARK

BEITOUJIAO

JIU FEN - SHIFEN

SHIFEN

KEE LUNG

Ruifang District

New Taipei City, Taiwan 224

 

Solo trip to Jiufen Old Street

Keelung MiaoKou Night Market基隆廟口夜市

keelung mountain trail

 

Yehliu Geopark野柳地質公園

 

GOLDEN WATERFALL JINQUASHI  

 

   
     
   
   

   
     

 

HOTEL : TAIPEI NEIJIANG

No. 112號, Xining Rd, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan 108

TEL:886-223812147

NEIJIANG HOTEL    NO 112 XINING S RD XIMENDING TAIPEI TAIWAN

119 261 1109 

10           4-Apr-24              THU       TAIPEI                                  

BEITOU DIY

YANG MING SHAN

XI MENDING

MAOKONG GONDOLA

ELEPHANT MOUNTAIN

Maokong Gondola

動物園站水舞區


 
 
Elephant Mountain

Xiangshan

象山

Ximending

Shi-men Ting

西門町

Wanhua District

 

Solo trip to Qingtiangang Grassland And Ximending Day

Bei Tou Hot Spring Tamsui District淡水區  

 

     

     
 
     
     
     

 

 

 

   
     
   

 

HOTEL : TAIPEI NEIJIANG

11           5-Apr-24              FRI                                                         

GLORIA 

8.45 PM TO AIRPORT 2230 PM 5 APR 24 / 

TR 897/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1 /ETD 0130 AM 6 APR 2024

     
     
     
     


 

  TAIPEI METRO

 

TAIWAN 2024 TRIP DETAILS

 

TAIWAN MAPS

NORTH TAIWAN

 

YE LIU

KEE LUNG

 

Keelung trail

keelung mountain trail

There are several buses to the trailhead. My favorite and recommended one is to take Keelung Bus 基隆客運 1062 from Exit 2 MRT Zhongxiao Fuxing Station 忠孝復興捷運站

and get off at Jiufen Old Street Stop 九份老街站. After getting off, continue to walk for about 300 meters,

and you will find the trailhead of endless steps to Mt. Keelung Mian Peak. You can find toilets on both sides of the road.

 

 

TAIWAN CENTRAL

 

CHAIYI

ALISHAN

ALISHAN  MAP

 

TAI CHUNG

CAOLING
 

CAOLING TRAIL

 

 

TAIPINGSHAN
 

TAI PING SHAN MAP

 

 

TAROKO

 

 

 

 

HUALIEN

 

 
 
 
 

 

 

One of the most common questions about Taiwan that I get from my readers is how to plan the perfect Taiwan travel itinerary.

It’s a common story: people look at the map of Taiwan and see that it’s a pretty small country. So they think 7 days in Taiwan will be enough. Once they start planning their trip, they realize one week is not enough because there are SO MANY things to do in Taiwan. So they book 2 weeks in Taiwan. Then, the more they plan the finer details of their Taiwan itinerary, the more they wish they had actually booked 3 weeks or even one month in Taiwan!

In this article, I’m going to exactly how to plan your Taiwan travel schedule, no matter how many day’s you’ve got. After checking hundreds of people’s itineraries in my Taiwan Travel Planning Group, I’ve come to realize that the way people plan their itinerary varies A LOT. So many visitors cram two weeks of activities into one week or less. So I’m going to give itineraries for both slower travelers and for fast ones. I’ll also give a nature-focused itinerary and a city/culture one.

I’ve been living in Taiwan for over 10 years. I’ve written a book about Taiwan and articles for CNN, National Geographic Traveller, and others. I’ve planned numerous trips around Taiwan so the recommendations in this article are based on multiple first-hand experiences.

 

KENTING MAP

 

 

 

Taiwan Itinerary

– Read my general Taiwan travel guide and these FAQs about Taiwan. Figure out the best time to visit Taiwan, the top festivals, and which budget airlines fly there.

