Oh My! Wulai on a rainy day!

When we went to this place, we didn't know what to expect.

It must be the rainy weather.

It must be the good samaritan who gave us a free raincoat and said “Welcome to Taiwan”.

It must be the delicious dumplings which we ate near Xiandian Station.

But whatever the reason...

Let the pictures guide you on how Wulai quietly charmed us.

Tourist Bridge 

Trivia #1: If your going to Wulai via Bus, This Bridge is your sign that you are already in Wulai because this is where the Bus will drop all its passengers and pick up passengers

Lansheng Bridge

From the Bus station we walked all the way up to the waterfall area and the Gondola Station passing by Lover's Trail.

Waterfalls

Service tram which could be used going to and from to the waterfall area

 Trivia #2: The service Tram above can be used to go up to the waterfall area and gondola station but in our case what we did was to walk up to the waterfall area and gondola station.

end station of the tram from Lansheng bridge-Wulai Tourism Service Wagons

                To use the tram going to the waterfall area and gondola station: From Lansheng bridge walk straight upto to the stairs which looks like it is tilted and the cafe's until you reach the Wulai Tourism Service Wagon

Gondola

Lucky for us on the way to Yuanxian Hotel we were the only passenger =)

Bird's Eyeview from the Gondola on the way to Yunxian Hotel

Wulai from above

delicacies are sold here

walking back to Linsheng Bridge coming from the Wulai Tourism Service Wagons

Trivia: Wulai is known for its hotspring but since we only have a few hours to spare we made use of the time we have.

Direction on how to go to Wulai via train:

STEP 1: From Taipei Main Station alight at Xiandian MRT

STEP 2: From the MRT Station ride a Xiandian Bus Taipei-Wulia Line Bus No. 849.

**going back. Just go to the bus station where you alighted and a bus heading to Xiandian will be there.

Should we have more time we would have loved to try Wulai's Hotspring =) Oh well, the more reason now that we have to go back. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this time. We would also love to see Wulai's cherry Blossom the next time. (*crossfingers)

Wulai

life is not about waiting for the storms to pass... It's about learning how to dance in the rain.

-Vivian Greene

Taiwan Visa: DIY guide for Philippine Passport Holders

Here's a DIY Guide in applying for Taiwan Visa

First, Know where the embassy is located
              Taiwan Embassy is located in Makati particularly
              41F Tower 1 RCBC Plaza, 6819 Ayala Avenue, 
              1200, Makati City, Makati


Second, Know the filing and releasing time of your visa application
             TECO Visa application is in the morning and Visa Releasing is in the afternoon 
                       Filing: Monday to Friday 8:45 AM to 11:45 AM   
                       Releasing : Monday to Friday 1:45 PM to 4:45 PM  


Third, Secure all the required document before applying so that you will be able to save time and money from going to and from the embassy. 
               Note that all document submitted to TECO should be ORIGINAL and with
               ONE (1) PHOTOCOPY


Fourth, Ready your Government issued ID; You need a government issued ID in order to enter TECO such as SSS ID, TIN ID and Driver's license otherwise the receptionist in the lobby will not allow you to proceed to TECO


Fifth, After giving your government issued ID to the receptionist in the lobby who will ask you to sign something, take the elevator and go to the 41st Floor and get a number from the guard upon entering the embassy; wait for your number to appear from the LCD screen


Sixth, You may download the application form from TECO's website or get it from the embassy itself. 
    
Seventh, The Visa Fee if REGULAR is 2,400 and 3,600 if EXPEDITE


Eighth, Visa processing if regular takes 3 days while expedite is 1 day


Ninth, Aside from the application form here are the other things that you need when applying for a Visa as indicated in Taiwan Embassy's website:
 1. A duly filled up visa application form and indicating N/A if not applicable
 2. Two (2) passport size photos 1.5”x2” with white background (taken w/in the last three (3) months) 
3. Passport valid for at least six months and old passport showing previous travels 
4. Birth Certificate issued by NSO 5. Marriage Contract (if applicable) issued by NSO
6. Supporting documents related to the purpose of VISIT such as : 
            A. Confirmed round trip Air ticket or Booking Certificate 
            B. Certificate of Employment and Letter of permission to leave from the employer 
            C. Financial statements of the applicant such as: 
                         (1) Income Tax Return 
                        (2) Bank Book or Bank Statements 
            D. Etc. 
7. Traveling on BUSINESS, you must also submit:
                          A Business letter or trading records from Taiwan Company 
                          B. Certificate of Business Name Registration and SEC Registration（If owner of the company） 
                          C. Invitation Letter from Taiwan company / organization in Chinese letterhead that outlines clearly 
                               purpose of your visit and duration of your stay 
                          D. Official letters or request letters from concerned authorities for official trip 
                          E. Seminar program 
                          F. Certificate of Employment; Professional Identification; Company ID 
                         G. Other Supporting Documents if Required such as SSS contribution lists, Pay Slip etc.

and Lastly, If you are a student like me, you need  to submit a
          1. letter of guarantee from your parents or guardian
          2. certificate coming from your school that you are a student of that school and that you are enrolled indicating the subjects and units you are enrolled in.

