Modern Toilet is another theme restaurant in Taipei. It is included in our itinerary because we wanted to try something different. Modern toilet has 2 branches, one is in Ximending area and another is in Shilin area. This gave a confusion to our group. The other half went to Ximending and we are in SHilin.
Sitting in a Toilet Bowl and eating at the bath tub. The place looks like a bathroom with shower hose in the wall as well as toilet paper and urinals are hanging in the ceiling.
Souveniers are also available. I bought a souvenier shaped like a poo for NTD 50. A little smaller than in this picture and it is so soft.
Free Wifi keeps us busy. We are excited to upload some pics from the climb and in that place.
I tried the Pork Cutleg served in a toilet bowl shape plate. The serving is big for only NT 180 plus service fee. Others tried a different menu. I thought the ice cream comes with the food but it is no. And so, we Ove is the only one who tried the bland taste ice cream that is shaped like a poo.
what happens after...
Nobody ordered a curry. I saw one picture the plate looks aweful after it is finished.
I tried to finished my food so slowly. I got so full that I felt nauseated. Good thing there is a place downstairs that sells shake.
I ordered watermelon shake for NTD 45. They will ask you how much sugar and ice to put in it. I chose 1/3 sugar and 3/4 ice.
Zhi Shan Garden is located beside National Palace Museum. It's great to visit this place along with the Museum. When we went there we saw this Art World of Lee Shi-Chi free of admission and so we went inside. Too bad we can't take pictures. The art is different. It is like an abstract and uses a different kind of material. I stopped listening to the guide because I can't comprehend what she is saying.
The entrance to Zhi Shan GArden. I was expecting that we would pay 10 NTD for the entrance fee. We saw the gate open and nobody is there to ask for the fee. So we enter and assumed that it is free of entrance.
This is the first jaw-dropping sight to see.
Ponds are filled with Koi. Big sizes that is. In our mind, we are thinking of what dish to have. Lol! We saw this cute kids feeding the Koi. We squeeze in to get a good picture of them and the Koi.
The white duck. So graceful and relaxing in sight.
Jen finally saw her long lost lover.
and me, busy catching the ducks.
Oh, Ove also found his pal.
Then beside we saw a gate that is going to the National Palace Museum.
Directions: MRT Danshui Line to Shilin Station then take bus R30, 255, 304, 815 or Minibus 18 and 19
Main Building is open all year round from 0830 to 1830
Regular admission: NTD 160
ROC ID and Taiwanese Citizens: free
Our first stop together with the Chi Zhan Garden which is right beside the museum. We didn't get a chance to see what is inside because we saw group of tourist waiting for their turn to go in. So we skipped this place and proceeded with our next itinerary. On our way back to MRT station, we saw this little place selling Pao. For just NTD 12, I shared 1 piece with Jen. But I regret sharing it, it taste awesome that I wanted more. Inside filling is like a xiao ling bao. You could almost feel the soup inside the dumpling. And with just one last bite for me when we saw locals putting sauce in it. I was thinking that we are about to have our lunch so I resisted buying another one.
"My Last Climb" words that always comes out of my mouth whenever I do major climbs. Here I am again doing my last climb act. I've done Mount Kinabalu way back February 2010 where I got to see an awesome sunrise. An invitation by Jay Torres and my mountaineer friends motivated me to do another highest.
I'm not really a mountaineer that is why I don't have idea about Mount Yushan and the Asian Trilogy. Mount Yushan or Jade Mountain is one of the trilogy. Others are Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia and Mount Fuji in Japan. Mount Yushan is the highest in northeast asia, one of the highest mountains that is in the island with an elevation of 3952m. I have a thought that this might be easier than Mount Kinabalu as its elevation is at 4095m and so I decided to go for it.
Of course, we waited for airplane promo fares. Luckily, airasia gave a good deal for us. Around 2.5k roundtrip ticket to Taiwan. Not bad at all. We were so excited specially after we got all our visas and climb permit approved. Anyway, one needs a permit before climbing Yushan and you'll know if you got permit a month before your proposed climb date.