– Find all your day tours, drivers, discounted attraction tickets, and more on Klook! Use my referral link to get TWD 100 off your first booking.
 Learn about others apps for traveling in Taiwan and find more private drivers here.

– Buy your SIM card / eSIM / WiFi device, EasyCard, and HSR tickets online before you arrive. Also consider getting a Taipei Fun Pass (read my review of the pass here).

– If you are looking for a customized luxury tour of Taiwan, I recommend Life of Taiwan. Tell them Nick sent you over!

– If you’re visiting Taiwan as a family, I’ve written a similar Taiwan itinerary with kids.


– Learn all about about Taiwanese food and my recommended restaurants and night markets in Taipei.

– See my recommended hotels, hostels, and luxury resorts.

Sample Taiwan Itineraries

Here’s a brief outline of the itineraries I’ll be covering in this article. Since so many visitors only visit Taiwan for one week (I know because I’ve checked so many of your itineraries!), and because I know you try to squeeze in as much as you can, I’m provided both a slower (recommended!) and more rushed itinerary.

Typically, visitors want to squeeze in Taipei, Hualien/Taroko Gorge on the east coast, plus Sun Moon Lake and/or Alishan (on the west coast) in a short period of time. It might look like a quick drive across the island from Taroko Gorge to Sun Moon lake, but it is NOT!

There is a chain of high mountains in the center of Taiwan, with no public transportation. Even if you drive, the cross-island highway is often destroyed by landslides and impossible to cross. This means you’ll need to go from east coast to west coast via Taipei, so keep that in mind!

For the two-week itinerary, I’ve provided a nature-focused one and a city/culture-focused one, with some overlap. The three-week itinerary basically just covers all the stops of these two itineraries.

For each of the below outlines, I’ll explain how to do them in great detail below.

Taiwan in 1 Week: Slow

  • Days 1-3: Taipei
  • Days 4-5: Day trips from Taipei
  • Days 6-7: Short trip outside the city, choose ONE of these: Hualien/Taroko Gorge, Taichung/Sun Moon Lake/Cingjing Farm, Alishan, Tainan, or Kaohsiung

Taiwan in 1 Week: Fast

  • Days 1-2: Taipei
  • Day 3: Day trip from Taipei (this one covers the top spots in one day!)
  • Day 4: Long day trip to Taroko Gorge (details below)
  • Day 5: Sun Moon Lake and/or Cingjing Farm
  • Day 6: Alishan
  • Day 7 Back to Taipei or directly to Taoyuan International Airport

Taiwan in 2 Weeks: Nature-Focused

If you want to do a full circle around Taiwan, two weeks is a reasonable amount of time. You can’t easily hit every stop without rushing, though. This itinerary focused on natural places and skips some of the big cities.

  • Days 1-3 :Taipei (including day trip)
  • Days 4-5: Hualien and Taroko Gorge
  • Day 6-7: Taitung (Chishang)
  • Days 8-9: Xiaoliuqiu or Kenting National Park
  • Days 10-11: Alishan
  • Days 12-13: Sun Moon Lake and/or Cingjing Farm
  • Days 14: To Taipei or Taoyuan International Airport

Two Weeks in Taiwan: City/Culture-Focused

  • Days 1-3 :Taipei (including day trip)
  • Days 4-5: Hualien and Taroko Gorge
  • Day 6-7: Taitung city
  • Days 8-9: Kaohsiung
  • Days 10-11: Tainan
  • Days 12-13: Taichung
  • Days 14: To Taipei or Taoyuan International Airport

Taiwan in 3 weeks

If you are able to spend more than two weeks in Taiwan, you can visit all the main stops I mentioned above, but add an extra night at each for a more relaxed pace.

