Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市) of Taichung, Taiwan

Date Visited: 21st December 2010 
26th & 27th November 2013

11th March 2015

#1: Splendid and bustling Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市)

Once is never enough. And this applies to Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市) in Taichung County which I went five years ago. With only an hour given by the organised travel agent to explore and venture this splendid and bustling night market, it was indeed short and rush visit. Couldn't enjoy as much as I want, hence I decided to go again for the second time. Turned out, I went back again for third times this year. Third time to Taiwan, third time to Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市). 

Night market in Taiwan is not mainly about shopping clothing, shoes, accessories and so on but what attract visitors to here is ultimately for street food hunting. Claimed to be the largest night market in Taiwan, there are wide selections of food and local snacks to enjoy in Fengjia Night Market. Most of the vendors start their business as early as 5 pm to as late as 1 am. Therefore when come to choosing where to stay in Taichung, I would prefer to stay nearby this market instead of nearby Taichung Railway Station.   

One thing about me when comes to travelling is I rarely have a list of what and where to eat. I just eat whatever it's cheap, hygiene and most importantly, it suits my taste. So most of the photos below are what Boyfie and I managed to try:

#2: The notable Bear Paw Bun. Taichung is where it's originated from. Worth to try 

#3: Naughty shape of waffle ice-cream. No, I didn't have this cause it's really awkward walking around with this 

#4: Huge scallops from Scallop Q stall. I know this is available in KL but not for KK yet. Thus, it worth for us to try here. There are like more than 10 flavours you can choose from. 

#5: Soft ice-cream - Second time I had in here

#6: Joined the long queue for this Fried Noodle Bun but it seems so-so. Probably it's best to eat while still hot.

#7: Prince Cheese Potato with topped with bacon, ham and corn. It's so sinful but satisfied my tummy to the fullest. Must try!

#8: Spicy Korean Fried Chicken - Another great bite but it would be better if boneless

#9: It's really huge and crowded especially on weekend

So, anyone of you been to this night market before? If yes, share with me what other kind of food must try in case I'm going back again for the forth time. 

From Taichung Station to Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市)

There are few available mode of transportation to reach this biggest night market in Taichung but we chosen to take taxi which charge roughly around NT$250-350 depending on the meter. 

Alternatively, you can take free shuttle bus 160 towards Overseas Chinese University and stop at Feng Jia University if you are travelling with HSR train. Therefore, remember to keep the HSR train tickets for this exclusive privilege.  

Taiwan (2013) Day 1: From Taoyuan International Airport To Taichung

Date Visited: 26th November 2013

Five years ago, my family and I joined travel agent for our very first trip to Taiwan and honestly to say, it was awfully bad experience. It was last minute decision and plus, planning to travel independently may seems to be a little difficult for me cause there were not many travelogues relating to Taiwan back then. Therefore, I always looking forward to plan another trip to Taiwan and travel independently instead of following travel agent. And three years later, my mission has been accomplished with Boyfie and his best friend tagged along for this trip.

So far, there are only two airlines serve direct flight from Kota Kinabalu to Taipei, Taiwan; Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia. Of course in terms of cost saving, we chosen AirAsia for this trip. 

#1: Aerial view from my favorite window seat

We booked the earliest flight at 7.10 am and three hours 15 minutes later, finally we reach Taoyuan International Airport. It's the main getaway to Taipei and Northern Taiwan. From Taoyuan, it takes roughly an hour to reach Taipei and accessible by wide variety of public transportation.

#2: 你好 Taiwan! I'm back again to this sweet potato shaped country and also the homeland of Asus & HTC after three years. 

In case your age is between 15-30 years old, go and apply Youth Travel card once came out from the arrival hall. The application is free of charge and all you need to do is show the valid identification, such as passport or even driving license. The benefit of getting this is whereby you enjoy the discounts and special gifts from certain popular tourist spots such as Taipei 101 and Shifen Waterfall, transport fee, accommodation fee, delicacy expense and shopping.

#3: Youth Travel card for those age between 15-30 years old

We decided go Taichung first instead of Taipei which we will be back by end of this trip.

