Taiwan Spring 2012: Itinerary

I've been getting lots of email, friend request to share my Taiwan Spring 2012 Itinerary, so here is it!

It might be a little confusing to you cos other than the travel itinearary I have also included my notes and travel tips for myself, but I hope it'll help you when your taiwan trip planning to some of the fun places i've visited! (:

It would be help to use this itinerary while checking out my Taiwan Spring 2012 day-by-day posts, right click to view:

【 Day 1 台北  // Day 2 台北. 五分铺. 猫空 // Day 3 - Roadtrip to 清境 // Day 4 - 情境, Cing Jing to 鲁山 // Day 5 - 鲁山. 日月潭. 海盗王, One Piece Event @ 九族! //  Day 6 - 苗栗MiaoLi, 台北. // Day 7 - 台北 】 

 

DAY 01 //  20^th FEB MONDAY

Budget Terminal at 1:45pm. Travel Light, we only got 20kg (ALTOGETHER, not inclusive 10kg handcarry each).

Reach TPE at 8:25pm, cab to西門 itrip hotel

地址：台北市西寧南路36號9樓之2

-           number to call：02-23317770

Get 3G SIM.

Collect baggage. Custom clearance. 
Walk to the arrived hall. Turn left, then after a few steps turn left again.

then you will see some telco booths there, you will not miss it. taiwan mobile ( taiwan da ge da ) is there.

Check-in. Baby bring us for yummy dinner. Night market? 士林夜市?

itrip hotel – TWD 1,500 = SGD 65 per night

DAY 02 //  21^th FEB TUESDAY

在台北疯狂的吃喝玩了哦！

DIY Pottery @ 陶瓷老街？牛肉面？鲁肉饭？芒果冰? Kanpai? Cold Noodles? Shabu Shabu?

五分铺? 永康街? 东区? 微风广场？danshui? http://www.tatun-flower.com.tw/about_us.php?

itrip hotel – TWD 1,500 = SGD 65 per night

DAY 03 //  22^th FEB WEDNESDAY:

We’re taking the E-GO Bus from台北　》　埔里　》　霧社　》　清境　

So here’s the plan. http://www.e-go.com.tw/web2010/cht/index.php

06：50 台北火車站東三門前集合。
07：00 搭乘觀光巴士專車準時出發，欣賞西部城鎮風光。
10：10 專車來到景色優美、空氣清新的埔里。
11：10 抵達霧社。霧社即南投縣仁愛鄉的舊稱，因當地終日雲霧繚繞，霧社之名因此而來，餐加自費行程者請在此下車後可將您的行李寄放於霧社分局，並自行享用午餐。
11：30 專車抵達清境，如沒參加自費行程者請在此下車，自行用完午餐後，再電話連絡您下榻的飯店，各民宿辦理入住手續時間(15:00）。
13：00 參加自費行程：領取行李後於霧社台灣電力公司門口集合，前往奧萬大之旅或合歡山之旅。
 
750元= SGD32

Make payment when we board the EGO Bus

【合歡山】云海。 (1)(2)(3)

Check-in min su,　观星赏月!

清境春大地渡假山莊民宿, Spring Ground Minsu – TWD 1,800 = SGD 78

地址：南投縣仁愛鄉大同村壽亭巷20-1號

Confirmed, make payment there.  http://springground.cingjing.tw/

Reception says to call them to confirm the room again when we reach TPE on the 20^th  feb. +886492801000

Spring Ground photo album (1) (2) (3)

DAY 04 //  23^th FEB THURSDAY：南投．清境農場．廬山　

- Cing Jing Farm 清境農場

場址: 546 南投縣仁愛鄉大同村仁和路170號

Site link. Photo album: Cing Jing Farm, http://cowingaround.blogspot.com/2011/10/qing-jing-farm.html

*Arrange for幸福小鎮minsu owner to pick us up at清境春大地渡假山莊民宿

TWD300

螢火蟲的故鄉 , 幸福小鎮 – TWD 1,880 = SGD81

make full payment there, minsu owner says they can provide one way transportation from cingjing to their minsu at TWD300, call them to confirm stay on the 20^th when we reach TPE