Or, you can add more smaller stops and side trips to your schedule. Here’ just one example of what that could look like:

 

Kaohsiung

KAOHSIUNG TRAVEL MAP

Liu He Mkt六合觀光夜市

 

The Pier2 Art Center

85 Sky Tower

Dome of Light

 

Taitung (Chishang)

Xiaoliuqiu

Lambai Island

Travel Guide Cingjing Farm

Kenting National Park

Trip aDVICE

 

 

 

TAIWAN – MIRACLES NEVER CEASE

We planned for a Taiwan trip for a while and start to check out Nick Kembel and various You tubes ..etc but nothing would prepare us for what we would  encounter.

Medical- Dental Condition

Our flights were on Monday 25 Mar 2024 ( midnight).

26-Mar-24 TUE

 25 MAR 2024 - 8.45 PM TO AIRPORT/2120 PM  ETD 0020 AM 26 MAR 2024

 TR 996/ SCOOT 789 TRC SG/T1--TPE/T1

26 MAR24 ETA 0445 AM

 

Just 2 days before the flight, I develop severe toothache due to infected nerve, such that drinking water is already difficult. On the Sunday before, I tried to get emergency treatment from Advanced Dental but none was available and they refer me to Tan Tock Seng on walk-in basis on Monday morning. Knowing that this is not workable- I tried to reach out to our AIA dental panel and Dr Gerald Tan of Elite Dental tried to squeeze a morning slot for me at 9.15 am. Thank God I was able to do the root canal and enjoy a painless holidays especially the food in Taiwan.

  

The trip was a cross-island of Northern Taiwan from 26 Mar to 6 Apr 2024 :

TaoYuan – Taipei Station to Chiayi by HSR  follow by shutter bus to Chaiyi  train station. From Chiayi to Taichung, then Yilan and down to Hualien and back to Ruifang  and Taipei and to airport at ToaYuan.

 

Chiayi- Alisan

Upon arrival at Chiayi- HSR station, we took the shutter bus  to Chiayi Train station. We stopped at the rear gate of the station and has to cross the overhead bridge to walk to the front of the station and checked in  Yoyo hotel which is in front of Chiayi station.

We did a city walk and check out Hinoki Village and arts museum and have a nice dinner at 慶昇.

In preparing for the next day trip to Alisan – we check out the way the bus 7322 departure  schedule at Chiayi train station. We chose the first bus and bought the ticket with pre determined seats for 6 am departure. At Alisan – we took a train inside to see  cypress and multi generational trees since cherry blossoms period is over.

Taking another shutter bus, we  explore Fengqihu old town and shizhao ( famous for their tea plantations)

Taichung-Sun Moon Lake

Next day we depart for Taichung, and after the city walk, we had Vietnamese food for dinner.  On following day, we took tours (with James)  at meet-up point  Miyahara ice cream palace to Taichung city garden and location of first bubble tea,   Gaomei wetlands, Rainbow village….and some temples.

Yilan – Jiaoxi- Tai Ping Shan

Upon arrival at Yilan , we store our luggages at the station and did a city tour of Yilan. Visited Kavalan Whisky factory. We took the train back to hotel in Jiaoxi hot springs area. We explore a presbyterian church at Jiaoxi with local dinner along the way.

The next morning, we followed the tour from Yilan to Tai Ping Shan ( with Steve)- we were almost late due to train timing- Japanese Yeh Liu ( pine)  and Quai shu ( cypress)- with several climbing trials)

Hualien

The Taroko Gorge was  our main purpose in Hualien

 Yilan- Hualien

 

We were in Hualien on 1 Apr 2024, and while doing city walk , I came across St Paul Pastoral Center  and St Paul  Statue.

 

  

On 2 Apr 2024 we were on Taroko tours- - starting with Qixingtang, then at Taroko we did Yan Zi Gou, Shakadang trail and Buluowan and suspension bridge.

Earthquake in Hualien

On 3 Apr 2024, we depart Hualien on Train 207 towards Ruifang at 7.26am. we were at the train station around 7 am after we check out from San Sui Hotel around 6.50 am.  The earth quake happen at 7.58 am.

The first miracle was that we were in Taroko one day before the 403 earthquake earlier to enjoy Taroko- as the earthquake devastated the entire scenic region gorges and trails. Had we delayed one day we could be trapped in Taroko or buried under the rubbles.

