Tips – Page 2 – The Hidden Panorama

Top 17 Places Visited in Taiwan (v 1.0)

Have you been in Taiwan? Do you have top list during your trip in the said country? Here are the top places that I visited during my first trip in Taiwan. What are yours?

Top 1 – Taroko National Park

During the first visit in Taiwan, my favorite place that I fall in love with is Taroko National Park. The mountains that surround the park is the main reason why I love it. Next is the Liwu River where most of amazing gorges can be found. Another reason are Shakadang Trail where I love its river, Swallow Grotto where cliffs and Indian Chief rock formation can be found, Tien-Hsiang village surrounded by mountains and of course the Eternal Spring Shrine, the temple with a falls underneath.

I will not specify anymore which area in Taroko National Park are my favorites as I like all of what I had seen in the park.

Top 2 – Hualien Der-yen beach

Though the visit in Hualien Der-yen beach was most likely a side trip part of my tour in Taroko National Park, I like to see this kind of places in Taiwan. It always nature wins my heart in my travel.

Top 3 – Taipei Zoo (Wensha District)

I like zoo, but I never realized that I will be enjoying so much while visiting Taipei Zoo not only because of Giant Panda and Red Panda but because of its animal diversity that will be discovered here and the natural setting of the park.

Top 4 – Taipei 101 (Xinyi District)

Xinyi District is the financial district of Taipei where Taipei 101 is located. A symbolical building of Taipei or let’s say Taiwan as this is unique tower in the world.

Top 5 – Shin Kong Mitsukosh (Xinyi District)

One of the luxurious shopping area of the country that can be enjoyed in Taipei. Walking here is already entertaining though there are lots of people during my visit, I found amazing that Taipei has such places like Shin Kong Mitsukosh.

Top 6 – Ximending (Wanhua District)

These pedestrian area where surrounded by markets, shopping stores and cinemas that change the way I think about market place. My walks here was so relaxing.

Top 7 – Shilin Night Market (Shilin District)

My last minute walk was spent here before I went to Taoyuan International Airport. And I like the ambiance of this night market.

Top 8 – Bopiliao Historical Block (Wanhua District)

A historical block that made me realize how amazing if different culture aspirations has been put into architecture.

Top 9 – Red House Theater (Wanhua District)

Though I was sad at first because the main building of Red House Theater is under renovation, I had a good time walking in one of the cultural and creative store to be found inside the building.

Top 10 – [Bangka] Mengxia (Mengjia) Longshan (Lungshan) Temple (Wanhua District)

My favorite temple that I saw while walking around Taipei. The architecture design and its colorful buildings are so inviting that anyone will enjoy just to look at them.

Top 11 – [Bangka] Qingshui (Chingshui) Temple (Wanhua District)

The first temple that I had seen during my walks in Wanhua District. A distinguishable temple of its kind.

Top 12 – [Bangka] Qingshan Temple (Qingshangong) (Wanhua District)

Another interesting temple that I found but I haven’t got a chance to get inside.

Top 13 – Taipei City Hall (Xinyi District)

A government building at the middle of Xinyi District significantly shows its simplicity and can be an outlier because of its exterior design but its impression made on me was plain but authoritative.

Top 14 – Taipei Jen-Chi Hospital (Wanhua District)

A discovered historical building that I found while walking in Wanhua District.

Top 15 – Bangka Park (Mengxia [Mengjia] Park) (Wanhua District)

A relaxing place found during my walk where I found Taiwanese enjoys the weekend.

Top 16 – Lin Jiang (Linjian) [Tonghua] Street Night Market (Daan District)

A discovered night market after spending walking time at Xinyi District, I found myself here when I felt hungry.

Top 17 – Huaxi Street Night Market (Wanhua District)

Another night market that I passed by while walking in Wanhua District, but because its after noon, most of the stores are still close at the time I went here.

3 Days – Taiwan Experimental Travel Itinerary

The first time I traveled in Taiwan, my itinerary was not really planned. I called it as experimental travel because it’s the first country that I visited using a visa exempt policy. So, in nature, there is possibility that my entry will be denied if there is something wrong how I understand Taiwan’s policy regarding visa-exempt. But I was thankful that my first entry was smooth as I dreamed of it.

