Taiwan 2013

Taiwan Day 4: 25/07/2013

Kenting - Kaohsiung

Guess where are we going!??

That's right! We're heading to the beach!!!! My favourite!!!! 

We woke up and packed our luggage cos we'd be grabbing our luggage and go after our water-activities.

I bought a package from the minsu once again for a full-day water-activities from 09:00 to 18:00 at NT$1400/pax. This ticket includes 2-way transport to and from the beach and we can play ALL the water-activities unlimited times!

Both of us together with a father and daughter bought the package and there is one instructor allocated to us. Since the lil girl is playing alone as her father seems "too old" to play such vigorous exercises, the instructor asked if she could tag along with us and of course we kindly welcome her.

Just done registering and signing our insurance. Yes the package includes insurance.

The moment we hit the beach, we got changed and ready to hit the waters!

Our first activity was some float thingy. Actually most of the activities we played involves a float, a speedboat and the only safety catch is... there is no safety catch. Most of it we have to either lie or sit or stand on the float and the speedboat will drag us around at full speed, occasionally doing a drift in attempt to swing us into the water. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, they succeeded twice. I was thrown into the water twice! And that was really after a tough fight trying to grab onto the handles while the float is bumpy and my strength is all used up.

I felt like I was hanging to my dear life. 

After the first few rounds of ride we took a break by snorkeling in the middle of the sea. It was... boring. There was nothing there for us to see. It's  was somehow clear but there's just no fishes. Unlike the one we experienced in Phuket. It was crystal clear, you don't even have to stick your head into the water to see it! 

After snorkeling we got bored and just slacked in the middle of the sea for a while and continued a few other ride before heading back to the beach. As the lil girl only bought the pass for certain ride, she left after playing while we hang around for more fun. 

   

   

Lunch while enjoying the sea breeze.

It was close to lunch time when we got back and all the water-activities were draining my energy. We crossed the road where there is a 7-Eleven to buy some refreshments and lunch. Yes I crossed the road in my bikini. I don't feel embarrassed at all cos it's near a beach and its usual for people to be walking around with lesser clothes. 

Did I also mention that we love Taiwan's bento!?? They are sold everywhere, in convenience stores like 7-Eleven etc and its so easy to prepare and doesn't even taste like it's preserved. I like those with chicken/pork cutlet cos it really doesn't taste that bad. And it's cheap.

Something good about Kenting as compared to Phuket is the crowd. Phuket is far too overrated. Kenting is much more fun and the people there are nice! They don't hard-sell tourist (which I don't like) and of course the weather is better too. Even though the sun in Kenting is scorching hot, there is breeze all the time and you'll just feel super relaxed. Also, not sure is it because we bought the package that includes the tent but we had a tent of our own. With enough chairs for us to sit, kiao our kahs (rest our legs) and put our stuffs. Really thumbs up. And we don't even have to worry our things being stolen while we're out in the sea.

Look who's looking cool on his new ride. Boys and their toys. 

Having a gr8 time!

Chillax. 

Enjoying himself. Or watching girls in bikini?? 

Waves are super high!

Once in a while we get back to the sea to continue our water sport. Since we paid for it we made it a point to try ALL the activities at least once. And our instructor was so nice he really made sure we had a BLAST! 

Our favourite of all is the speedboat. Even though the instructor is the one riding and I have to sit behind him with Jz sitting behind me, it was really thrilling to feel yourself actually riding the boat! And our instructor purposely create waves (yes he's damn awesome) so that we can ride over the waves. We love that part cos it feels like we're flying and falling at the same time. Like on a roller coaster, but now without any safety harness. 

After a long day, we went to shower at the toilets across the road and head back to our minsu to collect our luggage. 

Wall decors in our minsu while waiting for our driver to pick us up. 

We'd be going to Kaohsiung for 2 days!

Our ride from Kenting to Kaohsiung wasn't pleasant even though our taxi was clean and of better quality. Mainly because the cab driver wasn't very kind and even though our package includes the taxi fare to send us to Kaohsiung, he picked up other customers along the way. I thought it was supposed to be a private cab since we saw our minsu owner handing him NT$1000. Halfway up the ride he stopped occasionally and ask anybody on the road if they're going to Kaohsiung. So we ended up sharing cab with 2 other girls. The cab was a 7-seater and Jz and I had the middle row to ourselves while one girl sit behind us and one in front of us. 

Halfway through the ride it started pouring heavily and then there was jam. Normal ride is supposed to be 2.5hrs. Around evening we finally arrived at our minsu - Travel Home Service Apartment. 

The apartment is nice and comfortable like a 1-room flat. There's a living room and TV and couch and we can surf internet on the TV. The whole building is really an apartment. As in HDBs. Locals actually do live there in the building.

We washed up, unpacked our luggage as we'd be staying for 2 nights and took the chance to wash our clothes. Aftermath, we head out to one of the night market nearby for dinner. 

Taking the MRT.

Tonight we'd be going to Ruifeng Night Market.

To get there, take to Kaohsiung Arena (R14) and take Exit 1, walk straight all the way. 

The tickets cost NT$50/pax for one way.  

Lil Paris pastries which sucked. I dabao back to hotel to eat but didn't even finish it. 

Jz did some research and read from blogs that this stall is to die for. 

Omg its really damn awesome especially the peppery taste. 

Papaya Milkshake which was one of the must-try food in our list. But this taste average. 

We came to this stall that sells fried oysters and Jz wanted to try the Taiwanese style. 

So I also ordered a plate of smelly tofu to give it a try. Jz tried before and warned me about it. But I still want to give it a go. 

It sucks. 

Taiwanese style which we're not very used to. 

Another must-try but we didn't like it cos we're just not those herbal-tea kind of person. Very bitter.

Second nicest food so far besides the beef hot plate. 

While walking back to the apartment we realize that Kaohsiung seems more like a CBD area. The place is quiet but full of cars.

Back to our hotel and this is how it looks like from the living room.

We went the 7-Eleven right below our block and bought some drinks up. 

Awesome day spent! Whole body's aching...