0927～836156李冰 / 0989～836156王小姐

幸福小鎮Photo Album

雙人泡湯池碳酸泉泡汤!  陽台是玻璃星空屋!  看星星?  烧烤！

☆歡迎攜帶食材來料理，有共用廚房，內有～家用瓦斯爐、菜刀、炒菜鍋、幾個鍋子、大冰箱、微波爐、落地型飲水機。

DAY 05 //  24^th FEB FRIDAY

Leave for 日月潭, 九族 formosa aborginal culture village (Sun moon lake cable car/One Piece/Sakura Cherry Blossoms)

Arrange for幸福小鎮 to send us to雾社

TWD300

清境.鲁山.雾社　 》　埔里

Nantou Bus: http://www.ntbus.com.tw/5-21.htm

Bus fare: NT$106 Travel time: About 60 mins

埔里　》　日月潭

Nantou Bus: http://w ww.ntbus.com.tw/032.htm

Fare: NT$53 Travel time: About 30 mins

清境　》　埔里 80mins

0950 – 1110

1040 – 1210

1110 – 1230

鲁山　》　埔里  70mins

0850 – 1020

雾社　》　埔里　50mins

0820 – 0910

0930 – 1020

0950 – 1040

1020-1110

埔里　》　日月潭 40min

1000 - 1040

1100 - 1140

1200 – 1230

0100 – 0130

Abt 150元/pax

潭香渡假旅店 – TWD1680 = SGD73

DAY 06 //  25^th FEB SATURDAY: 苗栗．Back to 台北．

>>> Day trip to Miaoli. 苗栗.

We will start our journey at 9am, driver pick up at minsu.

司機謝志明 車牌號碼:966-F3 電話0937-216180

9點到潭香渡假旅店　地址是：南投縣魚池鄉水社村中山路130號接你

前往苗栗京采高架草莓農園>天空之城>薰衣草森林(明德店)>苗栗車站回台北。

費用NT3000

- 京采高架草莓農園strawberry farm

(via http://www.dahu.com.tw/pretty/ )

Print the map and show them to get 10% off (via http://www.dahu.com.tw/pretty/map.htm )：0987‧0933-

地址:苗栗縣大湖鄉台三線129、7公里‧經過大湖酒莊往前500公尺

- 天空之城

Have brunch/lunch. Take photos (via http://viablog.okmall.tw/blogview.php?blogid=337 / http://www.chateau-in-the-air.com.tw/ )

地址：苗栗縣大湖鄉新開村十份33號
Opening Hours：◎鳥 VS .人餐廳：六～日  09:00～19:00
◎天堂古堡餐廳：一～日  10:00～19:00

- Lavender Cottage

End of the day take Kuo Guang bus to Taipei, 5:40pm takes about 2-2.5hour to get back to Taipei alight at 西门捷运

itrip hotel – TWD 2,000 = SGD 87

DAY 07 //  26^th FEB SUNDAY

在台北疯狂的吃喝玩了哦！淡水？放天灯？士林夜市?

itrip hotel – TWD 1,500 = SGD 65

 
  

DAY 08 //  27^th FEB MONDAY

台北! 台北! 台北!

Leave TPE city by 6pm, 9pm flight back to SG

BYE TAIWAN!

♡ Loves, The Luckiest Chick.

Valentine's Day 2012

Valentine's Day! It's the 6th year we've spent Valentine's Day together. ♡

I don't know why people would say Valentine's day, celebrating it with flowers for the ladies, having a romantic meal is silly and waste of money. It's only once a year where the ladies get pampered and feel more loved beacuse their boyfriend put in effort to get flowers to pamper her, plan a romantic date etc.