Without further ado, here are the 3-Days Itinerary that I had during my first time visit in Taiwan. Please use the itinerary as reference as the list are not necessarily in order the way I visited them. I myself checks other itineraries from other travelers but in the end, I still created my own itinerary based on budget, time frame, availability and more of my preferences. There are different reasons and considerations for my list so you can use it at your own discretion.

Day 1 – Taipei City

Wanhua District (Part 1 & Part 2)

Ximending

Huaxi Street Night Market

Red House Theater

Bopiliao Historical Block

Taipei Jen-Chi Hospital

[Bangka] Qingshui (Chingshui) Temple

[Bangka] Mengxia (Mengjia) Longshan (Lungshan) Temple

[Bangka] Qingshan Temple (Qingshangong)

Bangka Park (Mengxia [Mengjia] Park)

Xinyi District

Taipei 101

Taipei City Government and City Hall

Shin Kong Mitsukosh

Daan District

Lin Jiang (Linjian) [Tonghua] Street Night Market

Day 2 – Taipei City

Wenshan District

Taipei Zoo

Day 3 – Hualien County

Taroko National Park (Part 1 & Part 2)

Taroko National Park East Entrance Arch Gate (East Gate)

Shakadang Trail

Yanzikou (Swallow Grotto)

Tunnel of Nine Turns

Tien-Hsiang

Cihmu (Cimu) Bridge

Eternal Spring Shrine (Changchun Shrine)

Hualien Der-yen beach

Day 3 – Taipei City

Shilin District

Shilin Night Market

Top 12 Places Visited in Tasmania

I definitely enjoyed my visit in Tasmania, Australia. And if I will have another opportunity to visit the country, I will visit again the island for the other parts that I haven’t seen yet.

Since I finished featuring Tasmania, here’s my top list itinerary that I had when I traveled the island.

TOP 1 – CRADLE MOUNTAIN

For me, it was the best in all itinerary that we had in Tasmania because we had a trek and a 360-degree view experience in the national park, for me it was like hiking a mountain summit in a much easier way. And the best of it at the top in Marions Lookout is seeing the places around it like you are witnessing a paradise in front of your eyes.

TOP 2 – DONAGHYS HILL

We had a bit of hiking here as well so we can reach the Donaghys Lookout where I had a 360-degree scenery of Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and Cradle Mountain – Lake St Clair National Park.

TOP 3 – MONTEZUMA FALLS

I really enjoyed visiting Montezuma Falls as we had to trekked or hiked the rain-forest before we reach the highest waterfalls in the island.

TOP 4 – MOUNT FIELD

I enjoyed a lot in Mount Field National Park, such as Russell Falls, Pademelon Tasmania and Eucalyptus Regnans.

TOP 5 – LAKE ST CLAIR

The calmness of the lake is one of the reason I fall in love with this lake and this is the Australia’s deepest fresh water lake.

TOP 6 – HENTY (SAND) DUNES

Sand dunes has an appeal to me because it made me feel a different outlook when it comes to nature and it showcase a unique beauty of the land.

TOP 7 – STRAHAN

One of the Loneliest Places On Earth and the Most Isolated Outpost in Australia with beautiful harbour at end of the world.

TOP 8 – SHEFFIELD

Sheffield has titled as Town of Murals where it boast its beautiful murals all visible around the town.

TOP 9 – DELORAINE / RED HILLS

A place where we enjoyed Salmon for free. A salmon farm that you can enjoy and nature that surrounds it.

TOP 10 – TARRALEAH

The lookout is overlooking of Tarraleah Power Station including the huge pipes (penstocks) down to it.

TOP 11 – QUEENSTOWN

A quick visit to one of the remote town exist in Tasmania which developed during the mining glory days in the island.

TOP 12 – LAKE ROSEBERY

A misty lake that I enjoyed during the quick stop we had near Murchison Bridge.

Top 4 Places Visited in Canberra

Since I finished featuring Canberra City in my site, now I can rank the places that I visited in the city according to my preference or my liking. If you had visited the city, what are your top places in Canberra? And why?

TOP 1 – MOUNT AINSLIE

Mount Ainslie Lookout gave me a chance to see the city at one point, a scenic view that can only be found at the top. And it gave me a chance to see beyond that my eyes can discover if I was at the ground, a viewpoint of the national city of Australia.

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TOP 2 – AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL

I looked at Australian War Memorial as the father of all war or peace memorial or shrine of remembrance in Australia, not only because it is the largest structure of all but because the national scope it features about their country’s heroes.

