More things to do in Taiwan

11. Visit temples

There are a lot of temples in Taiwan.  There are three major religions in Taiwan - Buddhism, Taoism and Confuscianism. 

12.  Admire the beauty of Shifen waterfal

Shifen waterfall is located in the Ping Xi District in the north eastern coast of Taiwan.  We went on a trip to this waterfall on a nort eastern coast tour through KKDAY voucher.

13. Visit the A Mei Teas House in Jiufen

A Mei tea house is one of the location shooting in the movie Hayao Miyazaki’s award-winning Spirited Away.   

14. Ride the see through floor gondola at Mao Kong

15.  Off the beaten path - Visit a cemetery and pray for the souls 

Things to do in Taiwan

Here is the continuation of our Taiwan family travel:

6.  Join the hisorical walking tour

Our first day in Taipei was concluded with a historical tour in the afternoon.  The walking tour Like it Formosa is a free walking tour conducted by Taiwanese volunteers on a tip basis.  We took the voucher from KLOOK  It was very informative and cheap way to budget travel in Taiwan.

7.  Get around the city by Taipei MRT (mass rapid transit)

This very efficient transport system is very easy to navigate though it might look complicated at first especially for tourists.  The Taipei MRT is a government operated mass transit that runs from Taipei to New Taipei.

8.  Eat at Modern Toilet Restaurant

Modern Toilet Restaurant as the name implies are all about toilets (does not smell good for a restaurant, ey?).  Well it is actually a restaurant that uses bathroom and toilet items as plates, serving tray, etc.  The restaurant is also designed with all bathrooms and toilets and, guess what? cute poops :)

9.  Visit the UNESCO heritage "Queen's head" in the north eastern coast

The Queen's head (Wanli) can be found in the Yehliu Geopark in the north eastern coast of Taiwan.  It is a rock formation formed by the waves hitting the rocks.  As  time goes by, the head is getting eroded, so a replica was made.  Visit this now or you might not be able to see the original rock formation anymore.




10.  Make a wish and fly a Ping Xi Lantern in Old Shifen street

This is a great experience of sending your wishes up, up and away.

Taiwan family travel

With another year of "visa on arrival" extension for Filipinos travelling to Taiwan, take this opportunity to visit one of the most beautiful countries in Asia.

Ilha Formosa which means beautiful island is Taiwan's Portuguese name.  Amongst the Asian countries that I have gone to so far, Taiwanese are the nicest of them all.  They are so courteous and even if some do not understand English, they do not shout out of stress unlike some Asian countries I have been to.  My family and I traveled to Taiwan in April 2019.   It was still cold then where the temperature ranged from 15 degrees to 20 degrees celsius.  We were not actually ready with this cold and rain when we were there.  Good thing we had  long sleeves, shawls and caps to cover us.  It was really cold.

What's good about travelling with teenagers, my son and my niece, is that these millenials are really good at directions. Yes because with the complexity of Taiwan's very efficient railway system, it would be hard for me as a no-life-direction human to navigate in Taiwan.  Thanks to my millenial son and niece.  

There are a lot of fun things to do in Taiwan as a family.  Here's what we have done during our Taiwan visit.

1. Rent a portable wifi

Before travelling to Taiwan, we bought a https://www.klook.com/wifi-sim-card/ portable wifi router for onlt 6 AED for four days.  This was the best thing as even in the east coast we were connected.  It can be picked up in the airport by just presenting the Klook voucher, passport and copy of credit card (security purpose only) to the Unite traveler counter in Taoyuan airport.  Return to the same counter.




2.  Check in to a budget local Hotel.

For this trip, we checked in to King Plaza Hotel.  Five of us were booked in a huge room with two large bathrooms.  We booked for three nights and four days for only 9000 PHP.

King Plaza Hotel:
3F No. 163 Nanjing W. Road, Datong District

3.  Visit a Catholic church - Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception

Every time our family visits a country, we make sure that we hear mass in the local language or visit a church in that area.  When we arrived in Taipei, after checkin in, we went to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Shenxi Road, Taipei.  This is just walking distance from our hotel so it was easy to find through google map.

When a closed door literally opened by kind hearted church sisters especially for us awww so touched. Thanks sister Theresa Lee and friends. 

4. Lunch along NingXia night market area

Oyster omellete

Lunch around Ningxia night market

5.  Taste the local tea.

Taiwan is the origin of milk tea which almost all Filipinos are crazy about.  Never forget to try the best tea in the world.  It's all over Taiwan.

Oolong Tea

To be continued....

Things to do in Macau on a budget

My teenage son and I traveled one day ahead of the rest of our family to Macau.  We traveled at night via Cebu Pacific's budget fare to Macau International Aiport.  It is advisable to travel from the airport to the hotel via bus.  There are a lot of free buses and public buses from the airport.   But since the two of us were tired and wanted to reach the hotel, we took the taxi.  TIP:  Taxi drivers especially oldies do not know how to speak in English.  If you want to take the taxi, be prepared with a Chinese name of your hotel or ask the airpot information to explain it to the driver.

