Yehliu Geopark

This is the longest hiatus since my last post! -_-"' Been damn busy with packing and unpacking of stuff to prepare for house moving that I did not even have time to properly sit down and rest..sigh..hopefully next month will be better?

Anyway, try to squeeze my energy now to at least write a post this month..as its so sad to see my blog stats dropping :-(

Last year is my first visit to Yehliu Geopark eventhough I have been to Taiwan twice before. Have always been curious when I saw most ppl visiting Taiwan taking photos with rocks...hmm..what is so nice ya about those rocks? So this trip, I manage to discover what is so unique huh about it...

Yehliu Geopark

Before that, did you all know how Yehliu Geopark derived their name from?

From Yehliu Geopark website:

The name “Yehliu” was derived from:

• 1. A term translated from the Pinpu language; 
• 2. An abbreviation of the Spanish words “Punto Diablos(which means “devil’s cape”); 
• 3. In early days, local residents earned their living at sea and they relied on rice suppliers from inner land to offer rice to them. During transportation, some local people would use the sharp bamboo tube to stick the rick sack and leave a hole on it, so that the rice may slip out and could be picked up by them. 
•  As a result, rice traders often mentioned “the rice was stolen by the savages” (whereas “steal” and “savage” are pronounced similar to Yeh (savage) and liu (steal) in Taiwanese).

And Yehliu is divided into 3 areas:

Yehliu is divided into 3 areas

The first and second area:

Purple color number is first area, Blue ones is 2nd area

The second and third area:

Blue color is second area, Brown ones is third area

I heard that in first area, the mushroom and ginger rocks are the main attractions..

Not sure is this mushroom rocks?

Some ahjummas trying to take a shot of the ocean erosion pothhole

In second area:

Spot statue of Mr Lin Tien-Chien

Why this is the only human statue that is so unique in here?

Queen’s Head, one of the most famous scenes in Yehliu, is a kind of mushroom rock. It is formed due to the differential erosion caused by seawater during crust movement.

Long queue for Queen's Head

Wonder why this rock is so famous?

And since they realized that the Queen's Head natural 1 was eroding fast, they man-made Queen’s Head II as replica first.

And something caught my sight when I was about to exit the park..and I find this rock is even more unique than the Queen's Head rock actually. After reading this news here...only I know this is the replica of it since it's damaged in 2010. So sad :-(.. Otherwise, you only can get a lucky sight of this rock on 18 days each year, when the tides allow it.

A replica of the “Leopard” rock formation placed in the popular tourist attraction Yehliu Geopark in New Taipei City is seen in this photo taken on Wednesday. The original formation was damaged during a typhoon in 2010.

The Yehliu Geopark is really indeed beautiful place to visit, just not on a hot sunny. And especially if you wanted to take a photo of the Queen’s Head, you have to queue under hot sun! 

Overall, if you love natural landscapes, Yehliu Geopark is a must visit attraction for you, but it may be more advisable to go during cooler season...make sure it's cold enuf even during winter. And also..I recommend that you travel there in the morning when the weather is not too hot. Wear sunblock and bring an umbrella for both sun and rain.

How to get here?

Address :
No.167-1, Kantung Rd.,
Yehliu Village,
Wanli District,
New Taipei City 20744,
Taiwan, R.O.C.

Tel : +886-224922016
Entrance ticket: NT$50

Website: http://www.ylgeopark.org.tw/ENG/info/YlIntroduction_en.aspx

Transportation :
Nat'l Hwy 3 → Exit at the Jijin Interchange → Prov. Hwy 2 → Yeliu (Yeliou)

Public  
1. THSR Taipei Station (or TRA Taipei Station) → Kuo-kuang Bus (bound for Jinshan Youth Activity Center) to Yeliu stop.
2. TRA Keelung Station → Keelung Bus (bound for Jinshan) to Yeliu stop. 

* Check here for the summary of my 2012 Taiwan trip itinerary.

Jiufen

Jiufen is a little town on a mountain in Rueifang Township of Taipei County near Keelung. It is said that there used to be only 9 families living in this mining village and that every time a shipment arrived from town, these families request for 9 portions thus the name Jiufen or 9 portions in Chinese. Did you know that Jiufen has a special charm and was the inspiration for the village in the movie Spirited Away ? Wow..I luv this anime and its really a recommended to watch!

When you are in Jiufen, you should not miss this famous 7-11 shop which every visitor recognized. It was also the drop-off point for tourists to begin their journey of Jiufen Old Street. 

Famous 7-11 drop-off point to go into Jiufen Old Street. Can you spot the signboard beside 7-11?

This is the signboard I mentioned. Sigh...its too overcrowded that day that I can't even get a full shot of the signboard :-(

Dun ever come here on weekends! You won't enjoy a single bit except bumping each other bum. No fun at all. See the photo below and you know what I mean.

mountains and seas of humans -_-"'

So what is the famous food in here? Well..I have to say..I can tell you based on my observations and from what I heard from my tourist guide as with the mountains and seas of humans..there is no way I can try all the food here *sigh* 

I think this fish ball shop "Jiufen Ancient Fish Ball Shop" is quite famous in here as you will be attracted to the surprisingly large quantity celebrities photos pasted all over the shop.