      Impresssions of Taroko

  2 APRIL 2024

        

       

 

           

      

    

   

   Shakadang Trail  

       

 

  

      YanZiKou

   

          The Carp       The Face

     

                       

 

                                        

            

 JiuShiDong

       Chang Chun  

The second miracle was at Dongdamen.

We were there for early dinner for first day and later on second day.

     

It would be the epic center of the earthquake in Hualien.

   Pic taken a day before

    Uranus bldg collapse to a tilt.

The third miracle is the escape from Hualien on that fateful morning- that Express train 207 was to be the last train out of Hualien.

              

Our train booking out of Hualien to Ruifang on 3 Apr 2024 was originally for 9.45 am train but somehow earlier in Chiayi- we change the train to an earlier train at 7.26 am. Previously 9.45 am was the earliest available train.

                 

When we reach Nanao around 7.58 am- we received Presidential alert on earthquake and the train float and sway from left to right and came to a halt.

The last earthquake was in 1999 or 921 earthquake  ie Sep 21st- so it came as a surprise and shock.

       

The train stopped for 3 hours ( we were told that cables has snapped and it took several hours to repair them) and we continued to experience several tremors while sitting in the train.

We tried to contact our friends – one group of 3 Vietnamese ladies was to go Taroko on Wed 3 Apr 2024  that morning and another Singapore couple/ Doris  was to visit Ocean dophin viewing trip. We were told by Doris that it was frightening  with hundreds of tremors throughout the day and there was no more train to Taipei as the earthquake has damaged the tracks between Hualien and Yilan up north towards Taipei.    

The Four Miracle was the completion of all the tours and trips in accordance with our plan.  Whilst friends were affected by the earthquake – we also change our plans of going to Ruifang- Shi fen and Jiu Fen by ourselves. We did 2 things – extend our train to Taipei ( while on the train with the conductor)  and take the local tour from Taipei – we just managed to book the tour  at 7.57 am before all signals were lost.

                

We managed to reach Ruifang and due to the chaotic situation we purchases additional ticket to go to Taipei instead of Ruifeng. We change the itinerary and book the tours from Taipei- Ximending. It was a miracle as we managed to book the tour  for Shifen, jiufen and Yehliu while on the train at 7.57 for the credit card to process before the earthquake at 7.58 am.  We were able to go to Yeliu,  Shifen  and Jiufen.

 

 

       

  

     

         

   

 SHIFEN

       

     

 

 

   

   JIUFEN

 

    

 

    

        

 

       

In Taipei, we did the elephant Mountain on the first day and also visited Xinbeitou  hot springs on the second day.

.           Xiang san

    Tamsui  River

Xinbeitou

    

      

The fifth miracle is when God never give up on us

When we were about to go to TaoYuan Airport from Neijiang Hotel ( next to Ximending ie take the blue line to Taipei station to transfer to Taoyuan via train)  –  around 6 pm while doing our final check,  we realise the passports was not in my backpak. We lost our passports.

We have a limited window until 9 pm as checking in time was about 10 .30 am. Without the passports, we did several things.

-        Contact the Trains stations to check lost and found

-        Contact Scoot air to reschedule flights

-        Contact the Singapore Trade Office for advice ( to issue a DOI for me to fly back)

-        Go to Police station in Ximen Station exit 4 - to make a  Police report

-        Freeze the WISE card and block the credit cards.

-        We took the train to back track to Xinbeitou areas -hot springs where we have lunch, and visit their rail museum,..etc even seach the lost and found section of the rail museum and view the CCTV video footage of me at the entrance to the hot springs.

