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.

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

Kaohsiung Weekend Getaway Part 6 : Cijin Island

Oh yes there's a small island in Kaohsiung which popular with the seafood. Actually is not like an island, because my Taiwanese friend said that it's just a small district inside Kaohsiung. However to go there people have to use ferry or underwater strait tunnel. Let me tell you more about this island.

Source : whenkayametbingsu.wordpres.com

How to get there?

If you have car or scooter, you can go there via underwater strait tunnel. Better to use google maps to go there because it's kinda far and the road is not quite tourist friendly.

Underwater Strait Tunnel to Cijin Island

By scooter you can choose between the tunnel or ferry. The ferry is the same ferry for people. The differences lay in the pricing and where you park your scooter inside the ferry.

The ferry. Lower deck is for scooter and the second deck is for people

If you want to use public transportation, you can go by MRT to Sizihwan MRT Station and walk for around 10 minutes maybe to the Gushan Ferry Pier and please queue for the "people area" not for "scooter area". The price for people is NT$ 15 single trip. For scooter with two people on it, the price is NT$ 75. You can pay by cash but make sure you have the exact amount of money or your change will not going to be given, because you will put the money inside a box. You also can pay with your iPass card if you have one.

Gushan Ferry Pier Station

Before enter the ferry you have to queue and pay by cash or iPass card

Scenery from the boat you can see Kaohsiung's tallest building

What's in there?

There are many places you can go in there, especially if you like ocean. 

People like to eat seafood in the Cijin Main Road where not allowing any transportation passing by. There are many seafood you can choose from outside the restaurant and tell the waitress which fish you want to eat and with what method, for example fried shrimp or shrimp cooked with butter. It was hard for us to tell them what we want to eat because they couldn't speak english and we have to use body language. After you order, they will give you a seat number and you can find your seat after giving you seat number to waitress inside the restaurant. The prices are vary but as our experience, NT$ 100 per portion of a specific fish, shrimp, or any kind of seafood. Because we buy it for 2 people, it became NT$200 for 2 people per dish. Because we couldn't say in chinese how we want the fish cooked, they just give us boiled seafood with soy sauce or mayonnaise. These foods are delicious and cheap for fresh seafood like this.

If you like to go through the coast, you can rent a bike for a person or a big bike for 4 person. I'm not sure how much you have to pay because didn't rent any. The coast's length is almost 3.5 km from the ferry pier to Cijin Windmill. There are many stores where you can rent the bike.

If you like hiking, you can go to Cijin Light House. It's in the top of the hill and you have to walk. No bike allowed to enter. Because we have to go back, we didn't have much time to go there. So, we just go to a tunnel but I forgot the name of it haha

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If you go to Cijin island, bring your umbrella or hat. You can buy a hat there if you want but might be expensive. Go there in teh morning so you can enjoy your day before it's too hot. Better not in summer also. Maybe on spring or autumn. Then you can enjoy your lunch time there. If you use your scooter, you can go by underwater strait tunnel then back using ferry. 

Don't forget to buy Cijin Island snacks for your friends and family at home. They have shrimp, fish, and squid crackers for you to buy. One package is NT$ 100. It's worth because it's delicious. haha

Kaohsiung Weekend Getaway Part 5 : Lotus Pond and Dragon Tiger Pagodas

When think about Pagoda, what I remember is a movie called "Kera Sakti" or "Magic Monkey". An old Chinese movie which aired on Indonesian TV when I was in elementary school. It has a story when the monkey is naughty, the monk will put him inside the 7 floor of Pagoda. hahaha

The pagoda in here is most likely similar with the one in the movie. But the difference lays in the height. Most of the pagodas only have 5 floors. In front of the pagodas, there are statue of budhism gods, dragon, and tiger.

How to get there?

If you don't have your personal transportation like car or scooter, you can go there by MRT. The place is near Zuoying MRT Station and need to walk for 20 minutes to go there. If you don't want to walk, you can go by bus 紅35 from bus stop in front Zuoying HSR Station.

The lake is huge. I said it's lake, not pond because it's huge. Even you can ind many lotus flowers on this area. You have to walk a little bit far from one pagoda to another and if you come her in summer, bring your hat or umbrella. Very hot outside especially when you go near the pagodas, no trees around. There are several stores and a market near the lake, so if you thirsty you can find something to drink. The vending machine is not working, just wanna remind you that. hahaha

What's in there?

