Hakka Village, Biggest Sea World in Asia, Hot Spring Resort...

The next day pretty much is another long day driving for us.

At first, we came by this Hakka Village - Mei Nong Hakka Culture Village 美浓客家村

Not much here really, except people would use the Hakka culture as a kind of attraction which I find it highly fascinating. Seeing that there are so many Hakka people walking around in Malaysia, no one would be interested to know them more.

Then again, there are many Malay people in Malaysia too but still many curious white foreigners would set toe in the Malay village to learn about Malay livings and believes. So I guess anything goes as long as you know the means and ways to market it.

Anyway, one of the attraction at this village belongs to this uncle. He has a ability to play tunes using various UNUSUAL object as his music instrument : Lately he is into playing strings with his wood saw, and sometimes he blow weasel with a small bit of leaves. Apparently he has been invited to perform on the television many time with this skill. My dad and somehow feel a little cold and scary when he started playing with the saw, it resembles the sound effect of a ghost appearing in a haunted movie!

So then our next destination was to the biggest aquarium in Asia. On the way there, we stopped by to get some fruits -- In Malay we call them Jambu Air, or Sui Wong 水蓊 in Chinese. But the Taiwanese call them Lian Wu 莲雾here. Big and Juicy, YUM!

We also had the mango ice blended which was not bad, loaded with a lot of mangoes for RM10 or so.

Arriving at the National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium, the weather turned to be rather sunny. Somehow making us feeling lost in planning what to wear, as we were told that last area of the museum are open air with different exhibition.

But if you ask me, I'd say there isn't a need to plan that much since there aren't that many things to see inside there. Though the are might seem big, but the number of worthy exhibits are few to remember -- namely the Beluga Whales, The big seaweed tank... erm... haha... really not much. Even the biggest conveyor belt showcase tank proves to be dull and lifeless, with few fishes and no corals. A big disappointment compare to Singapore Underwater World.

Anyways, we did say Hi to some of these stuffs. My mom was making hell lot of noise not being able to see the whales feeding show as it was close due to overcrowding.

Coming out from the aquarium, we then start on a long drive to Hua Lian. It was drizzling a lot throughout the drive. Further more, large part of the coastal road located right next to a high cliff making the journey looking extra scary. Surplus to that, the roaring sea waves with a dark sky just makes our journey seemed so perilous per se. No photos here as surrounding got too dark for a good photos.

But anyways, we stopped by at another fruit stalls sampling two types of local fruit -- Sour Soup and the other one 藩荔枝, I too don't know what it is named in english.

After visiting so many places, it was time for a good night rest. We checked into a hot spring resort.

Outside here is a full strenght hot water for curious one to boil egg. While customer staying with the resort can go for a spa like hot spring treat.

While many others decided to shy away from the mini water theme park style hot spring, my parents and I did brave the cold weather for a relaxing dip here. We were told that swiming attire with cap is a must if anyone wants to use the hot spring facility. There are strong water jet to massage the shoulder area, bubbling water like a jacuzzi as well.

By the time we got out from our 15 min dip at the 41 degree water, we were so hot that we just walked back to the room without needing anymore sweater!

But the night just doesn't end there. We all decided to have a night out at a small family bar just down the road. Everyone cheers and eat and sing till exhaustion.

Wild Boar Meat

Veg from the Mountains

Another variety of wild boar meat

Deep fried salty peppered century egg

AHH!! That conclude a long day today. Tomorrow we will be heading to Hua Lian, where the beautiful Alisan girls and boys stays~ kih kih kih

Night Market Again at Kaoshiung 六合夜市

The days here seemed to be rather routine already: Day time sight seeing, night time strolling night market.

True enough, we were not fed tonight and have to look for food at this Liu He night market near our hotel.

First, not sure what to eat, we decided to get a BBQ chicken from this stall because the que seemed very long, though fast service. As you can see, my dad is anxious to get his hand on them in the picture here.

