Window on China Park
Trip Start
Sep 18, 2007
1
10
28
Trip End
Apr 17, 2009
Lungtan,
Taiwan
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Sunday came along and Meghan and I took a cab to the Taoyuan train station. From there were tried getting information (in English) about how to get there. The man told us to take the train to Jhongli city and then transfer to Hsinchu (Sinchu) and that from there we could take a bus to Window of China. Well, we took the train to Jhongli and then were told that we needed to pay 99 NT to take the train to Hsinchu. We boarded another trainm paid the fee and then arrived in Hsinchu some 20 minutes later. Upon our arrival to Hsinchu...we showed a taxi driver the picture of WOC in the book and asked where we could take the bus. He informed us that there is no bus from Hsinchu to WOC...we would need to take the bus from Jhongli. Meghan and I just looked at each other and were like...you have GOT to be kidding me...we were just there! The information guy told us to come here! ARGH! LOL. Ah, the joy of language barriers. We didn't really stress...we just found it pretty funny. We asked the cabbie how much it would cost to cab it to WOC and he said between 700 NT to 1000 NT (1 USD = 33 NT). We told him no, it was too expensive. We were about to head off to one of Taiwan's MANY 7-Elevens when we heard someone calling out wait!'. We saw this other cabbie coming towards us. He said he would take us for 750 NT. We told him that it was still too expensive. Then he said 600 NT and Meghan and I agreed to that price. See, just about anything IS haggle-able!
Our cabbie was super entertaining. He spoke more English than most and actually seemed to understand us. I sang along to a Dido song that was on the radio and he applauded me. I hope applause in Taiwan means the same thing it means everywhere else...LOL! He poited out various tourist atractions on the way and the drive was very scenic and relaxed. We tried giving him the English name 'Walter', but he just wasn't having it. He looked like a Walter, ok? LOL! We arrived at our destination, paid him and then photographed him. The poor man pointed to himself several times saying 'ugly' before we finally convinced him he was a cutie pie and to just pose for the picture. :p
Meghan and I paid our 599 NT park fee and began our touristy activities. The miniatures were rather impressive and well done. We reached a little train station and decided we would take the park train to the next area. We actually then came upon a mini amusement park and a lot of cheese factor. LOL. Cheese is good though....both Meghan and I were happy with the cheese and just eating it all up. The first ride we rode was the Nile Boat ride. It was one of those high-drop water rides. It was hot and we were pretty sweaty and gross...so the thought of getting absolutely soaked was just fabulous. We strapped ourselves in and noticed that all the Taiwanese people had on raincoats and protective shoe covers. I mean...seriously folks. Don't go on a water ride if you don't wanna get wet. Choose the roller coaster instead! BAH! We felt like we were in a zoo...except the animals on display were us...the only two foreigners in the entire park (strangeous foreignificus). We were openly stared at...even more so cuz we were soaking wet and laughing while everyone else was dry and straight-faced. :p
We rode all the other rides in the park. There was another (not so wet) water tube ride and a few roller coaster type rides...including one where you were completely in the dark and the roller coaster flew around the tracks. THAT was a whole new experience. We ate at this 'Castle Restaurant' and played in the arcade a bit. I won a stuffed monkey toy called 'Monkichi' at one of those coin-operated claw machines. He is now my pride and joy. Meghan and I also went on Bumper Cars...where I think people got pissed off at us when we actually maliciously ran into them. They go in there and just drive around! It's not Bumper cars if you don't bump into people! LOL!
We managed to find a bus that took us home. I actually had a bit of a burn from being out in the hot sun all day. All in all, yet another exciting day-trip in Taiwan!