Jiufen Ancient Fish Ball Shop

Looking closely at all these photos, one will be wondering who is the smiling lady that appear in most of the photos with the different celebrities? She is the wife of the shop owner, Ms. Lai Hsiudan. And did you know she's actually born in 1920s? Wow..over age 90 and yet still looks so young? Wonder what is her beauty secret?

Spotted Ming Dao is here before too!

I managed to grab seats upstairs of this shop and mummy order their fish ball soup while Jen, Dad and myself had pork rice (鲁肉饭; luroufan). 

My luroufan..portion is kinda small for guys

Here are some photos of this shop:

Mummy busy ordering for us

See so many photos all over the shops?

How to get to this shop?
Jiufen Ancient Fish Ball Shop

Address： 
No. 135 Jishan Street Ruifang District, New Taipei City (head store) ; 
No. 109 Jishan Street Ruifang District, New Taipei City (first branch) 
Tel： 886-2-24969519
Opening: 9.00 AM - 8.00 PM (weekdays), 9.00 AM - 9.00 PM

Ok..so what else is nice to have in here? Well, you can easily grab so many various snacks while you walk along the street. A few that is recommended like glutionous rice balls (粉圆), beef noodles, fish balls, herbal eggs and sun cakes (太陽餅). Beware ahead...lotsa of food photos. Dun read beyond this point if you are hungry *LOL*

Glutinous rice balls

Corns?

Apart from food, you can get various souvenirs from here too. And one of the must visit shop is the Henry Cats & Friends. It's just two shops away from the 7 11 shop.

Henry Cats & Friends -Jiufen Jishan Shop
No.9-6, Qiche Rd., Ruifang Dist., New Taipei City 224, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Henry Cats & Friends

Super luv the cute doggy pillow here. Regret din buy it..sigh..

Cute pillows!

How to get to Jiufen Old Street:

1. From Taipei Main Station, take a train (eastward bound) to Rueifang Station. Take a bus heading towards Keelung directly opposite Rueifang Station (outside Wellcome Minimart with a notable long queue). The uphill ride should take approximately 15 minutes.
2. From Zhongxiao Fuxing Station, take a bus heading towards Keelung at Exit 1 and alight at Jiufen Old Street.
3. Travellers can also opt to take a cab just outside Rueifang Station. The last time I checked, the taxi fare to Jiufen is NT$180. Not recommended unless taken with 4 persons (or if you got cash to spare.)

* Check here for the summary of my 2012 Taiwan trip itinerary.

Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe @ Taipei

Finally I managed to dine in the Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe!!! 

Cheeseee...I'm in here finally!

Read my previous blog post here where I did not manage to dine in the cafe in my previous trip. This time, we get our tour guide to make the reservation a day earlier and we are managed to get the first reservation of the day, at 11.30am. So, remember to reserve your seats earlier to avoid disappointment.

NOTE: Each person has to spend a minimum of NT$300 when you dine in the cafe.

Entrance of Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe

Mummy at the entrance

Opening Hours: 11.30AM - 10PM

Hello Kitty Signboard

So happy can be able to dine in

For those not a fans of Hello Kitty, PLEASE BEWARE AHEAD there will be tons of Hello Kitty photos. Please close this post if you cannot stand :-P

Downstairs seatings

More photos of the ambiance

Wanted just a photo of myself in the kitty seating..but donno which idiot just walked past by..spoilt it *sigh*

Front counter and display of cakes and desserts! Yumm..

Too many cakes and desserts to choose from...all looks so nice and yummy...wish to try all la

Yumm Yumm

More yummsssssss

I want this! But worried I dun dare to eat it up

So cute chocs cookies

So nice cakes! I want the right hand side for my burfday cake!

Okay..after a long dilemma in picking which cakes..finally these are my choices :-)

NT$90 (Green Tea with red bean roll)

I had this previously and this is always my fav

Even the drinks has kitty on top!!

Mum and me order this kitty drink

Dad's kitty drink..choco flavor one

Jen's strawberry kitty drink

After filling up my tummy..I continue to explore upstairs and also the toilet!

Kitchen area

Upstairs seatings

Another section in upstairs seatings

Mum and me @ upstairs seatings

Spotted lotsa of kitty decorations everywhere in the shop..

Kitty doll sitting at the divider seating downstairs

Kitty photo

Spotted you!

And another tiny one hanging at the lights!

Kitty decorations at the kitchen top

Even the toilet also has hello kitty!

Kitty on the mirror

Long sofa in the toilet..probably they know a lot like to selca in the washroom till their legs tired?

Kitty water tap

Pink toilet bowl even!

Selca with kitty

Even the bill book has kitty!

Lastly...how could I leave here without getting a souvenir rite? :-)

My kitty thermos to add to my collections

Even paper bag oso so cute :-)

Hello Kitty Sweets Cafe
Sec. 1, Da-an Rd. 90, Taipei City (Taipei City), Taiwan
Tel: (02) 2711-1132

How to get here:
By MRT
- Take the MRT Blue Line to Zhongxiao Fuxing. Then Exit 3.
 

Opening Hours: 11.30 AM - 22.00 PM

* Check here for the summary of my 2012 Taiwan trip itinerary.