There are two options available to travel from Taoyuan International Airport to Taichung:
1) Long distance bus - From as low as NT$240, this is the cheapest option but it takes 2 hours. From the airport, take either KuoKuang Bus 1860 or UBus 1623 and it will stop at Taichung Railway Station.
2) High Speed Railway (HSR) train - Fast as it takes less than 40 minutes but pricey which can cost up to NT$590 per ride.

We opted for the second option cause I love to experience on high speed railway train. Initially I thought it will be difficult for me to reserve HSR train via online but the reality, it wasn't. Through the online booking, you can get an early bird discount up to 35% from the normal ticket fare. Normally this online booking is available up to 28 days from the departure date. Credit card is required for the pre-booking and charge in New Taiwan dollars.

Website: www.thsrc.com.tw/irs.html

#4: Example of booking HSR train via online booking 

From Taoyuan International Airport to HSR Taoyuan Station

Right after getting out from the arrival hall, follow the signboard "Bus to High Speed Rail" and proceed to U-Bus counter to purchase ticket No. 705 which cost NT$30. Hop on the bus and the journey takes around 15-20 minutes to HSR Taoyuan Station. So in case you purchase HSR ticket in advanced via online booking, remember to plan your time properly or else in the case you miss the train time, you have to pay another additional charges.

#5: Bus to High Speed Rail sign

#6: Purchase U-Bus ticket bus No. 705 for NT$30 to HSR Taoyuan Station

In HSR Taoyuan Station, we queued at the HSR ticket counter for the exchange of HSR train ticket. All the passport are required for validation purposes and seats will be assigned.

#7: Our HSR train ticket from Taoyuan to Taichung


#8: HSR train resembles exactly like Japan's bullet train - So fast, quiet and comfort.

Brief info about Taiwan High Speed Railway (HSR) Train:

1. Each train is divided into two distinctive classes; Business & Standard Class.
2. The seats configuration for Standard Class is 3-2.
3. Food is allowed and there are also bento and beverages selling inside the train. So cool!

From Taichung Station to Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市)

In Taichung, I personally think it's best to stay either nearby Taichung Station or in the case you love night market like me, then I would recommend to stay nearby Fengjia Night Market. There are few available mode of transportation to reach this biggest night market in Taichung but we chosen to take taxi which charge roughly around NT$250-350 depending on the meter. 

Alternatively, you can take free shuttle bus 160 towards Overseas Chinese University and stop at Feng Jia University if you are travelling with HSR train. Therefore, remember to keep the HSR train tickets for this exclusive privilege.  

#9: Forget about staying in conventional hotel and experience like a local by staying in Taiwan minshu. My Blog on: Minshu I Stayed in Taiwan

I think I should stop here for now and continue with my favourite night market, Fengjia Night Market (逢甲夜市) on the next post. So stay tune for yummylicious photo!

Summary of My 8D7N Kansai, Japan (2013) Travelogues & Travel Expenses For RM2,850 Per Pax

Here is the compilation for all the posts relating to my trip to Kansai Region, Japan where we cover Osaka, Nara, Kobe, Himeji and Kyoto for 8 days and 7 nights. Plus, by end of this post, I also share on how much I spent throughout my trip.

Day 1: 10th October 2013

Flew with Malaysia Airlines for RM797 (all-inclusive) and it's direct route from Kota Kinabalu to Kansai International Airport (KIX)

From KIX, we took Haruka Limited Express using ICOCA & Haruka card to Shin-Osaka station.

"ICOCA is an IC card convenient for JR, subway, private railway, buses and shopping in the Kansai Area and other places worth 2,000 yen (500 yen refundable deposit plus 1,500 yen worth in train and bus fares) wheres as Haruka is a discounted ticket for Kansai-Airport Express to access from KIX to Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe area (either a round-trip of a one way ticket)."

Price for ICOCA & Haruka:

Round-trip type = 4,060 yen

One-way type = 3,030 yen

Stay: Hotel Consort Osaka

Direction: Exit 2 of Subway Midosuji Line Nishinakajima-Minamigata station and the hotel on the left side.

 
How To Get Shinsaibashi and Dontobori:
From Shin-Osaka station, we took Osaka City Subway Midosuji Line to Shinsaibashi Station by using the ICOCA card we bought earlier. The fare is 240 yen.