 

The hotel staff was very kind and helpful to contact Scoot to inform that we need to cancel and rebook flights on Monday , and also help us contact Ms Siew Han at Singapore Trade office at Taipei for assistance on issuance of DOI ( Document of Identity)  for flying. They also help us check Lost and Found at  the Police stations and MRT/metro  stations at Xinbeitoiu and Taipei Stations

As it was  the national Children day and also Cheng Meng Tomb sweeping day – Taiwan was on extended holidays and we will need to stay another 3 days until offices start working again.  As we were at hot springs in Xinbeitiou we backtrack to those locations that we visited- the rail museum, restaurant, hot springs  and even see the CCTV if we drop the pouch containing the passports.  When all hopes were lost we tried to book new tickets with Scoot but we were not able to do it as we have already check in online. The Singapore Rep also explain the steps to me to go to ICA website to report loss and seek the issuance of DOC and inform their once we have request for travel doc. It was irreversible ie if our passport were found they will be cancelled. We decided to wait for while until Sunday. The bigger concern was my wife with Indonesian passport as it was Lebaran and Indonesia embassy was far away and they may not open due to Lebaran and the prospects of differing timing for passport processing meant we have to wait for the latter to travel back together. We also tried to reach out to our insurance company Etiqa.

 

    

 As we were totally lost and only need to wait- we only knew we would not be able to fly that early morning at 1.30 am without the passports.

We decided to go back top the police station to update the declaration on  report of loss as we only mention passport whereas there were 2 credit cards and an iphone. Upon entering the police station for the second time, we were pleasantly surprised that we were immediately informed by the Police officers – our passports have been located at Taipei station police station. We also received the incoming call on the good news at around 11 pm.

       

 Location to collect passport at Taipei Train Station ( West Gate level 1)

As it was already close to 11 pm  at night, we wasted no time to rush back to our hotel to collect the luggage and then to Taipei station to pick up our passports and to Taoyuan Airport ( another hour away by train).

As our flight was 1.30 am it was already 11 pm and time was running. As we were walking back, at the traffic lights, there was a miracle  God send taxi in front of us  alighting some guests- we approach it to send us back to hotel to collect our luggage and then proceed to Taipei Metro Poilce station to collect our passports and then head straight to the Taoyuan International Airport T1. It was a miracle that God send the taxi infront of us to enable us to reach the airport on time. Despite  the immigration having long queue and boarding at 0.45 am- we managed to board smoothly.

This  fifth miracle was really a series of divine help - - -

Even as we have given up hope and already arranged the police report on loss of passports, book an extra day stay at hotel, we still managed to fly back to Singapore.

Firstly - as we have checked in online, therefore  our flights cannot be cancelled or rescheduled for next week.

Secondly Singapore Rep Siew Han ‘s kind help and advice that once  declared lost of passport is done online on ICA website- I cannot fly even if we were to find it back later  and we have to wait for issuance of DOI next week. I did not follow the declare loss route.

Thirdly, miracle taxi to take us on the last mile ( 3 locations – hotel, Taipei train station to collect passports and then to Taoyuan airport)

Fourthly, friendly Taiwanese hospitality from  Neijiang Hotel, the Police and Metro station staff – all rallying behind us.

Even as we reach home safely – flying scoot on time on both flights – and landed and reached home safely- the aftershocks and new tremors continue in Taipei and Taroko.

       

With God, there's always an appointed time for things, and when you put Him first, trust in His timing, and keep the faith, miracles happen! Every moment is His miracle. Miracle is never ending and it still happens. Every moment of life is like a sacrament in which we can receive God - to allow Him to speak to us and direct us. Even when we give up, God  never give up on us. Therefore, above all, dont fear difficult  moments. the best comes from them. God will not give up on us. With the spirit of humility, it is not I who lives . it is Christ who lives in me. Vivi ego, iam non ego. Vivit vero in me Christus!.There is no limit to the amount of good He can do for us and through us as testimony.  

            

 

      

台湾——奇迹永不停歇xie

 

老师、各位同学、朋友们 大家好.

 

今天我要讲与旅游有关的事情.

 

我的两个儿子已经长大,有了自己的活动,

我也有更多的时间和妻子一起旅行.