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TOP 3 – PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Having a chance to see what’s inside the national government house of Australia and understanding its objective why its open to the public made me understand the way they think how they govern their country and their people.

Australian Parliament House – An Iconic Symbol of Australian Politics

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TOP 4 – NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA

A very unique on its own in terms of architecture, the museum emphasizes the people and their story in a very enlightening way to show how they are significant in their country.

National Museum of Australia – With Modern Art and Architecture

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Top 12 Areas Visited In Sydney

I traveled to Sydney for 4 times while living in Australia. But the commonality of these 4 trips in the city, all were short trips, mostly from less than 24 hours up to more than 48 hours. Most of my traveled in the city the intention was to just passed it except during my last flight which was really meant for Sydney.

I knew there were so much places to visit in Sydney and I thought that anyone can create a lots of bucket list because the city offers so much to anyone, to everyone. During my few trips in the city I found myself to be in the following places and I ranked them by my own reasoning and personal preferences. If you had visited Sydney and had been in places in my list, what will be your top list?

TOP 1 – BLUE MOUNTAINS

I had a chance to travel to Blue Mountains during my second trip in Sydney. For this trip, my only itinerary was to join a tour in one of the nearest mountain ranges from Sydney which is Blue Mountains and to visit one of the caves which is Jenolan Caves. Since I didn’t knew how to drive, my only option was to be part of a group tour because there was no public transportation available directly to that place. When I saw Blue Mountains, there was another dream that I was thinking at that time, if only I had a chance to explore even just part of that mountain range.

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TOP 2 – JENOLAN CAVES

Another part that I enjoyed was tour inside the Jenolan Caves because its one of the caves that even its being protected, the public still got a chance to see the major crystal formations even from a distance since it has tourist trail to follow. The tour is one of the best time I had while visiting Sydney or let’s say visiting New South Wales.

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TOP 3 TO 9
BONDI, TAMARAMA, BRONTE, CLOVELLY, GORDONS BAY, COOGEE AND MANLY

If you are fond with water scenery, enjoy water activities or just wanted to have fresh air while enjoying the walk near the sea-shore, you can select any of the above beaches. I don’t have the intention to really walk the trail from Bondi to Coogee since I have no knowledge about the trail, but because I enjoyed the scenery, I just go with the flow and entrap with the beauty that surrounds me. I never regret that I finished the walking trail.

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TOP 10 – SYDNEY HARBOUR

Who does not know about Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge? These are famous icons not only in Sydney, not only in Australia but famous icons in the world. I had a chance to be here twice in my 4 trips in the city, happened during my first and my last trip in Sydney. Here’s my opinion about the place, for me, there is something in the harbour that keeps people on coming back in the place. It’s a place that I thought I will never be tired to visit the area again and again.

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TOP 11 – DARLING HARBOUR

Geographically, Darling Harbour is part of Sydney Harbour. I wanted to emphasize the place since it’s not far from Circular Quay and it offers a different scenery which unique on its own. My visit here was accidental because my intention was really just pass the harbour since I was on my way to a tour. But while walking in the area, I cannot stop myself to stop a bit and enjoy the surrounding area. They usually call the harbour as the ‘Heart of Sydney’ since it’s a place of entertainments that offers great waterfront dining. But if your intention was just to walk around the area like what happened to me, you will be alright.

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TOP 12 – QUEEN VICTORIA BUILDING

It is the only building that I visited in Sydney. Just for this building, I was already fascinated. Sometimes I am wondering about the other buildings to see in the city, but I never had a chance to do that anymore. The way I see Queen Victoria Building or QVB, it is the mother of all arcades in Australia as it is the biggest historical arcades that still exists today that I found while touring in Australia.

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3 Best Time of the Year to Visit Melbourne For Less

Who does not like or love to travel? Anybody? Well most of us definitely wanted to travel once or forever. But traveling to different places affected us most of the time by a major factor which is money. If we can travel for less its better right? Even myself, I always think of a way to travel in a budget, unless we will get someone to sponsor us to our adventures.

While staying in Melbourne for more than a year and a half, I observed when people commonly visit the city and I think the idea is the same in other parts of the world. Events makes a place not only popular but populous too. Melbourne is always busy and visiting the city any time of the year is not an issue at all because there is always something for everybody. But not all the time, events are equal, because there are events that will ask for our money too, but as I say it, it still depends on our preference as well. Here are some of the major events that visitors like you and me that can take advantage when planning the time to visit Melbourne to have all these free stuff.