Day 2: 11th October 2013
Kofukuji Temple & Nara Park 

How To Get To Kofukuji Temple:
Kofukuji Temple is five minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station (using Kintetsu Rail Pass), or 20 minutes walk from JR Nara Station. Can also be reached from JR Nara Station by clockwise running loop bus number 2 or any of the buses bound for Kasuga Taisha (7 minutes, 190 yen). Get off at Kencho-mae bus stop.

Day 3: 12th October 2013
Universal Studios Osaka

How To Get To Universal Studios Japan:

There are several direct trains per hour and many more connections require a simple transfer at Nishikujo Station before reaching Universal City Station on the JR Yumesaki Line. Upon reaching Universal City Station, five minute walk to the entrance gate of the Universal Studios Japan. 

Admission Fee: 6,980 for adult and 4,880 for children 

Opening Hours: 10 am to 8 pm on low season and 9 am to 9 pm during peak season


Stay: Remm Shin-Osaka Hotel
Direction: Central Ticket Gate of JR Shin-Osaka Shinkansen line

Day 4: 13th October 2013

Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden

How To Get To Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden:

From JR Himeji station, it takes 15-20 minutes walk from the Central Exit down the broad Otemae-dori street.

Admission Fee: Himeji Castle (1,000 yen)
                             Kokoen Garden (300 yen)
                             Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden (1,040 yen)
Opening Hours: 9 am until 5 pm

Kitano-cho of Kobe

How To Get To Kobe:

Kobe is located 20 minutes away from Osaka, 50 minutes from Kyoto and 40 minutes from Himeji with JR trains. Apart from JR West Kansai Area Pass or Kansai Thru Pass, another alternative passed you can opt is Hankyu Tourist Pass (1 Day Pass for 700 yen and depart from Osaka Umeda) or Hanshin Tourist Pass (1 Day Pass for 500 yen and depart from Osaka Umeda/Namba). These passes are available in Kansai Tourist Information Center Kansai International Airport.

Day 5: 14th October 2013
Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan

How To Get To Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan:

Nearest station is Osakako Station on the Chuo subway line. From the station, it requires 5-10 minutes walk to Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Out from the station, look for the huge Tempozan Ferris Wheel as Kaiyun located next to it. 
Admission Fee: 2,300 yen (I would recommend to buy Osaka Kaiyu Ticket)
Opening Hours: 10 am to 8 pm

We bought the Osaka Kaiyu Ticket, a combination of Aquarium Kaiyukan admission and Osaka Subway One Day Pass which sold at 2,550 yen. In the case of purchase separately, the admission fee for Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan alone is 2,300 yen and Osaka Subway One Day Pass cost 600 yen, which indicates we save at least by 350 yen for a pax by purchasing the Osaka Kaiyu Ticket. 

Day 6: 15th October 2013

We took JR train from Shin-Osaka station heading Kyoto Station using the ICOCA card we bought on the first day. As it was too early to check-in into our hotel, we went to Arashiyama which is popular for fascinating bamboo forest as well as Fushimi Inari Shrine which well-known for its astonish and exceptional sight of more than 10,000 small and vibrant orange torii gates that arch a long walking path up to the hill.

Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

How To Get To Arashiyama:

The nearest station to Arashiyama is JR Saga-Arashiyama and one way ride from Kyoto Station takes 15 minutes only under JR Sagano line. 

Fushimi Inari Shrine 

How To Get To Fushimi Inari Shrine:
From Kyoto Station, take train to JR Inari station along the JR Nara line


Stay: Best Western Kyoto

Direction: Take Kyoto City Bus and stop in front of Mina Shopping Mall. Walk through the small alley and the hotel located behind it.

Day 7: 16th October 2013

Except for Arashiyama and Fushimi Inari Shrine, I personally think the best ideal to travel around Kyoto is by taking Kyoto City Bus which cost 500 yen for a day pass. This pass can be bought at the main Kyoto Bus Information Center in front of Kyoto Station.

Kinkaku-ji (Golden Pavilion) 

How To Get To Kinkaku-ji:
Take Kyoto City Bus #101 and 205 from Kyoto Bus Station to the Kinkaku-ji Michi bus stop.
Admission Fee: 400 yen
Opening Hours: 9am to 5pm

Ginkaku-ji (Silver Pavilion)

How To Get To Ginkaku-ji:

Take Kyoto City Bus #5, 7 and 100 from Kyoto Bus Station to the Ginkaku-ji Michi bus stop. It takes 10 minutes walk from the bus stop.