 

最近 我们去了槟城、古晋徒步旅行和爬山,

 

几个月前, 还去了希腊和地中海岛屿巡游。

 

但这些不是我要讲的故事.

 

今天我想说说  台湾跨kua岛之旅.

 

这是一个真实的人和真实的故事.

 

这次旅行是从 2024年3月25 日至 4月6日的:

 

从桃园——台北 到嘉义,  台中,

然后到宜兰,再往南到花莲,

再回到瑞芳和台北,

最后返回再桃园机场。

 

在每个城市,我们停留了2 天 1 夜。

 

在计划和准备旅行时, 我们查看了 Nick Kembel 和各种 YouTube 视频等,

 

但没有什么 能让我们 为 将要遇到的事情 做好准备。

 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

医疗- 牙科状况

 

我们的航班是 Scoot 3 月 25 日星期一(午夜)。

 

就在起飞前两天,我因神经感染而出现严重的牙痛,我试图联系我们的 AIA 牙科小组,能在早上让我做紧急牙根管治疗手术,以便我当天可以飞行。享受一个无痛的假期,尤其是台湾的美味的食物.

 

第一个困难是解决了.

 

嘉义-阿里山

 

抵达嘉义后,我们在城市散步,参观了桧村Gui cun Hinoki Village 和艺术博物馆,并在庆昇Qingsheng餐馆 享用了美味的晚餐。

 

为准备第二天去阿里山的旅行,我们查看了嘉义火车站 7322 公交车的出发时间表。我们选择了第一班巴士,并购买了预定座位的车票,早上 6 点出发。

 

在阿里山——我们坐火车进去看柏树Bóshù/cypress和多代树,因为樱花期已经结束了。

 

接下来,我们坐公共巴士去探索Tànsuǒ

凤栖湖Fengqihu老城区 和 以茶园闻名的石召  Shizhao.

 

 

台中-日月潭

我们的下一站是台中,第一天早上, 我们跟随 游览团集合在宫原Gōng yuán 冰淇淋宫前往台中城市花园和第一奶茶的所在地、高美湿地、彩虹村……还有一些传统的寺庙。

 

第二天,我们去了日月潭——乘船游览 徒步环岛到寺庙,还骑自行车环湖 huan hu  欣赏风景,然后回到码头旧城小巷吃饭。最后回去台中,吃了越南菜晚餐。

 

 

 

宜兰-礁溪-太平山

 

抵达宜兰后,我们在车站寄存行李,并进行了宜兰城市之旅。参观了噶玛兰威士忌酿酒厂 kevalan whisky factory。

 

我们乘火车回到礁溪Jiaoxi温泉区的酒店。我们也参观了礁溪的一座长老教会,沿途享用了当地晚餐。

 

第二天早上,我们跟随宜兰的旅行团前往太平山,观赏雄伟的日本野柳(松树)和魁树(柏树)Kui Shu,并进行了几次徒步旅行。

 

花莲 - 太鲁阁峡谷Tàilǔgé xiágǔ

是我们在花莲的主要目的

 

我们于 2024 年 4 月 1 日首次抵达花莲,在城市漫步时,我偶然发现了圣保罗牧民mùmín 中心和圣保罗雕像。

 

我研究了很多关于圣保罗的事工和早期教会历史,所以这对我来说非常有意义,我们做了一个简短的祈祷 Qidao 和 祷告 daogao

 

 

太鲁阁

 

我们在 2024年4月2日美丽的星期二早上游览了太鲁阁。

 

从七星塘海边开始,然后在太鲁阁我们去了燕子沟、砂卡当步道、布洛湾和吊桥.. 等等 deng。

 

这就是我的故事的开始。

 

花莲地震

 

第一个奇迹是我们在403地震发生前一天到达太鲁阁,欣赏太鲁阁——地震摧毁了整个风景区峡谷和小径。如果我们晚了一天,我们就会被困在太鲁阁或被埋在废墟 feixu下。

 