People say it's a waste of money, but i'd say it keeps the romance alive. Flowers & a dinner date is pretty much a great price to pay to keep the fire going isn't it? I'm not asking girls to expect a lavish dinner, 100000 stalks on roses or whatever but for the guys who put in some extra effort on this day, the girls will definitely appreciate how awesome you are. ☺

I feel that it's so extremely sweet of him, that even after we're together for 7 years, he has not forgo such sweet gestures like getting flowers and planning a dinner date etc. I probably might cry myself to sleep on valentine's day if one day he stops doing this anymore thou. hahahaha






I think even when girls tell their boyfriends to not bother wasting money doing anything special on Valentine's day, if the boyfriends really don't do anything the girls will feel upset too?

Yeah the bouquet of flowers wilt and dry in no time, i'll usually dry the bouquet of flowers and leave it there for a long time and everytime i see it i feel a little happier even on days that i'm down and feeling upset.

Anyway, I hope you all had an awesome Valentine's Day❣




Wore a simple lace dress❣
Hahahah it's my valentine's day post so even my "!" is heart shaped.






Made Oreo Truffles for him which he LOVED! Recipe can be found here: http://theluckiestchick-.blogspot.com/2012/02/bake-me-love-valentines-day-special.html

I actually ordered 3 other items for him on a US website and i'm SO mad that it's not here on time for Valentine's day even when i order well in advance like two weeks ago. Idiotic shipping company, so annoying. Humpf. So it's gonna be a late V'day present. Bah ☹




White roses and one lone red rose for me this year,
apparently he says it means: " You're my One and Only." Awwww.

One year he went a little overboard and bought a 36 rose bouquet and i tried to count how many roses there were and lost count for countless times. -.-" and it's SO HEAVY to hug around while we were on our vday date! hahahah Epic. Too many roses also jialat ❣





So beautiful! ♡♥♡♥♡


It quite funny thou, because when i was hugging the bouquet around i kept smelling this pretty strong doggie smell and it seems to be from the flowers hahaha, i asked him if he let his doggie, Magic to sniff the flowers, he was like "NO LA LET DOG SNIFF YOUR FLOWERS FOR WHAT" - reaction very big lol so funny.

Aiyah even if he sniff sniff i also don't mind, you see so kawaii one❣❣❣




He had a performance at Switch that night so we had brunch instead of our usual vday dinner at Dozo❣ Such a silly boy he keep asking me if i'm ok with him performing at Switch that night because he won't be able to accompany me. It's work duh! Of course i don't mind.

Heheh so cute he said he picked out quite a number of brunch places and finally picked his choice



Rider's Cafe❣ Have been wanting to come here forever but i just keep forgetting and forgetting.





Lucky us we got to see a handsome white horse just as we got off the carpark at Rider's Cafe❣ We were super lucky we didn't have to wait at all although they were really packed and we didn't have any reservations at all.




Nice and laidback cafe, there's a kitty that lounges around the sofa area. I wanna be that kitty too. So chill everyday just nua around waiting for someone to rub it's belly.





Hello Handsome❣


I was like awww the kitty so sweet i want a picture with it and he took this and showed me, saying "Nah give you❣ Your picture with the kitty hehe"




hahahahaha wth? Somemore the kitty is in such an ugly position scratching her head with her hind legs. Wanna take also take when kitty sui sui ma!




Leon had The Usuals, $16.

I love the grilled tomato man. I hope in the future i will be the kinda mummy who will whip up such an awesome breakfast/brunch for my family.





And i had the Ricotta Pikelets with Berries Compotes & Vanilla Cream, $13.
So yummy and satisfying! ☺




We had the Tea scones set for dessert although i don't know why are scones even considered desserts? But anyway the scones are pretty terrible. Warm yes, but not exactly crispy on the outside and it's dense and very sticky on the inside. Quite eeky cos it keeps getting stuck everywhere no matter how you chew it. ☹

Compared to the scones i had in Australia Sydney, Blue Mountains.. it's difference is like heaven and earth. 一个天，一个地. That one was warm and crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside: http://theluckiestchick-.blogspot.com/2011/11/sydney-australia-spring-2011-day-3-part.html





Nowadays he know to wait patiently while i snap foodie pictures already, *clap clap* well trained well trained heheheh, although i must say at times, I am the one who can't resist to dig in and he's like, what? No need to photograph it meh?