Basically I'm not really sure why there are so many statues of tiger and dragon, also with pagodas and statue of budhism gods there. However, I think it's the center of people who follow Budhism as religion pray there and the lake is one of the scared place for them.

Because the place is in the beautiful lake, no wonder many tourists come here only for relaxation, travel around, or just take a picture. The statues are huge and somewhat beautiful, even at the same time strange. Maybe that's another reason why many people come here.

There are several pagodas which separated into several places.

The first one is the one with a very huge statue of budhism god. I don't know the name of it by the way. In here we parked our scooter because in other places no place for parking.

The second one is the one with big dragon which you can go inside and see the wall sculptures about the story behind the pagodas (if you understand haha). On the top of the dragon, there are three god and goddess of Budhism. In front of it there is a pond that actually make the hot weather seems calm a while.

The third one is the one with dragon and tiger statues in front of the biggest pagoda there. Because too many people there, I couldn't take a great picture of it in front of the statues. Moreover, the weather is very hot and I want to go to our next destination.

So, where is the lotus? You see the green plants in the picture above which seems like a field? It's actually a water and there are many lotus plants. Unfortunately, the lotus is not blossom yet, might because it's summer time. I bet it will be more beautiful in the spring time.

From our experience, you only need to be here for 2 hours. Especially when you come here only for travel and experience something new. So, better have plan to go after this place. Just like us, to Cijing Island. ^^

Kaohsiung Weekend Getaway Part 4 : Love River 'Cruise'

Cruise is one of the best place to spend your wedding anniversary, isn't it? Especially when the name of the river is "Love River". However, that's not what we seen and experienced. haha

The Love River (爱河 or Ai He) is one of the must-to-go destination on Kaohsiung said the travel information brochure we had from information center on Zuoying HSR Station. I agree with that because the riverside is beautiful and there are several cafes there for you to spend your afternoon time with your love ones.

Source : wikimedia.org

The interesting thing is that you can go on a tour (with ticket of course) using a green-boat. Not boat with green painting, but it's a green technology boat. No sound and it uses several solar panel on top of it. So, it's not causing pollution to the air, water, and sound. We've never tried this kind of boat before so it's interesting for us especially for my husband who is solar-tech freak a little bit. hahaha

You can buy the ticket in the ticket booth near one of the cafe and "Love River" sign. The price is also vary, just like another places in Taiwan based on your age and need. You can see on this picture about the price. We paid for NT$120 per person for it. You can check on the information board in front of the ticket counter if you want to see the prices.

However, it's not like what we expect to have. We expect to have a nice trip with romantic view at night, but it's wrong hahaha. Because there were a lot of people go inside the boat and there's a lady who act as a tourist guide and explain in chinese (of course) about the Love River and the history of it. Make us confuse because we didn't understand at all about what she said. But even we're like a "lost" couple, we still can enjoy the night view and relax after rain.

The night view is very beautiful and the smell is actually the smell of ocean. Because what we've seen is that there is a border between river and ocean, and it's near Kaohsiung Harbor.

We also can see the big 85 Sky Tower from our boat and it's beautiful. However, we couldn't see much because it's too late and maybe many buildings already shut down their lamps.

Here several photos we took from the boat.

Kaohsiung Weekend Getaway Part 3 : Escape 41 Restaurant

If you're looking a good restaurant on the seashore where you can find sunset in Taiwan's coast, this is the right place to go. We found this place from Lonely Planet Taiwan edition book that I have, and we absolutely wanted to try because it's in that book, right? It has to be a very good place to go. However, we had to prepare because the book stated that the location is tricky and need to go there by scooter or car. Even better if using scooter.

How to get there?

As I mentioned before, you have to go there by car or scooter because no public transportation to go there. Nearest MRT station is Sizihwan MRT Station and need 5.7 km from there if you want to walk. hahaha If you don't have both,you can use taxi, but the road is a bit tricky there. I will show you why. Please look at this map below.

So, as you can see, you will go through the west coast side of Taiwan in Kaohsiung after pass The Official Residence of British Consulate. These road is going uphill. So on your right side, you will see a forest and on your left side there's ocean.