Here is our itinerary in Macau.

Day One or first night:

• Night flight to Macau via cebu pacific air
• Airport to Hou Kong Hotel (Check my hotel review https://theseandbeyond.blogspot.ae/2017/08/where-to-stay-in-hong-kong-and-macau-on.html).
• Check in to hotel.
• Get acquainted to the neighborhood.

Day 2:

• Break fast Portuguese bread
• Visit 100-year-old temple

• Barra
• Ama temple
• Take bus to Macau Convention Tower
• Macau tower glass walk
• Macau creations
• Sto. Domingo church
• Sto. Domingo museum
• Ruins of St. Paul.
• Snoopy shop
• Lover's lane  - Travessa da Paixao
• Macao museum
• Old walled city
• 3D
• Street food free tasting

Day 3:

• Breakfast at Mcdo
• Our lady of Penha
• ferry to hong kong

Where to stay in Hong Kong and Macau on a budget

We stayed in both Hong Kong and Macau during our family budget travel last June.  There were two budget hotels that we occupied.  This is my review.

1.  HOU KONG HOTEL   -  Macau

Website:  http://www.houkonghotel.com/

Address:  No.1 Travessa das Virtudes , Macau, Macau

Booked through:  Booking.com

Price for two days  188 AED  (400 HKD)

Staff:  One female staff knows a little English and always smiling but the rest seem distant and rude.

Deposit:  YES.  200 HKD whch will be given back after the stay and after surrendering the key.  DO NOT LOSE the receipt.

BED:  OKAY.  Firm to hard.  One pillow per bed in a comfort twin room.

TOILET:  Private toilet with free shampoo, soap and comb daily.

WIFI:  Strong even at top floor.

HOUESEKEEPING:  Very clean and orderly.  Cleans daily.  

NEIGHBORHOOD:  Near to all attractions and 24-hour shops and 7-11.

TIPS:
1.  Book the room away from the elevator.  It could be noisy at night if you stay near the elevator.  We stayed very fare from the elevator at the corner.
2.  Always be ready with Chinese translations of what you want to ask the receptionist.
3.  Staff may seem to be distant and rude but they are not, just shy maybe.


2.  Fortune Hotel - Hong Kong

Website:  http://fortune-hotel.hongkonghotelchina.com/en/

Address:  FLAT 24, 5/F, WING WAH BUILDING, 40P SHAN TUNG STREET, MONG KOK, HONG KONG, HONG KONG

Booked through:  https://www.airbnb.com/

Price for three days  8246 PHP  (1253.62 HKD)

Staff:  The owner is very nice.  She attends to every room daily.  Small but very clean.

BED:  OKAY.  Firm to hard.  One pillow per bed in a comfort family room.

TOILET:  Private toilet with free shampoo, soap and comb daily.

WIFI:  Strong even at top floor.

HOUESEKEEPING:  Very clean and orderly.  Cleans daily.  

NEIGHBORHOOD:  Near to all attractions in Mong Kok Area.  Very near the MTR and bus stops. ladies' market is just downstairs.  Sneaker's market is very near.

TIPS:
1.  The owner do not speak English.
2.  Google map is very handy.
3.  Take public transportation.

Family budget travel tips - Hong Kong and Macau

My last budget trip was in Hong Kong and Macau last June 2017.  The weather in Hong Kong and Macau during that time was sunny with a dash or rainfall (very little).  It was too hot.  Nevertheless, we still walked and rode public transportation which is by the way very efficient knowing that Hong Kong has millions of commuter daily.  Both Hong Kong and Macau attractions mostly are walkable if you are really on a tight budget.

I travelled with my family.  We were five - three adults and two teenagers.  I traveled with my son one day ahead from my sister's family.

First stop was Macau where we stayed for three days.  We took the 45-minute ferry ride to Hong Kong where we stayed another three days.  On our last day, we went back to Macau for our flight back home.

Here are few tips to remember when you are on a budget travel to Hong Kong and Macau.

1. KLOOK.  For discounted activities, attractions and things to do, buy tickets at Klook.com   I bought our disneyland tickets and meals (I really advise you to buy meal tickets at klook as it is too expensive inside disneyland), The peak tram tickets and Macau tower tickets.

2.  Book hotels at booking.com for cheaper deals.

3.  Use public transportation = buses, MTRs and ferries.

4.  Walk.   Most attractions can easily be reached on foot.

5.  Food? Go local.  It is always cheaper to eat local food and street foods than eating at  your well loved fast food chains like McDonald's or Burger King.  Our family meal at Burger King costs us 300 HKD while a big heaping family meal at a local restaurant with rice and bubble tea was only 200 HKD less.

6.  Airline.  PISO FARE from Cebu Pacific is always the best.


SO, that's a few tips for a family budget Hong Kong and Macau travel.