Rider's Cafe is located at
51 Fairways Drive
Singapore 286965
Contact: 6466 9819

http://www.riderscafe.sg/





After brunch we went to vivocity and went shopping/watch journey 2 which wasn't too awesome. Journey to the center of the earth is SO much nicer. But we both got to see The Rock so we're happy. Pecs of love hahahah



Thank you for the awesome date! ☻





♡ Loves, TheLuckiestChick.

Review: NYX HD Blush

Hello! ♡

I'm reviewing the NYX HD Grinding Blush today,
was surfing the net and came across this somehow and thought it seems like an interesting product, instead of the conventional blusher in a pan, you get to twist the grinding tray to grind your NYX HD blusher into a fine powder. Sounds pretty fun isn't it?

I've never really been into HD (high definition) beauty related products although they usually promise to help skin look smooth and reflects light and make pores appear small and always photo-ready.. my first HD beauty product was the Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX foundation, it just felt like my normal foundation, nothing to shout about really.





Ordered via CherryCulture.com at the discounted price of USD11.90, original price was USD16.50 which was pretty overpriced for a NYX products since they are usually know for their good value products, great price and overall pretty great products. Glad that i got it at the discounted price! At this point of time cherryculture is still having that discount price so if you want it, faster order before the discount period is over!





Got it in the shade of 03 Sangria in Madrid.





You twist the tray and grind your own blush! Pretty fun but gotta control how much you twist because you really only need to twist a TEEEENIE WEENIE bit, this blusher is really pigmented and all you need a just a little bit of this blusher to give plenty of color.

I use a large stippling brush like this one:




You can get this from Coastal Scents, love this brush because it creates a flawless finish, you can use it for your foundation, pressed powder to set your foundation, blusher, bronzer.

Great to use this brush with the NYX HD Blusher because you can control how much blusher you're using, as i mentioned you only need a little bit of the NYX HD blusher since it's VERY pigmented. With a normal blusher brush, the brush fibers are usually too dense and with this blusher it'll pack too much products and it makes me look like a clown. LOL




Comparison between my other current favorite blush, Bourjois in Shade 74 Rose ambre




Left: Bourjois Blush in Shade 74 Rose ambre
Right: NYX HD Blush in Shade 03 Sangria in Madrid




✔ Pros: NYX HD blush is like SUPER pigmented and a little really last a long way, since i have combi/oily skin my blush will "melt" into my skin and i have to touch up very often and maybe with the bourjois blush i have to touch up 4 times if i'm out for the entire day, but with the NYX HD blush it really can stay on from morning till night, at most touch up once.

✘ Cons: One thing i do not like about the NYX HD blush is probably the packaging. I wish it was slightly flatter so it'll fit in my handbags better and the thing about grinding the blush, if you don't finish using the "grinded" powder blush when you carry it in your bag and the powdered blush will be all over the packaging which makes the little mirror within the compact very useless since most of the time it's cluttered with the grinded powder blush.


But overall it's an awesome product. I would definitely repurchase if i ever finish using it. hahahah, it'll probably take forever thou, seeing how little product is needed in every application. I'd rate it 4/5 stars ✩✩✩✩







Love how it's such a sweet and wearable shade for tanned girls! The shade English Rose would probably be a good pinky shade for fairer girls thou.




♡ Loves, TheLuckiestChick.

Bake me love: Valentine's Day Special, Oreo Truffles!

Hello ♥ !
It's valentine's day tommorow, have an awesome day with your date and also your friends!


Valentine's Day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the high middle ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished. By the 15th century, it had evolved into an occasion in which lovers expressed their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionary and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines").

Some people take time to eat a romantic dinner with their partner, to send a card to a secret love or give a red rose to their loved one.