1.White Night Melbourne – February

If you are more into cultural thing, love to watch shows, performances, exhibitions, music and dances, White Night Melbourne is for you. As this is a one night free event of the year. But don’t just take it for granted that its free because the shows are really awesome and spectacular that you may wonder how on earth such kind of shows become free because it will amaze you. The event happened in 12 hours straight from 7PM to 7AM non-stop and usually happens one night in February. So, if you planned to visit the city during this event, make sure you are ready for it. But if you have few hours to spare for the night, that still alright and you can still enjoy the event. I suggest to visit their official website here to have a clear idea of the detailed schedule in the future White Night Melbourne event. But my advise is, even you are not for 12 hours celebration, still go out there and see the light shows that happens to most notable buildings around CBD and definitely you will not regret it.

My personal experience in the event was described in the post below.

White Night – A Melbourne’s Dreamy Night

2.Moomba Festival – March

If you are bringing your family or even your friends, Moomba Festival will fit into your plans. The festival is the largest free community festival in Australia. The event composed of parade, crowning of monarchs, fireworks displays, carnivals, river activities, live music and bands. This is actually 3-Days event. It is also a family friendly event because of different rides and games available for the young at heart. There are shows to enjoy like water skiing competition and even the funny birdman rally. It’s a great time to spend outside because definitely everyone will have a great time. Its an event in the city that makes Melbourne alive again not only for one day but for three days. If you will attend the festival, you will most likely just going to spend only for your food and carnival rides, the rest of the stuff like shows are all free. So plan your visit in the city when this event is on, you will not regret as its added bonus to your planned vacation.

Below was my post describing the few hours of experience in the festival.

Melbourne’s Moomba Festival – Australia’s Largest Free Community Festival

3.Open House Melbourne – July

If you love buildings, architectures, history and cultures, or even you just wanted to chill and walk around the city to explore and enjoy it, Open House Melbourne is for you. Its two days event in weekend where notable, famous and even private buildings or houses being open to the public to give the chance the people to learn more about the design of the building and to give a chance to explore what’s inside of it. This event is happening in few specific cities in the world every year. One of the city where this event is happening every year since 2008 is Melbourne in Australia. And the great thing about this event is, it’s totally free.

The Open House Melbourne that I got a chance to enjoy was happened more than 3 years ago, last July 2013. Since Melbourne is one of the city that is really great in commercializing its tourism, I found out the event through ads displayed in street and while frequently visiting the Visitors Centre in Federation Square. I used to visit the center because it gives me a lot of idea where to go while in the city, within Victoria state and even within Australia. After finding out that the city will have its open house event, I got so excited. Why? Because I saw that the event is my chance to explore more about the city.

Before the schedule of the event, I did research and found its official website and learned that there are buildings with limited numbers of visitors, I tried to apply for these buildings but unfortunately I was not chosen. Because of that, the alternative for me is to grab my chance to see other buildings that I can still visit.

Because I was overwhelmed with buildings that open to public, honestly I did not know which building to visit at first, I actually bought the Open House Melbourne booklet, and there are available itineraries that listed as well. Because its only two days in a year, I wish it can be longer than that, I never got a chance visit all the buildings. In this event, I got only Saturday, because I was busy on Sunday. My tip is, if you are going to this kind of event, buy the booklet if possible and the price is very minimal, at that time, the book cost $10 AUD. And look on the buildings that interest you and try to create your own route if you don’t like following the suggested itineraries in the booklet and enjoy the day. Some buildings are only open in 1 day, so check that one too.

The following buildings that I had a chance to tour inside of it during the event are the following :

Do you know other events in Melbourne that will not cost us too much? I welcome feedback.

Notes:

1. Plan to visit Melbourne during the following event ? Please visit their website for more latest updates.

White Night Melbourne official website : whitenightmelbourne.com.au

Moomba Festival official website : moomba.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Open House official website : openhouseworldwide.org
Open House Melbourne official website : openhousemelbourne.org

2. Public Transportation Ticket – Use Myki (Melbourne Ticketing System), please check here for more details.

3. Directions

Using tram

Use tramTracker Apps or even just Google Maps (use directions) and there are tram routes available.

Using train

Visit the official Public Transport Victoria website to be able to use the Journey Planner for the next train schedule.