28 October 2015

Flying Cow Ranch, Miaoli, Taiwan


Don't expect there are some flying cow there. I even only find sleeping regular cows outside my sight. haha This place is not like what I imagine about ranch. I've never go to a ranch in Indonesia and this was my first time went to a ranch. But, it's a good place to educate children about animals and ranch life.

Flying Cow Ranch is located in Miaoli County. There is no public transportation available to go there. But, you can go to Miaoli Station using TRA / HSR then continue to use bus / taxi. In Flying Cow Ranch website, they provide you with transportation information, such as :

By Train
Take Taiwan Railway (Sea Line) to Tongxiao Train Station, then take local bus or taxi to the ranch. It takes 15 minutes by taxi and they charge you around NT$ 250 - 300.

By Bus
Out of the Tongxiao Train Station, go straight to the junction of He-Ping Road. Take local bus (Fu-Xing Line or Tai - Kang - Wei Line) and get off at Chi-Shia Stop, the take a walk for 2km to the ranch. The bus ticket is around NT$ 35

By Car
(Please use Google Map) hahaha

When you arrive in the ranch, you need to pay for ticket entrance in the gate. NT$ 220 per person. Please check on their website for updated information about the ticket price. This price is for entrance only. If you want to do some activities like DIY projects, eat in restaurants, and others, you have to pay separately. But, it includes 1 bottle of milk for free.

In there, you can see many animals in the ranch. It's quite big so be prepare to have many walks. haha The animals are typical ranch animals, like sheep, goat, cow, horse, duck, rabbit, and butterfly. You can give them animal food with NT$ 10 - 20 in shops near the sheds.

There are many venues for activities (mostly are for kids of course).

DIY House

If you like to make something by your hand, you can go to DIY Houses near car park. There are time schedule for each activity. You can choose the activities by yourself because each has different price. Activities involved are Biscuit making, Butter making, Milk Bread making, Cow Painting, and Ice Cream Making. You can find the time schedule and price in the brochure. However, the brochure is in Chinese. If you want English, no you can't have one. They don't provide it for you, unfortunately. So, better to check on their website first and confirm it with employee in the DIY House.

When I was there, I met with an Indonesian guy and Malaysian girl as employee there. They helped us a lot in DIY projects we involved with, because we can talk in Indonesian or English. So, don't worry. At least somebody can speak English there. hahaha

Souvenir Shops

You can try many kinds of foods made from milk. I suggest you to try Milk Pudding that looks like a ball. It's very delicious and you can choose the flavors. The milk pudding's wrap is actually a balloon and they put pudding inside it. So, you have to blow the balloon with anything sharp like pin or toothpick.

Restaurants

I believe you'll be very hungry because you have to walk for a long journey. They provide you with many kinds of restaurants, from ranch-like restaurant, hot pot, italian, and fast food restaurant. Choose what you like. The price is a little bit expensive, except the fast food restaurant.


Sheep Shed

I actually have already seen sheep before, back in Indonesia, especially when it comes to Eid Fitr and Eid Adha. haha However, maybe kids in Taiwan don't know what sheep and goat's look like. That's why this ranch provide so many sheep in their shed. People can buy the food for just NT$10 - 20 in shop nearby.



Near the shed, you can do many activities, such as feeding the ducks and milking a cow. But make sure you know the time schedule from the brochure or website.

Flower Shop

It's near the sheep shed. I suggest you to buy the ice cream. You can choose either chocolate or vanilla flavor.

Rabbit House

I didn't go here because I'm too tired to walk and we're in the top of the mountain at that time. So, if you wanna go there, better go there before go hike.

Hiking

Because the ranch is actually in the middle of mountain, you can hike there and enjoy beautiful scenery from the top of the mountain. Don't forget to bring some waters with you. If uyou don't bring one, don't worry you can buy waters in vending machines in the location.


Butterfly Garden

You have to go up in the mountain first, along with the hiking track. Many beautiful flowers and butterfly flies around.

My impression about this place is... not really interesting for adult. Maybe because of the activities provided are mostly for kids and not as big as it is. It's big but not big enough for a ranch, just like in a movie. haha If you think you can go there and ride a horse, no you can't. The activities which are involving animals are only feeding them and milking the cow for less than 1 minute.

However, I like the milk pudding so much and I bought several puddings back home hahaha.

Intan Web Developer

A Wife and PhD candidate to-be in National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Dreamer, Writer, Traveller, and Tech Addict. Like to travel everywhere and experience anything.

20 October 2015

Taipei 101 Observatory Deck


After 3 years I've been in Taiwan, just several weeks ago I can go to Taipei 101 Observatory Deck. haha It's kinda weird because it's already 3 years and Taipei 101 is near with my campus. But, at the same time I know why I didn't go there in my 2 years of master degree and the first one year of my PhD. It's because... it's expensive.

You have to pay NT$450 if you show your Taiwan Student ID or International Student ID. And if you're only tourist or employee, you have to pay NT$500. If you have child, I think the price should be NT$450, it's a concession ticket for child, student, elderly, and disable.

It's an expensive ticket for my student pocket, don't you think? haha
But I'm lucky that my husband wants to go there "suddenly" and pay the ticket for me. (Yaaayyy!!)

So, the opening time of Taipei 101 Observatory Deck is at 9am to 10pm, but the ticketing counter will be closed at 9.15pm. My suggestion for you, go there before sunset, maybe around 4 or 5 pm. Because you will get beautiful landscape of Taipei when it's still light, between sunset, and after dark. I believe it's amazing. Because I've been there only at night and I couldn't see the bright landscape when sun still on the top of our head.

The transportation to Taipei 101 is quite easy start this year, because Taipei Government built another MRT line directly to Taipei 101. So, you can easily get there.

You have to aware, that you have to wait for around 15-30 minutes for the elevator. It's the fastest elevator in the world (they say), but they only have 1 elevator for go up and 1 for go down, Bt don't worry, it takes approx less than 1 minute to reach 87th floor (yes you can only go to 87th, not 101th) with the speed of 1010 m / min. Crazy huh?

When I was inside the "capsule" or elevator, I could sense my ear disrupted by the speed. Just like when I'm on airplane. Sudden change in the elevation can make your ears have a bit of discomfort.

Don't throw your ticket away because sometimes (I think seasonal) they will give you some coupons that can be used for shopping on the observatory deck. However, the items are still expensive even we had the coupons already. haha I used my coupon to buy Mango Ice Cream, worth money because it's very delicious. I'm not kidding. It's the best Mango Ice Cream that I've ever taste in my life. haha

Stores inside the observatory deck are a lot, including :

  • Mango Ice Cream
  • Souvenir shop
  • Unique stamp shop
  • Taiwan delicacies
  • Gold (yes, it's gold) and many other jewelries.
If you buy postcards from the souvenir shop, you can send it to your home. Just buy the stamp in the cashier and they will give you explanation where to put your postcard after you finish write something on it. Basically they will ask you to put it on the big post office box in front of the shop.

While I eat my mango ice cream, I can see beautiful night landscapes from above. The walls are made from glasses. So, you can see 360 degree panorama from above.
 
Taipei Night Landscape from Taipei 101 Observatory Deck

Souvenir Shop on Taipei 101 Observatory Deck

Wind Damper of Taipei 101 (It's HUGE) 

Another Taipei Night Landscape from Taipei 101 Observatory Deck





Intan Web Developer

A Wife and PhD candidate to-be in National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Dreamer, Writer, Traveller, and Tech Addict. Like to travel everywhere and experience anything.