In Finland Valentine's Day is called Ystävänpäivä which translates into "Friend's day". As the name indicates, this day is more about remembering all your friends, not only your loved ones

In Japan, Men are expected to return gifts that are at least two or three times more valuable than the gifts received in Valentine's Day. Not returning the gift is perceived as the man placing himself in a position of superiority, even if excuses are given. Returning a present of equal value is considered as a way to say that you are cutting the relationship. *hint to the guys!*

(via: wikipedia)





Here's an easy recipe for all you ladies who might wanna surprise your date with some Oreo Truffles!




Easy Oreo Truffles

1 pack of OREO Chocolate Sandwich Cookies, remove the cream stuffings
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softenen
1 package Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted

1. Crush 2 of the oreo cookies to fine crumbs in food processor; reserve for later use to sprinkle on top of the coated truffles. (Cookies can also be finely crushed in a resealable plastic bag using a rolling pin.)
2. Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine crumbs; place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese; mix until well blended. Roll cookie mixture into 42 balls, about 1-inch in diameter.
3. Refrigerate the Oreo/Cream Cheese balls for at least an hour before dipping

Using the double boil method, empty half of the package of chocolate buttons into the smaller bowl in the middle and pour hot boiled water in the bigger bowl. (i'm using Van Houten's Chocolate Buttons)

>>> Double boiling method also prevents chocolate from getting burnt as compared to melting in the microwave/stove. Awesome for lazy people like me because you don't have to stand by the stove and stir it constantly as well.

Wait for chocolate buttons to melt and stir in 2-3 drops of oil to make the chocolate smoother and easier to coat the oreo/creamcheese balls.




I did this pretty slowly since it was my first attempt at it, so when the hot water keeping the chocolate melted cools down, pour it away and add more hot water so you have more time to work on dipping the chocolate.

You can poke the oreo/cream cheese balls with a toothpick and spin it around or use a spoon to pour melted chocolate all over to coat them completely.






Add some pretty sprinkles and the crushed oreo that we set aside earlier on the top of the truffle and refrigerate.

... and here you go, perfectly easy-peasy oreo cream cheese truffles.







♡ Loves, TheLuckiestChick.

NAPAS 2011

Hello! I know that this post is extremely late and you've probably seen some of these pictures in the other blogger's posts but oh wells! Still gonna blog about it because there's lots of camwhoring, glam-y pictures i wanna spam you guys with! Hahahah

Was really happy when i heard from Jayne from Nuffnang that i won the 3D2N trip to Kuala Lumpur for the Nuffnang Asia Pacific Blog Awards 2011. It was fun to meet and get to know some of the bloggers that i've "stalked" online for awhile but have never really met.

You ready for the pictures galore people?



Early morning half dead look while i was cabbing to Nuffnang's office to meet everyone to take the coach to KL! Was wearing the baseball hoodie lovingly sponsored by http://www.shopdiygalore.com/.

Luckily i wore this!!! Kept me warm and toasty because the 7 hours journey on the coach was crazy FREEEEZING even when i've adjusted the aircon all away from my direction.

It's been years since i've been to KL, was suppose to go with Nadnut & Jacelyn for our girly KL trip but i can't remember why but in the end i couldn't go. Bah




Yay brought my pretty pink polka dot luggage that i got from Bangkok for this trip.
Fits just nice for a 3D2N trip!

Stopped over at yong peng and had chit chat over lunch with Nadnut, Ccb, Esther & mummy & Silver, hahahs ok i admit, one of my "stalked online" but never really met blogger, haha - Silver, She very humourous in a shocking way i guess, haha




YAY! Finally reached the hotel after the gruelling 7hour journey from singapore to KL. All of us looking very tired from the long coach ride so when the camera's up, the shades goes up too. hahahah




Since i didn't bring any plus one for the trip, I was assisgned to room with Peggy, met her from time to time since a long time ago but i've really gotten to know her during this trip, initially i was a little "errrrr huh? room with peggy?" when i first got to know that i'm gonna be rooming with her.

But she was REALLY nice and sweet to me. Took care of me like an awesome older sister throughout the trip and thanks to the crazy gal, for the entire trip i was mostly all giggles and laughing my ass off.