第二个奇迹是在东大门。第一天我们在那里吃早饭,第二天我们在那里吃晚饭。那里是花莲地震的中心。你可以在 Youtubes 上看到天王星大楼倒塌到侧Cè面倾斜qīngxie。

 

第三个奇迹是在那个决定性的早晨逃离花莲—特快列车 207 是离开花莲的最后一班车。

 

2024年4月3日,我们于早上 7 点 26 分乘坐 207 号列车离开花莲前往瑞芳。

 

地震发生在早上 7 点 58 分。

 

我们预订的 207 次特快列车于 2024 年 4 月 3 日从花莲开往瑞芳,原本是上午 9:45 的火车 - 因为在网上预订,之前上午 9:45 是最早的火车。但不知何故,早些时候在嘉义 - 我们将火车改成了早上 7:26 的早班火车,以便提前出发。

 

当我们在早上 7:58 左右到达南澳时 火车开行半小时- 我们收到了总统关于地震的警报,火车左右摇摆并停了下来。

 

火车停了 3 个小时(我们被告知电缆断了,花了几个小时才修好),我们坐在火车上继续经历几次震动。

 

我们试图联系之前在花莲遇到的朋友和旅伴 - 一组是 3 位越南女士,另一组是新加坡夫妇。有些仍有计划将于 4月3日星期三去太鲁阁

 

我们被告知,地震令人恐惧,一整天都有数百次震动,而且没有火车(从花莲出发)前往台北,因为地震损坏了花莲和宜兰之间通往台北的北路。

 

朋友们受到地震的影响——我们也改变了计划

 

我们改变了原本行程,我们没有自己前往瑞芳-十分和九份,而是将火车延长到台北,,并从台北参加当地旅游.

 

第四个奇迹发生在火车上,我们在早上 7点57分- 在火车上预订了  十分、九份和野柳的旅行,地震发生前 一分钟预订了旅行. 处理信用卡支付

 

地震在7点58分 发生时. 互联网也被切断了---然后所有信号都丢失了。

 

我们很幸运,但是在那些面临倒塌建筑和废墟的人我们感到悲伤和担忧,包括失踪的新加坡夫妇,直到今天都没有找到。

 

上一次台湾地震是在 1999 年或 921 地震,即 9 月 21 日——主震级为 7.7 级,死亡人数达 2,400 人,约 10,000 人受伤。导致约10,000 栋建筑物倒塌,导致超过 100,000 人无家可归。

 

这场袭击xiji台湾花莲县的 403地震-7.4 级地震造成至少 18 人死亡,1,100 多人受伤。

 

太鲁阁太鲁阁墙上qiangshang的字也是我们的的教诲 . 值得我们反思

 

人定胜天開此奇局

如阳之迴hui 如河之曲 qu,

 

从这些地震来看-人类的骄傲无法战胜自然.

 

地震让人感到意外和震惊.

 

我们不再谈地震了.

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

 

 

 

 

第五个奇迹是上帝从未放弃我们。

 

我们的台湾假期即将结束,是时候回去了。

 

但我们的问题才刚刚开始。

 

4 月 5 日最后一个晚上, 就在星期六,大约晚上 7 点,当我们正要从内江酒店(西门町旁边,即乘坐蓝线到台北站,转乘火车到桃园)前往桃园机场时.

 

在做最后检查时,我们发现护照不在我的背包里。我们丢了护照袋。

 

 

首先,我们立即考虑需要采取哪些行动例如 :

- 联系火车站检查失物招领处;

- 联系酷航重新安排航班;

- 联系新加坡贸易办公室寻求建议(为我签发 DOI 以便我飞回)

- 去西门站 4 号出口的警察局报案

- 冻结 WISE 卡并封锁信用卡。

 

其次,我们时间有限,直到晚上 9点,因为机场办理登机手续的时间是上午10:30,而返程航班是凌晨 1:30。

 