April 17, 2013 we flew Clark to Taoyuan Airport in Taipei which is about 1 1/2 hours travel. I took advantage of my most needed rest. Rest because me, Jen and Ove went to Laguna and Baler before Taiwan and rest because we are about to climb one of the highest. Our journey from Makati to Clark to Taiwan went smoothly as well as our first high speed rail ride to Chiayi Station where we will meet Shaner and the Mountain Guides.
From Chiayi Station, we have 2 vans for us 15 participants. We stop by a local restaurant for our dinner and a convenient store to buy things we need for the climb like water, trail foods and personal stuffs. The boys already tried Taiwan Beer while on our way to Dongpu Lodge where we will stay for our first night. At the lodge, the weather is very cold. We are all now anxious of the temperature up there. I think 1 or 2 of us had the courage to take a very cold bath. That is out of my mind specially when the hot water is not available. And so we wished to have a shower the next day. We separated our Climb bag from our Taipei stuffs and went to sleep.
April 18, 2013 at 6am our wake up time. We did a little last minute fixing our stuffs then we had a traditional chinese breakfast as Shaner said. Good for me as i'm having a bad stomach. I already had 2x trip to the you know land. I also went hopping and running around the bathroom as i throw the very cold water into my body. Yeah i showered in cold.
Then we are ready for another achievement. We went to the Tataka Mountain Station where we were checked and proceeded to the start of trailhead. The trail is smooth but the weather is unpredictable. Most of the time i'm busy wearing on and off my rain jacket as well as my stuffs needed to resist the very cold temperature.
We stopped at 1.8 km and this is the foot of the Front Peak of Yushan. Going up the front peak is not easy. I was thinking of Mount Apo's Boulders without the sulfur air. The rocks are unsteady and so our guide reminded us to be cautious with our step. True enough one of our friends almost got hit by a falling rocks.
First day of climb, we have already summited Mt. Jade front peak at 3239m. Whew! At the top, the guide prepared warm coffee and delicious cookies for us. Then we go down to the foot of the front peak to eat lunch and proceed to our journey.
We had instant noodles for lunch prepared by our guides. Then off we go for another 3.5 km to the Pai Mulin Lodge where we will stay for a while before proceeding to the summit. I was in a hurry to the lodge because my bladder can't hold it anymore but the guide is at a pace that can avoid the mountain sickness. And so, me and Jen is so patient to hold our most needed call. In my thought, this is one of the moments when you wished you were a boy. Just put out your teeny weeny and you're done. Lol!
Then a few meters from the lodge is the WC or water closet. A term we learned during our Vietnam tour and they use this too. Well, what do you expect? The smell is so unlikely. I can't even imagine going inside the closet. We looked for a good spot behind the WC and whoolah were done!
Dinner was prepared for us. I thought we will be loaded with lots of instant noodles. To our surprise we have a very decent meal. We have rice, vegetables, pork and others. The food is awesome. But I'm still worried that I might need another trip to you know land and so I did not indulge myself with the festive foodies. Before 5pm, we were ready to rest. We have our own sleeping bags and there is a big cover to somehow lessen the cold. Too bad our body is not comfortable with the hard wood in our back. I can't get my position right plus the sleeping bag that i'm using is blowing out its inner material that makes my nostril very sensitive. I felt so tired. I just close my eyes and get used to it.
At 12 midnight, our wake up call. Everybody prepared to summit. Unfortunately the rain fell when we were on our way. Its cold. Its raining. Too bad, predictions for not seeing my sunrise is very clear. Another 3.5 km going to the Paiyun Hut is exhausting. We stop for a while for bladder break and to refill our water bottles. I was already asking if we will get a good view in the summit. If not, I would be staying and nor going forward to summit. Then everybody is still on the go. Another 2 km more to the summit.
At 400 m to the summit is a looking dangerous ascent. Yes looking dangerous. It seems like that is why at this point I have already confess that i'm up to this point of the climb. I'm done. I'm so wasted. The guide is telling our Team Leader Jay if we will proceed to the summit. It seems like there is a typhoon and it will be very hard for us to even stand at the summit. The hardcore peeps decided to go further and will give signal to us if we can do it. Then all decided to push through. A few steps further, 3 of us decided to go back. And me, the brave me, don't want to be left behind. I pushed my strength to the fullest to reach the summit. It was not easy as the wind is throwing our weak bodies to quit. The coldness of the air is killing me. I will go. I can do it. God is with me and he is my strength. Then I heard my friends shouting in victory as well as our guide is shouting to us in the last line. All i thought he was encouraging us that this is the summit but later Shaner told me that he is saying that we have to move faster as it is dangerous to stay longer in the summit. Well, whatever! I'm struggling can't he realized?