Seriously the shit she says.. hahaha i was down with really bad flu and she did a spin off of a hokkien speaking GPS and i laughed so much and so hard till i was out of breath, wheezing and totally voiceless. LOL NO-SHIT.




Rushed to our room after we got our card keys, muahaha peggy very smart went to the reception immediately to get an extra card key for us since they only provided one initially, rush back to shower and make up, nadnut & clara came over to our room to do their hair!




Camwhore with nadnut, looking lovely and hot in her loooooow cut evening gown!


OMG CLARA AND PEGGY HAS LIKE MAGICAL HANDS! I've never curled my hair myself and have it turned out looking awesome but they are like twist twist curl curl then got damn chio hair in like 5 seconds! MAGIC!

See what they did for meeeeee~



Awwww, they said they wanna give me such romantic curls because I'm sweet looking. hahaha shy! ヅ







Cheesie!




Oh yes and I would like to introduce my long lost twin sister: Yinaaaaaaaaa!

Ok we're not reeeeeeally twins obviously but we've asked on twitter and everyone says we look alike! Muahaha first time i met her was at an event with nadnut and i was like wah this girl so pretty! So i'm feeling happy that people are saying we look alike hahahah, whoops.

It's probably the chin and the fact that we have the same 泥窝 dimples!





Priscillia, Peggy, Valerie & I.
I wanna be as tall as Valerie too, hahaha maybe up there the air is cleaner and fresher!




Silver looking gorgeous!




Noel, Peggy, Pris, Clara, Me & Silver



Awww, Peggy took this, shows off my back revealing evening gown! ♡





Changed table and join Jessica! Haven't seen her since our Aussie trip, love her red dress with the pretty flare skirt!




Clara, "twin" Yina & I!

Poor Clara was having sore eyes during the KL trip, hope it wasn't too bad! The last time i had sore eyes when i was in secondary school it couldn't stop tearing, my eyes were swollen until my double eyelids was gone and it really sucked so i knew how shitty it felt.

But Clara's really nice! Super gentle and sweet haha got to chit chat with her while we were going to Zouk KL for the NAPAS after party.



Move over, We girls are on the red carpet yo!
After the awards presentation and dinner was over, went back to the hotel room to get changed for the NAPAS after party at Zouk KL.




Had an awesome time dancing our asses off throughout the night! Didn't have any alcohol induced craze/high but we had lots of fun that night because the DJ was SO AWESOME!

Peggy and I went went back to club at Zouk the following night with a couple of friends and it was equally fun!




Why they so cute! hahahaha definitely not drunk but i don't know what are they doing either, new kinda dance move maybe?








Yeahhhhh, partying partying, Yeah!

Lol went back to our hotel, showered, lay in bed and we talked till like 5am and fell asleep.. totally missed our breakfast and the tour that was organized for all the bloggers, the both of us were down with flu, took meds and really slept like logs.

Since all the other bloggers were out for their day tour, peggy slept till like 3pm, i took a bath and read a romantic novel in the tub on my kindle and continued my reading in bed. So chill!



Went to the city tour, reach Pavillion KL but we didn't continue the tour with the bloggers, peggy's friends we in KL too and he came to fetch us for food and we went to Zouk again!

Went back to hotel at 2-3am after a whole night of daaaaaancing, still not enough! Music was so good i wanted to dance all night, went back to sleep, woke up and nearly missed breakfast again hahaha. We both damn jialat seriously.

So nice Derek came to pick us up and we all went to Comic Fiesta, a cosplay event:









Had japanese lunch at this restaurant @ Pavillion called Yuzu. Oddly Yuzu does not serve Yuzu tea or any yuzu related beverage. o.o"
Look at our lunch! We shared one set cos it's so huge and it's only 38RM!


Went to the KL Formula Drift after lunch! Went for the Formula Drift event in Singapore years ago with leon and i really enjoyed it. The track at KL in really tiny thou, the one in Singapore was SO much better!











Wooo, look at all the tire skid marks. Madness!





♡ Loves, TheLuckiestChick.