Then, after you turn left to a housing residence, you will feel the feeling of "you're lost" but believe me that you're not. From our experience, we went there too late so that the sun already set when we're still on our way. Plus it was raining so hard. We can see there's a small storm on the ocean and we're totally wet even we already use our raincoat. Because it's in the small village near ocean, the road was so dark and creepy. My suggestion is, go there before sunset and check on weather forecast before going.

Even in google maps the road looks like big enough, no it's not. The road is typical village road. It's small and only can afford one small car like sedan. It was surprising me a lot when I found a SUV in front of the restaurant because we knew that there's only one way out there and it's a small road. haha

When we arrived, we actually felt confuse because the place is nowhere can be found. But suddenly, my husband found an "Escape 41" sign near a fence which bordering with a cliff and ocean underneath it. The sign is directing to a small path to a narrow stairs that end up in a white building with closed door. I'm terrified with the fact that it's not like a restaurant at all. But when I opened the door, I realized it's true because I saw a red carpet and signs of people talking inside. hahaha

You can see on a picture above, there's a sign in the fence. On the left, there's a small path to narrow stairs. The white sign which look like a lamp is actually the sign of the restaurant. Because my camera is not good enough, the sign is unreadable in the picture. Below is the photo of the small path and the "lamp-like" sign.

See the red door? that's the door of the restaurant. Not like a restaurant, isn't it? But believe me it's a restaurant inside. Below is the photo I got from Escape 41 Facebook Page about the inside of the restaurant. I don't have a good picture of it, sorry about that.

What's Inside?

The owner of this restaurant is Australian, so that's why the menu in here is kinda like pasta, pizza, and other western food. I got a review from WikiTravel that the best food in here is the pizza, so we order one of them, and it's actually delicious. But unfortunately, most of the waitress can't speak english very well and sometimes they're confuse with what we order even we already used body language, so be prepared for it. haha But don't worry too much because as our experience, the owner who is the Australian guy will go to your table and help you with your order. If you prefer vegetarian food, don't worry there're several options for you including Pizza full of four variety of cheese and tomato sauce.

Lonely Planet mentions that this place is one of the best place to see beautiful scenery of ocean in Taiwan and I'm agree with that, even it's already night when we arrived. You actually can choose want to sit inside or outside. These are several pictures that I got from their Facebook Page and on of them is mine (the night view).

Source : Escape 41 Facebook Page 

Source : Escape 41 Facebook Page  

Source : Escape 41 Facebook Page 

The food and scenery are kinda contrast with the service they gave to us. I don't know because they're busy or what but somehow they're not really good at giving the service. Strange looking also come toward us, might because that's the first time two muslim people came to their restaurant. hahaha

So, my suggestion for you, go here before sunset. Better on afternoon because you will arrive there maybe 1 hour later. haha And you can enjoy the sunset there. Don't forget to check on weather forecast and bring map.

We're definitely will come back because we want to enjoy the sunset while eating our dinner.

Kaohsiung Weekend Getaway Part 2 : E-DA Theme Park

Taiwan has several theme parks, one of them is in Kaohsiung which is E-DA Theme Park inside E-DA World. Actually I don't really have too much interest in going to theme park, but my husband asked me to go there because it has unique designs. They have a lot of greek architecture on the buildings in the E-DA World. The website mentioned that it's the only place in Taiwan that has that kind of architecture. So, my husband wants to go there so badly because he wants to capture many beautiful things there using his camera, especially from the height of E-DA Ferris Wheel.

Source : edaworld.com.tw

How to Go There?

If you have car or scooter is easier for you because no MRT to go there. If you want to use public transportation like us, you have to check on E-DA World website because they have shuttle bus schedule from different locations throughout Kaohsiung. However, unfortunately they don't have information in english, so you have to turn on the automatic translation in your browser. This is the website http://www.edaworld.com.tw/en/bus_info.aspx

I have suggestion for you if you want to make it easier. Just go to Zuoying HSR Station in Kaohsiung and head toward exit 3 near information center. If you confuse, just look up on the guidance there and try to find guide to Bus Stop. Take the shuttle bus number 8501 which is a shuttle bus to E-DA World. Before hop to the bus, you have to buy ticket to a lady who stand near the bus. The price is around NT$ 35 per person and it takes only around 20 minutes to go there.