Then my most awaited summit has come. It was a different feeling. My whole system is in high momentum. I bid everyone congratulations as I video document our summit moment. We may not seen the sunrise but we reached the peak. Awesome!
After our solo and group pictures was shot, we are now ready to go down. It's easier now because of the day light. The sun is still hiding and i'm wet and cold. I'm feeling that my cold urticaria is attacking me. Luckilly, Kamil has anti-histamine in her bag. We had our lunch at Pai Mulin. Then ready to finish the climb.
Another surprise, a festive meal. A celebration! The guide welcome us to Taiwan as we toast for the success of the climb.
Sharing the full documentation of the climb.
Another video of our whole Taiwan Trip
Some important tips:
1. Prepare yourself for the climb, it's not an easy one. You will be struggling in cold if you are not used to it.
2. Clothing and shoes are essentials. Weather is unpredictable. It rained at most of our climb and at some point that we are sweating it out.
3. Contact the local guides. They will take care of everything. You need to get permit to climb Mount Yushan and some other mountains in Taiwan. You will know if you got the permit, a month before your proposed date.
4. Invite friends to go with you and enjoy every part of the climb. Its all worth it!
Special thanks to Dr. Shaner Jao for making the preparations smoothly and for being our interpreter. For the guides, though we can't understand very well but I salute you guys for keeping the climb safely and in order.
For the whole team, Congratulations to us and go Mount Fuji 2014!
Tumalog falls is just a habal-habal away from the resorts in oslob. After we had our but landing encounter and lunch, we went to see this. I enjoyed the ride because it has great views. I just can't stop taking videos and pictures. The scary part of the ride is going downhill but this means falls is not that far anymore. A little walk takes you to this jaw-dropping falls.
Amazing! I felt like I'm in another world. I'm not good describing but this is also one of the best falls I've seen so far.
Sinong hindi mapapanganga?
The view from the falls. Wow!
The water is so refreshing.
We didn't stay that long because we have a long way back to Cebu and we have a flight to catch later.
Day tour in the Southernmost part of Cebu? Possible! Yes it is by getting the first flight going to Cebu and last flight going back to Manila. Luckily, we got our promo fare tickets from Cebu Pacific Airlines. They have daily multiple flights going to Cebu from Manila and vice versa.
We left Manila at 420 am and arrived Cebu past 5 am. We hurriedly went out of the airport to catch a taxi since we knew its another 3 hours bus ride going to Oslob. From the airport going to South Bus Terminal is about a 20-30 minutes ride. That far! And so at 630 am we are on our way to Oslob. Since I did not had a chance to sleep, the ride from Cebu City to Oslob is a good idea for me to catch one.
We arrived Oslob at 930 am. A very excited me is ready to jump into the water to see those giants. The community had set some rules and regulations to follow. Before jumping in, we have to listen to a brief discussion on the set rules.
Now we are ready! The waves are not that friendly as the encounter is not that far from the shore. With only 30 minutes given to us, we geared up and jumped into the water.
Amazingly, we are that close to the giants. I can't say they are friendly but rather they are not afraid of us. They just swim in any course they want. Unlike in Sorsogon where Butandings easily disappear when distracted but they are 2-3x bigger than in Oslob.
This is the best picture that I got. We rented an underwater camera and supposedly the boatman which we thought is already an expert taking pictures with Butanding was a failure. In other words, I made the most of the shots.
I should say that this one Butanding is so Makulit. As much as we try to make a distance between her, she always ended up with her tail on our feet. This makes us so afraid that we might hurt her. By the way, there is also a guard that follows the Butanding. He makes sure that the whaleshark is safe and we dont disobey the rules.
30 minutes is just enough for the Butanding encounter. In less than that time, we are already tired of swimming from those large waves and done with our encounter. Lucky me, my skin didn't felt anything itchy. Before lunchtime, we are done.