在这段时间里,我们乘火车回到我们之前去过的地方,在新北投温泉区,我们在那里吃了午饭,甚至搜索了铁路博物馆的失物招领处,并在我们排队的温泉入口处观看了闭路电视录像。我们回溯到我们参观过的那些地方——铁路博物馆、餐厅、温泉,甚至如果我们丢了装有护照的袋子,我们还能看闭路电视。

 

第三,我们也有非常友善的人帮助我们——例如:

 

酒店工作人员非常友善,乐于助人,他们联系了 Scoot 告知我们需要取消并重新预订周一的航班。他们还帮助我们在新北投和台北站的警察局和捷运/地铁站检查失物招领处。

 

新加坡贸易办公室的工作人员也愿意协助我签发 DOI(身份证明)以便我飞回。

 

说起来容易做起来难,复杂的事情接踵而至:

 

1. 那天是全国儿童节,也是华人清明节——台湾延长假期,我们需要再呆 3 天,直到办公室重新开始工作。

 

2. 我们试图重新签发/修改 Scoot 的机票,但无法做到,因为我们已经在线办理了登机手续。

 

3. 新加坡代表还向我解释了前往 ICA 网站报告丢失并申请 DOC 和请求签发旅行证件的步骤。这是不可逆转的,即如果我们的护照被发现,它们将被取消。我们决定等到周日。

 

4. 更令人担心的是,我妻子持有印度尼西亚护照,因为当时正值开斋节,而印度尼西亚大使馆离得太远,由于开斋节而没有开放,护照办理时间可能不同,这意味着我们必须等待后者一起返回。

 

5. 我们还试图联系我们的保险公司 Etiqa。

当所有希望都破灭时,我们完全迷失了方向——我们只需要等待另一个奇迹——我们只知道,如果没有护照,我们将无法在凌晨 1:30 飞行。

 

我们决定回到警察局更新丢失报告声明,因为我们只提到护照,而还有其他物品,例如 2 辆信用卡

我们决定回到警察局更新报失声明。

 

第二次进入在警察局时,我们惊喜地发现警察立即通知我们 - 我们的护照已在台北车站找到。当我们走进的时候,我们的手机也接到了好消息的来电。当时大约是晚上 11点。

 

由于已经接近晚上 11点,又开心-但有压力, 我们不可能赶回酒店取行李,然后赶到台北车站西门 1 楼的台北捷运派出所领取护照,然后前往桃园机场(再坐一个小时的火车)。

 

由于我们的航班是凌晨 1:30 AM 所以已经是晚上 11 点,时间不多了。

 

当我们往回走的时候,回酒店的路上- 在红绿灯处,我们前面有一辆奇迹般的天赐出租车,载了一些乘客 - 我们走近出租车大叔。上帝派出租车在我们面前,让我们准时到达机场,这真是个奇迹:

 

第一 - 回到酒店领取行李

 

第二 - 到台北捷运局警察局领取护照

 

第三 - 直接前往桃园国际机场 T1。

 

尽管移民局排了很长的队,而且登机时间是凌晨 0.45,但我们还是顺利登机了。

 

 

简jian而言之- 总chong而言之

 

即使我们安全到家——两趟航班都准时——安全降落并到家——台北和太鲁阁的余震和新震颤仍在继续并维持.

 

奇迹永无止境 zhijing,它仍在发生。

 

生命中的每一刻都像是一种圣礼,我们可以在其中接受奇迹.

 

因此,最重要的是,

不要害怕困难的时刻。

最好的时刻会从中产生。

 

你还记得这 5 个奇迹见证吗

 

第一个奇迹是我们在403地震发生前一天到达太鲁阁

 

第二个奇迹是在东大门。。

 

第三个奇迹是在那个决定性的最早 也是最后一班火车晨逃离花莲—特快列车 207.

 

第四个奇迹发生在火车上,我们在早上 7点57分-地震发生前 一分钟预订了  十分、九份和野柳的旅行。

这第五个奇迹真的是一系列的神助. 尽管我们已经放弃了希望,并安排了护照遗失的警察报告,在酒店多住一天,我们仍然设法飞回新加坡。