We landed on Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. Since it was around 1am, we were able to pass through an immigration inspection rapidly.
Night bus took us to Taipei Main Station. We got there around 2:30.
Though we had difficulty in finding our hotel, we managed to reach the hotel at 3:00am
In the morning, I bought rice balls at a convenience store on the ground floor.
We left the hotel around 10:00. The 1st destination is Jiu Fen. We decided to board Puyuma train, only to find all the reserved seats were sold out.
IMG_7168 posted by (C)gozami
Taipei station
Puyuma
IMG_7178 posted by (C)gozami
Puyuma
The next train was local train bound for Suao, which we boarded.
The train departed from Taipei, passengers in the train included many Japanese most of which were heading for Jiu Fen via Ruifang.
IMG_7185 posted by (C)gozami
Xishi, an intermediate station
IMG_7189 posted by (C)gozami
Nuannuan, an intermediate station
When the train stopped at Ruifang, I decided to take a taxi rather than waiting for a bus. No sooner had I called a taxi than a taxi driver asked me "Kyufun?(Jiu Fen in Japanese pronunciation)"
IMG_7192 posted by (C)gozami
In front of Ruifang station
IMG_7194 posted by (C)gozami
Ruifang station
So, we took the taxi that ran so rapidly that it took less than 15 minutes to go to JiuFen.
Jiu Fen
Around JiuFen, I had difficulty to find stages of the Japanese movie "Spirited away".(But, editor of the movie denies that)
So, I asked a Japanese tourist where the stage is. According to a guidebook, it's located away from main streets.
As a result, we were able to find it.
IMG_7241 posted by (C)gozami
The stages
After that, we took taxi for Shi Fen Waterfall. It took more than 40 minutes to Waterfall.
IMG_7277 posted by (C)gozami
Entrance of Shi fen waterfall
IMG_7277 posted by (C)gozami
There used to be a coal train?
Shi Fen Waterfall
To get to Shi Fen Old Town, I took taxi.
IMG_7313 posted by (C)gozami
The place I took the taxi
There were a lot of lanterns taking off from a rail track of Pingxi Line.
While we were waiting for train to Jingtong, I ate chicken rice and egg boiled with tea, none of which my girlfriend ate.
IMG_7313 posted by (C)gozami
Lanterns
IMG_7329 posted by (C)gozami
IC Cards are usable at Shi Fen station
After riding train, Japanese couples asked a conductor whether they can purchase tickets on the train. Because they didn't know how to pronounce "JingTong(菁桐)", I helped him to convey the name of the station.
The train arrived at JingTong, which is the terminus of Pingxi Line. Though the station was just a rural station before becoming a tourist spot, vicinity of the station is now crowded with many tourists.
Jing Tong
We intended to return to Ruifang. The Japanese couples were also heading for Songshan(松山) via Ruifang.
But, we changed destination to Haikeguan, because I noticed that the train is bound for Haikeguan and that rail line between Ruifang and Haikeguan(Shen'ao Line) is reopened in 2014.
IMG_7368 posted by (C)gozami
Pingxi Line meets Yilan Line ahead of Sandiaolin station
IMG_7370 posted by (C)gozami
Sandiaolin station
IMG_7372 posted by (C)gozami
Houtong station
Haikeguan Station
IMG_7388 posted by (C)gozami
Nameplate
Haikeguan stands for Chinese name of National Museum of Marine Science and Technology, which we were trying to visit, only to know that it was closed after 17:00.
After eating lunch? at a convenience store near the facility, we took a taxi for Keelung station.
I ate Chòudòufu(Stinky Tofu) at markets near the station. My girlfriend gave up eating, due to its unbearable flavor.
IMG_7425 posted by (C)gozami
Keelung Night market
IMG_7431 posted by (C)gozami
IMG_7431 posted by (C)gozami
From Keelung, we rode local train to Songshan.
IMG_7443 posted by (C)gozami
Keelung.Sta
IMG_7447 posted by (C)gozami
Entrance of Keelung Station
IMG_7451 posted by (C)gozami
There are areas ensured for ladies' boarding
EMU800 as local train
IMG_7448 posted by (C)gozami
Nameplate
The train stopped temporarily near Qidu station to be overtaken by express train(Chu Kuang or Tzu-Chiang).
The local train was also overtaken by Tzu-Chiang at Xizhi.
From Songshan, we took Taipei Metro Songshan-Sindian Line and Neihu Line to get to Jiannan Road Station.
we rode a Ferris wheel at Miramar Entertainment Park.
Taipei City seen from Ferris Wheel
Because it was imminent to closing time of Taipei 101, we took taxi there.
Landscape from Taipei 101 observatory deck
Taipei Metro Tanshui-Sinyi Line and Songshan-Sindian Line brought us to Ximen, the 1st station I used overseas in my life.
IMG_7493 posted by (C)gozami
Taipei 101/WTC
IMG_7494 posted by (C)gozami
Changing trains at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Park
IMG_7495 posted by (C)gozami
We arrived at Ximending
After hanging out around the downtown, we decided to eat dinner at Shirokiya.
Today's long journey terminated at the hotel near Taipei.