When the bus arrives in E-DA World, it will stop several times in hotels, university, and other places. Your destination is on E-DA Station. If you confuse, just ask the bus driver and use your body language and tell him you want to go to E-DA Theme Park. haha

E-DA Station is in front of a shop called Taiwan Tea House Shop and you have to go across the shop to a big building which is a shopping mall. The ticket booth for the theme park is on the B1 Floor. So, you have to go upstairs 2 floors more. There, you can find Ticket Box and buy your ticket there.

Ticket Prices

In the E-DA Theme Park, you actually can buy the ticket online via http://www.edathemepark.com.tw/Website/index.aspx. But they only offer package. Normally it's cheaper on special occasion. But you have to wait for the ticket arrival on your e-mail at least 3 days of work days because the theme park has to confirm your payment first, For me, it's not work even my Taiwanese friend wanted to help me call the theme park so that my ticket can be proceed faster. It makes me afraid that our ticket couldn't be done before arrival in Kaohsiung. So, we decided to just buy the ticket on the spot.

You can check the ticket price in here http://www.edathemepark.com.tw/Website/info_Price.aspx or you can refer to this table.

Regular price is NT$ 899. If you are student or children, the price is NT$799. For children less than 12 years old, pregnant woman, and elder, they can get NT$ 580 ticket price. For disable person can get NT$450. And for NT$ 650, I'm no sure what's that mean. haha

With that ticket, you can go inside the theme park and play, plus free ride on E-DA Ferris Wheel. You have to ask for theme park's map in english. If not, you will get the chinese version of it.

What's Inside E-DA Theme Park?

Source : qiito.com

Just like another theme park, many attractions there, especially for children. They have a building of 5 floors and most of the attractions inside are for children, not adult. Several attractions that make me impressed are :

1. Haunted House

It's on the B2 Floor of Trojan Castle. The ghost are actually real human. Make some surprising movement especially to woman and children. They will hide on corner so that we can't see them.

2. Taiwan Formosa

It's on the 3rd Floor of Trojan Castle. You will sit on a row of chairs which similar with the one for roller coaster, then suddenly the light will off and the chairs are moving towards a very big screen. That screen will play video about Taiwan panorama from the sky. The chairs will move towards the video, and make you feel like you're flying above Taiwan. I like this so much.

3. Flume Ride

You have to use a rain coat if you don't want to be wet all over. You can buy a raincoat for NT$ 40 there. It's just like a roller coaster but you will go down to a pool and water will splash all over your body. It's fun though.

4. Ship of Soul

It's on the 2nd Floor of Santorini. It's like a haunted house but the difference lays on the layout. The layout is about pirate ship. So the ghost haunted a pirate ship and make a shocking movement to make us scared.

Other than those attractions, there are many things other. But, we didn't really like it. They actually has a performance on a E-DA Royal Theater inside the theme park. But, the performance start only two times at 11.30 and 18.30. We just knew that when we're on the way outside. So, we missed the first performance.

The theme park actually very small. They have small land, that's why they built a big building of 5 floors only for children's attractions. But it has usefulness when it came to summer like this month, so that parents and children will not going to be burnt. haha

Other thing that I felt very surprisingly beautiful is how they make the theme park looks like in Greek. They even have Trojan Horse, the replica of Santorini city, and etc. I like the way it looks. Just beautiful as it is. hahaha However, if you're a theme park addict, it's not a best place to go. Just my opinion.

After you play, you can go outside the theme park to the Ferris Wheel. However, you have to ask a stamp on your hand to lady on the exit, so that you can go inside Ferris Wheel for free.

To go there, you have to follow direction there and need to go through a very big mall. It's kinda weird actually, just follow the direction. hahaha It's on the Roof Floor of A section of the mall. When you arrive there, just show the stamp on your hand and they will let you on queue before enter the Ferris Wheel. Remember, no food, no drink, and no pet allowed inside.

Source : wantchinatimes.com

From the top of the Ferris Wheel, you can see beautiful scenery of Kaohsiung City and E-DA World. If you're lucky you also can see ocean.

Wanna go back home or hotel? Just go towards the B1 Floor in the same building as Ferris Wheel. There's a door in front of Information Center. Turn right and you will find many queue lines with bus number in front of each queue. If you want to go back to your arrival destination, go to queue for bus number 8501 and wait for the bus. Once the bus come, hope and don't forget to pay to the bus driver.

Hope it will be useful and have a nice trip!^^