Taipei (day 02) - Jiufen and Shifen

Day 02 in Taipei is actually my Birthday!!! My itinerary includes releasing of sky lantern in Shifen. Here's a rundown of our itinerary for day number 2:

0900am - Breakfast
1000am - Go to Taipei Main Station ; Buy train tickets to Ruifang Station (1hour ride)
1130am - etd TRA
1230pm - eta Ruifang station ; board a bus going to Jiufen (15mins ride, NTD15 fare)
1245pm - lunch in Jiufen
0300pm - go back to Ruifang station ; buy train tickets to Shifen station
0330pm - eta Shifen ; buy sky lantern to be released
0430pm - leave Shifen and board a train going back to Ruifang station
0500pm - Buy tickets going to Taipei Main Station (1 hour ride)
0600pm - eta TMS and shop a little bit in the underground mall
0800pm - head back to hotel

How to get to Jiufen?
From Taipei Main Station buy a TRA (train ) ticket to Ruifang Station. Travel time is approximately 1 hour and no reserve seating . Fare is NTD50 - NTD75. Upon arrival in Ruifang station exit , cross the road where the bus stop is. Board a keelung bus  with a signage Jiufen . The bus ride takes around 15mins only and you will disembark a few meters from the Jiufen Old Street entrance.

TRA -----}Ruifang Station------}board a bus to jiufen

Jiufen overlooking the sea

Jiufen is a small town north of taiwan. It's an old gold mining town but now a tourist attraction. Throngs of tourist buses loaded with tourists (mostly koreans and japanese) are led to this town everyday. Because of Jiufen's high altitude, it's climate is cooler than the city. It's like Tagaytay here in the Philippines. But what makes it unappealing to me is the too crowded streets laden with food vendors and tourists. Best to navigate the back streets to experience the culture of the place and to avoid people at the same time. If you're a photo enthusiast then you may find interesting subjects far away from the people. You just have to be adventurous to explore more.

We did not buy anything from here because we find the prices too high and geared towards the tourists. We found a cozy nook at a restaurant (i forgot the name) overlooking the sea. It's located at the back away from the crowd. Food served was not nice but the view is fantastic!

Yay!! Look at the throngs of tourists!!!

Maltose candies molded into cartoon characters

Grilled Snails anyone?

To get back to Ruifang Station , board a bus on the opposite side where you disembarked and board a bus going to the station.

After Jiufen, my mission is to release a sky lantern in Shifen.

How to get to Shifen?
At the Ruifang Station, buy tickets for Pingsi Line heading to Shifen. Fare is NTD20. Travel time is roughly 30 mins.

Going to Shifen the train was not too crowded and we had seats. But going back was a different story. It's way too crowded and overflowing with passengers. But it's okay .

Pingsi Line train going to Shifen

Upon arriving, we wasted no time and immediately looked for a shop that would sell us a sky lantern. It costs NTD150 for four colors lantern. And you have to write (using a calligraphy pen) your wishes.

Me writing my birthday wishes!!!

Then fly away my sky lantern.

Sky Lantern Festival is being held in Shifen every year (i think every February). I wish i could go back and witness this festival. But for now i wish all my wishes would come true!!