***********************

Hope and pray that your visa will be approved like mine so that you'll also be able to see and experience the beauty of Taiwan. 

-Orange Diaries

PS Try rivertracing in Hualien. You'll love it =)

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.
-Buddha 

My D-I-Y Taiwan

My friend and I decided to book a ticket to Taiwan last January 2011. Initially, we thought of having an 8 day trip but due to some circumstances we we're able to book a ticket for a 6 day trip only. 

Here's our 6 Day DIY Taiwan Itinerary last October 2011.


Day 1: Arrive Taipei
             a. Find our hostel which is near Taipei Main Station
             b. Explore Taipei

Taipei 101 

Day 2: Explore Taipei Part 2 and Wulai

Wulai

Day 3: Explore Yehliu, Keelung, Jingguashi Ecological Park and Jiufen

Yehliu

Day 4: Hualien

Bi Bin Park, Hualien

Day 5: River Tracing in Hualien

River Tracing in Hualien

Day 6: Taroko Gorge

Taroko's Swallow Mountain Grotto

Let's Run for a Cause =)

Most People would say FTW!!! You're running??? You're so skinny, will you be able to make it to the finish line?? Yup you got that right. I am running and I am running not just because I want to challenge myself but because I am running for a cause. 

It's time I give back to Japan the help it extended to the Philippines since I am one of those who benefited from it (SCTEX, LRT1 and 2, MRT). 

Thank You Japan and my prayers are with you. I hope my act of running for a cause, though small would in some way help you and your people. 

*** RUN FOR JAPAN is organized by the organizer of Greentennial Run. 

Cirque du Soliel in Manila

I have been waiting for "the day" when I would be able to watch this group of Canadian performers but due to travel (mainly because I'm still studying) and budget limitations that remains a dream. But, things changed since the announcement that they will be performing here in Manila at Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park this coming June 22 till July 10. 

The show is a bit pricey for a commoner like me, but hey! it's in my home country and I get to watch it with the people I love minus the expenses for the airfare if I go and watch it outside the country.  

Me and my friend eagerly awaits “THE” day.

Cirque du Soliel-Varekai I'll soon conquer you!

Playa Tropical Resort: An ordinary day made extraordinary

Paoay, Ilocos Norte being the place where my mom was born and raised, we have no problem with our accomodation. After years of staying at my mother's family house everytime we visit Ilocos for All Saint's day, for a change, we decided to stay in a resort hotel named Playa Tropical Resort in Currimao.

                                                                 

Fine! I must admit it wasn't a family concensus but more of me, surprising them that we get to stay there for one night since it was already booked since September by yours truly.

Staying there was the best choice since we get to bond as a family(as in me, my brother, my dad and my mom) since my Dad's vacation is only for 20 days (add to the fact that me and my brother are greedy to have my dad all to ourselves but hey! you can't blame us, its not everyday that we bond with our dad so each moment that we have him all to ourselves is a treasured moment). Another best thing during our stay at Playa Tropical Resort was that we get to have the resort all by ourselves because the day that we checked in was the day that almost all of their guests were leaving since November 2 is not declared as a holiday.

I learned about the resort through my cousin studying Hospitality Management who suggested that I try booking at Playa Tropical Resort. Being the research freak that I am I tried hard to find reviews regarding the place through the blogs posted by others but all I found were pictures from blogs. What really convinced me to try it was the attestation of my cousin and the pictures from the website of Playa Tropical Resort.

From manila, we arrived at Paoay heading straight to my mother's ancestral house first to do our courtesy call and the usual “kamustahan” (updates regarding our lives) and other traditions that our family do when we arrive. “the check in” was a funny experience because my cousins went to accompany us and we look like one whole barangay when we only booked one room and only 4 people are staying at the resort.

After settling our bags and gulping the welcome drinks given by the resort my cousins persuaded us to accompany them to look at the pool before they leave for Paoay.

Since there are only two guests left in the resort, the staff are kind enough to allow our cousins to explore the resort. Being the eager beaver that we are even after my cousins left more Photo sessions were made.

the pond

the bar overlooking the sea

The only downside during my stay was when I saw a dead fish in their pond.

honeymoon???

el familia

 The best part about this resort is the infinity pool and the beach. Looking at it words like PEACE, SERENITY and HOME comes to my mind.

"He finally understood that God's presence was everywhere, at all times, and was experienced by everyone at one time or another. It had been with him in the workshop as he'd labored over the window with Jonah; it had been present in the weeks he'd spent with Ronnie. It was present here and now as his daughter played their song, the last song they would ever share. In retrospect, he wondered how he could have missed something so incredibly obvious. 

God, he suddenly understood, was love in its purest form, and in these last months with his children, he had felt His touch as surely as he had heard the music spilling from Ronnie's hands." 

— Nicholas Sparks (The Last Song)

I love the way my shoti shot this picture