Day 2 Part 2 Taiwan Trip (Feb/Mar 2015) - Xinshe (Xinshe Castle + Mushroom Garden + Carton King Zoo) | Miyaharu | FengJia Night Market

Continuing from the earlier post....

Fourth Stop: Xinshe Castle
No.65, Xiezhong St., Xinshe Dist., Taichung City 426
Entrance Fee: NT250

During the researching process for our Taiwan trip, stumbled across this place - European castle-like place and have been rather excited to come here. I like places with nice scenery and views:) 

When we arrived, the weather had started to turn rather hot and sunny. Sun blinding our eyes and all, and the place looks rather ordinary to us. At first we were saying like how the entrance fee is expensive then the rest of the places but the place is just so-so. And with the hot weather, we kind of regretted coming to this place. But wells, since we already paid for this, might as well still explore around and take photos. It was not until we went back and look through the photos that we were shock at the beauty of it. I guess looks can be deceiving? haha. 

Loving the mysterious beauty of this place~ 

Fifth Stop: Mushroom Garden

No 2-1, Xiezhong Street, Xiecheng Village, Xinshe District, Taichung City

Deep Fried Mushrooms - NT50! We even got a mix of some Crispy Salty Mushrooms. So we get to try both:) Super nice and crispy!

Mushroom Sausage - NT35

I am not really a fan of mushrooms. Not that I don't eat. But rather I will not crave for that either. The Mushroom sausage was okay though. But I find the Deep Fried Mushrooms nice! The Mushroom sausage was okay though. However, be sure to drink lots and lots of water after having that since it's very very heaty:)

Sixth Stop: Carton King Zoo

No. 1, Lane 281, Section 3, Xitun Rd, Xitun District, Taichung City, Taiwan 407

Entrance Fee: NT200 which you can use to offset with your purchases there

Last stop of exploring the Xinshe area! 

Over here, You can get to take pictures with the world famous monuments. And something interesting about this place, is that everything is made out of cardboard!! Even the chairs in the restaurant is made out of cardboard! Interesting much? And also, be sure to also drop by their souvenir shop. You might find something interesting over there. Anyway, some photos taken there are as follows:

Picture taken at the entrance:)

Make a wish~

And so this marks the end of our tour of Xinshe! Before heading back to hotel, we went for Ice Cream at Miyaharu! 

Miyaharu

No.20, Zhongshan Rd., Central Dist., Taichung City 400

Operating Hours: 10am - 10pm

We actually asked the driver previously if he is okay to drop us there for ice cream before sending us back to the hotel which he agreed. 

But if you are planning to travel there on your own, don't worry, this place is pretty accessible based on our previous research on getting here. We just have to have backup plans in case the driver is not agreeable to drop us there or something. The place is actually quite near Taichung Train Station (3 minutes walk away). From Taichung Train Station -> Zhongshan Road -> Miyahara Eye Hospital.

Initially when my friend told me she wanted to go for this, I was thinking "huh? Eye Hospital?". But after much research, this place was actually previously an eye hospital during the Japanese occupation. And thereafter this place was renovated and converted into a store selling pastries and desserts.

But beware, don't say you have not been warned. The queue is really long! We queued for around 15 minutes or so if not wrong. 

Their Menu. 

Special Names for their Ice Cream flavours

Their CNY specials

  

Our Ice Cream! :)

After purchasing the Ice Cream, we came out and saw people gathering outside, standing around and eating their ice cream. We did the same. But as the weather was starting to get very cold with the wind blowing at us, we are pretty much shivering while we eat the ice cream! Double-coldness! One thing good is that the ice cream won't melt that soon given the cold weather. 

 And finally after a long day, we are back at our hotel!!

Photo taken with our driver! Really good experience with him around telling us about things we do not know about.

After a quick rest, we are out again to FengJia Night Market. Last night at Taichung so we just have to shop around since we did not managed to shop the day before due to the late arrival.

And the main thing we have that night is Stinky Tofu.

Stinky Tofu!

My First try at Stinky Tofu! This was pretty acceptable to me. But some people say the smelly the Stinky Tofu, the nicer it taste. Is it true? But not sure if it's stinkier than this, I dare to eat anot. haha.

Hate to say, but this was our last night spending at Taichung since we will be travelling to Taipei the next day morning:(