Look at the BBQ stall menu, I don't even understand some of the stuffs they sell here. I am thinking most likely they are related to a certain intestinal part or so.

It wrote there "Seven Miles Fragrant" 七里香, which I recall it is BBQ chicken butt in skewers?

We then ordered this Shark Fin look-a-like thick broth known as 鱼庚, not bad for about RM3 with loads of fish meat in within. Must eat with black vinegar, just like shark fin soup.

Then we move like nomad to the opposite stalls, eating Tan Tan Noodle 担仔面(meaning noodle container carried on shoulder). Bowl of soup noodle with some side dishes that eventually cost us RM20 or so... I definitely think this is cater for tourist business. Besides the noodle is nothing too fantastic at all, so are the side dishes.

I like this one, Pepper Biscuit 胡椒饼, filled with peppery mince meat and baked in a traditional charcoal chamber. Looking somewhat similar of the North Indian Naan oven.

I like this too, various skewers coated with deep fried batter.

At first I though it was with sausages, but to our surprise, it is with mashed sweetened yam. Just like a dessert. Yum!

And of course, this stalls steal the most attention with its "Fully Automatic" set up.

Making small cup cake filled with creamy custard all with one person managing it. Very fast production too.

And I kinda think it tasted quite nice.

There are many "home made" funfair set up here and they are quite interesting too. E.g. shooting balls into hole at the pool table.

One good thing about night market around here is that they planned it very well, from parking availability up to public toilet! We Malaysian should learn more. After all, the longer the tourist stay, the more money they can spent rite?

While walking back, we discover this Bubble Tea House thing is everywhere in the whole of Taiwan! Simple empty looking shop selling only flavored tea with jelly like munchies.

Also, we managed to ask a lot of curious question to this girl that manned a beetle nut stall we happened to past by. She seemed very sweet and cute!

A guy came by to buy two packets, and it is not surprising to find that his teeth was badly damaged by chewing on this thingy for pro-long period of time!

Day 3 - To Kaoshiung enroute Sun Moon Lake, Fuo Guang Shan

It is more bus traveling on Day 3. However this sort of round island tour is quite the usual arrangement for any tourist that comes to travel. Either you travel clock wise or anti clock wise of Taiwan, both way are common.

Very early again, we departed from Taichung moving down south to Kaoshiung.

As we passed by smaller towns, we realized that the occurance of this betel nut kiosk are abundant along the national highway.

The girl, known as 槟榔西施 are usually scantily dressed, so as to attract customers to stop and buy from them. A lot of them are students trying to earn a living from selling the betel nuts.

According to Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Areca_catechu):

Areca catechu, known commonly as Betel palm or Betel nut tree or Pinang is grown for its economically important seed crop, the Betel nut. The seed contains alkaloids such as arecaine and arecoline, which when chewed is intoxicating and is also slightly addictive. Areca palms are grown in India, Malaysia, Taiwan and many other Asian countries for their seeds.

So, the first stop for the day is the Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

This place is right high up on the mountain. The lake used to be a lot bigger before the recent big time earthquake. A lot of the things been submerged as together with the quake I think.

Nearby is a temple, and the management people kept pestering us to donate for the temple rebuilding. You take a look yourself and see if rebuilding fee is necessary for this temple.

Then after that we move on to the famous Fuo Guang Shan Monastery 佛光山.

This is where Xing Yun 星云法师 devoting his entire life building up a highly well managed monastery, in view to promote a brand new image of Buddism teaching that fits the new generation spiritual needs.

Can see a lot of work been done at this place. With well organized layout and land scapping too.

These days, master Xing Yun pretty much retired to the back scene due to old age. He has left all management work to his followers. I have listen to his talk on the TV before, and through his speech, the understanding of Buddism seemed so much more meaningful. Followers can easily related to the teaching of Buddism with usual life. So I guess that much be one of the reason he is so famous.