Admission Fee: 500 yen

Opening Hours: Open daily 8.30am to 5pm

Day 8: 17th October 2013
Goodbye Kansai Region & My Shopping Haul

From Kawaramachi-dori where we stayed, we hopped on Kyoto City Bus to Kyoto Station and from there, boarded on Haruka Limited Express directly to the airport. The train ride takes approximately of 80 minutes.

And the following are the details of travel expenses for two paxes (both mommy and I) spent throughout the 8 days and 7 nights trip in Kansai Region, Japan, excluding the amount we spent on shopping haul:

PARTICULARS	NOTE	AMOUNT
		Yen	RM
Air Fare KK-Osaka(Kansai)-KK via MAS Accommodation Hotel Consort Osaka (2 nights) Remm Shin-Osaka (3 nights) Best Western Kyoto (2 nights) Transportation ICOCA & Haruka Card Add: Top-up ICOCA JR Kansai Area 3 Days Pass Kobe City Loop Bus Osaka Kaiyukan Ticket Kyoto City Bus for 2 Days Admission Fees Universal Studios Osaka Himeji Castle & Kokoen Garden Kinkaku-ji Ginkaku-ji Foods & Beverages Foods and beverages	1 2 2 2 3	- - 33,400 - 8,000 1,000 10,000 1,000 5,100 2,000 13,200 1,120 800 1,000 22,246	1,594 377 1,050 631 251 31 314 31 160 63 415 35 25 31 699
		TOTAL:	5,707

(The exchange rate by the time I changed 100 yen = RM3.145)

NOTE:

1. It's absolutely a great steal seeing that all inclusive including 30kg luggage allowance, in-flight meals and entertainment. Unfortunately, this direct route has been ceased permanently.
2. Refer my post on Accommodation in Osaka & Kyoto 
3. Refer my post on Oishii Everywhere in Japan

Averagely, we spent roughly around RM2,800 for a pax, including airfare, hotels, transportation, food as well as admission fee to Universal Studios Osaka and Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. For this time around, I didn't share how much I spent on my shopping haul but to be frank, we spent a lot on omiyage (souvenirs) especially on confectioneries and snack such as Kit Kat and Tokyo Banana.  

Transportation wise, there is a myriad of tickets and rail passes are available for the tourists in order to save money. To know more about these, you can refer here Rail Passes for the Kansai Region. As for the exact train timetable, route and fare from starting point to the end, refer to Hyperdia. 

Foodie Friday: Oishii Everywhere In Japan

Sushi! Bento! Donburi! Ramen! Udon! 

It's never ending list when comes to food in Japan.

It's quite pathetic that both mommy and I can't have the utterly fresh sashimi, Japanese well-known delicacy consisting of raw meat and fish sliced due to our common weak stomach, but that ain't gonna stop us from indulgence ourselves with the rest of scrumptious and delicious Japanese cuisines. 

#1: Our dinner on first night arrived: Tori Katsu Don - Obviously my favourite

#2: Mom's order - Spaghetti with meat

#3: Lunch in Nara Park. Bought from a random supermarket 

#4: Inari & Maki Sushi - Again, my favourite sushi!

#5: Ramen in Kobe

#6: Onirigi for breakfast 

#7: Udon in Arashiyama for 700 yen (approx. to RM21)

#8: Matcha ice-cream for 300 yen (approx. to RM12)

#9: Once in a while McD, a comfort food for traveller 

#10: Fresh sandwiches for breakfast at a random cafe nearby Nishiki Market 

#11: Three layers ice-cream nearby Ginkakuji Temple of Kyoto 

#12: Yakitori but I dislike cause it's actually chicken fat instead

#13: Coco Ichiban - My mom loves this so much. 

The total damages we spent on food throughout our 8D7N in Japan is roughly around RM700 for two. Most of the times, both mommy and I ordered and shared a set of meal instead of ordering two. Of course, you can do so provided you intend for takeaway but in the case of dining in a restaurant or eatery, it's best to order at least a meal for each person. Another thing that I noticed from my recent trip to Tokyo, it's kind rude to have your food while walking about. It's is advisable to finish your food at one point before making a move.