Alishan, Taiwan (2016 December)

Alishan

Travel type: Solo
When: 2016 December 20-22
Weather: Mild
Flight: China Airlines (Hong Kong>Kaohsiung)

Day 3-5: Tainan
Day 5-9: Kaohsiung & Kenting

Day 1 : Kaohsiung to Chiayi

Taiwan Sim Card
You can buy sim card at Kaohsiung Airport. Two to choose from, Chunghwa (中華電信) and Taiwan Mobile (台灣大哥大). There was a long line for Chunghwa, so I decided to skip that and opted for Taiwan Mobile, which worked just fine for my whole journey, and the prices were the same. ;-)
taiwan-sim-card-kaohsiung-airport

How to buy Taiwan MRT ticket from the machine
1. Check the fare map on top of the machine
2. Choose that fare on the screen
3. Buy!
taiwan-mrt-ticket-machine-fare-map

Kaohsiung Main Station Luggage Storage
Luggage locker storage available at Kaohsiung Main Station. Rate as below:
For each 3 hours and part thereof: NT$20/ 3 hours, NT$40/ 3 hours, NT$50/ 3 hours. Maximum rental is 6 days (144 hours)
kaohsiung-station-luggage-locker

Chiayi Accomodation – Light Hostel 
Price: NT$450 (MYR60)/ night
Location: About 5 minutes walk from Chiayi Station
Room: Female Dormitory Room
Facilities/amenities: Washing machine, free breakfast, common area, rooftop
My review:
– Very nice and kind reception staff
– Clean room
– Allowed to keep luggage while I went to Alishan for a night
– Modern interior design
chiayi-light-hostelchiayi-light-hostel-female-dormchiayi-light-hostel-common-areachiayi-light-hostel-rooftopchiayi-light-hostel-bbq

Day 2 : Chiayi to Alishan

Bus from Chiayi to Alishan: NT$230 (MYR32)
Updated on August 2018: Chiayi Station has been renovated and it looks so nice now! The bus to Alishan used to be  next to Chiayi Station.
(photo below is before the renovation)
chiayi-station-old

Alishan
I love this place! Beautiful and not crowded. Took the Forest Railway from Alishan station to Chaoping for NT$100 (MYR15). It was a sunny day with absurdly beautiful blue sky!
alishan-train-2 alishan-trainalishan-foresttrees-lovealishan-2alishan-3alishan-forest-2alishan-platformplatformalishan-postcards

 

A Night near Eryanping Trail
Bought the bus ticket at 7-11 to go to Xiding, 隙頂 (NT$103, MYR15). Just in time for a beautiful sunset when I got off an Anding, 鞍頂.eryanping-sunseteryanping-sunset-2

Accommodation: 阿里山53旅人館
Price: NT$1800 (MYR250)/ night
Location: Just across the road from Anding bus stop
Room: Double bed room with attached bathroom
Facilities/amenities: Common area
My review:
– Very nice and kind reception staff. She made me dinner and breakfast!
– Basic amenities

Day 3 : Eryanping > Fenqihu > Tainan

Eryanping
Woke up early for sunrise, but unfortunately it was a cloudy day. But the scenery was awesome and there were beautiful sea clouds! Had a light hike up the hills for these awesome sceneries!
eryanping-trail-map
eryanping-trail- eryanping-trail-2 eryanping-trail-3eryanping-trail-villageeryanping-trail-tea-plantation-2eryanping-trail-tea-plantationstone-wall-villageeryanping-trail-cherry-blossom-december

Fenqihu
Took the bus: Anding (鞍頂) > Shizhuo (石桌) > Fenqihu (奋起湖)
Bought my EasyCard finally, but lost it at Fenqihu  :cry:
Upon reaching Fenqihu, I collect my train ticket to Chiayi, which I online book in advance, because seating tickets would normally sold out on that day. There are luggage lockers at Fenqihu station, costing NT$50/3hrs. The place was pretty crowded on that day.
taiwan-easy-cardfenqihu-train-1fenqihu-train-2