Finally the day has come and we still not sure if we are ready. No matter how we will just go on and have fun in Taiwan. This is the first day or longest day because I decided to start a little earlier. We got ourselves a night flight to Taiwan thus starting this day one few hours ahead. With the help of my buddy 罗毅聪 sending us to KLIA is much easier and better. Appreciate the help not only be the driver but also as a caretaker.
We bought our flight ticket few months back to enjoy the much discounted rate. This could help to reduce the burden of not working for 2 weeks, means no income for 2 weeks. Comparing several budget airlines, we decided to go with Jetstar Asia simply because of the timing. Paying a little more from other budget airlines we can start our journey early in the morning after touching down Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport. The down side is we have to transit in Singapore Changi airport for several hours.
One problem I always had when travel on air.....sleepless. Trying hard to catch some rest yet I failed and hoping it was not too bad for the long ride we pre-planned for this very first day.
Arrived Taoyuan at about 6 am and it was cold which I love it so much. Patiently waiting for our lovely ride partner after getting through the formality with Taiwanese border control official. Once everything is in place with slight dent on the box we call it a safe touch down. Called to my friend Da Yang, who is my our best "backstage" support along the ride, so we could meet him somewhere outside the airport.
Today we planned to do approximately 140km of distance from Taoyuan to Taichung, time is very important to us. Going around the airport to find out any possibilities to push our bike out to the road where bike are allows to ride yet no luck. Although I have read some blogs it is possible to do it but this is time consuming to search for that way. Decided to take a bus to nearest stop then start our journey from there.
Bought our bus ticket with a fare I never expect will be so cheap. Comparing to to the living expenses here it was much cheaper than what we pay in Malaysia. This bus will take us to HSR (High Speed Rail) Taoyuan station and while unpacking then setting our bike my friend arrived with 2 local mobile SIM card with STD, IDD and unlimited mobile data enabled. He will help us to bring our bike box/luggage which we will reuse on return back to his house too.
We were too excited and had too many stops for photos then we are not able to complete the journey planned for today. Sun set at about 6 pm and we still have about 20km to ride when it was 7.30 pm. A contingency plan was to get help from my younger sister Winnie Soon who will be hosting our very first night in this tour. Called and tell her our location then send us to her place and follow by a hotpot meals nearby her house.
This ticket cost a little expensive than another airline but gave us more time to complete the journey. Paid about MYR1500 for return ticket, airport taxes and luggage of 35kg+40kg.
Just arrived KLIA and started to report position for the tagging in Social Hiking - Share Your Adventure as well as those in the house. This is a routine I never missed doing it so people know where to find me if I was abducted. Lol
For me, I have 2 carton boxes and a sling bag.one box for the bike second box for panniers/etc while sling bag (a.k.a. Handlebar bag) carries my essential item which is allow to go into aircraft.
Taking budget airline do not provide meals but you could purchase from them during the flight. For me those food is not as good as a simple meal I found within airport vicinity. After all I need rice so next day ride is not so tiring.
Again, I was on my phone to gather as much detail on my journey. This is how I got my previous photo snap on my meal.
He is still busy with his work which is pending and lucky him got a laptop to bring along. It is much easier to browse online or doing some work with a real computer instead of mobile phone that shown here under charging mode.
That's our first sector flight from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
A small aircraft (not the smallest but still small lol) A320 which will carries us and our checked in baggage was loading into the aircraft.
When I first saw this outlet in Malaysia I was surprise that it would open in this country. But when I get closer look at what they sell then I am disappointed of the product. Everybody knew what they are famous of but it was not on display in Malaysia.
This one in the photo was not in Malaysia, that's why you get to see some of their latest season fashion inner wear on display.
Charging....not because battery drained too fast (though it does) but because we will start riding once touch down thus not possible to charge it. Unfortunately I lost my cable and using this special cable is quite troublesome.
Keep remind myself not to have coffee because I need my sleep in aircraft but in the end can't fight the evil in my heart. Got myself a small cup of latte and it was my last for the next 5 days. :(
And looking at the time we are now was early in the morning...coffee is a must in the morning isn't it? Lol
Looks sad leaving his puppy at home? Or something is going wrong with work? Let him answer you the right answer because I have no idea what happen.
Complaining about knee pain thus getting a knee protector hope to help his knee to feel better for the next 14 days. And during the ride I didn't hear anything about knee probably this is working.
My trustworthy moving power was generated from this pair of "meaty leg" a.k.a. "bak ka" a.k.a. 肉腳.
Love my sandals that I got it from China, been using it for a year on cycling and it is still the best.
That's our flight, second sector flying from Singapore to Taiwan. Departing at 1:15 am....YAWN~~~
You cannot bring any form of liquid into aircraft and have to dispose them at the security check just at the entrance of the boarding gate. But you still can fill it just before boarding, therefore bring an empty bottle along when travel with budget airline because you may ask to pay even when you need to use the life jacket. Lol
Leaving on a jetplane is the song I love to sing whenever I look at this window.
Trying hard to sleep though it is about to land. From the window you will notice it is already a bright day.
As usual you need to tells the land owner what you want to do in their land and get permission to enter but not just go in with full armour then claim to be the Sultan. Lol.
"That separate us from animal and human" quoted from Director of National Intelligence of Transformers: Dark Side of the Moon.
Waiting for the bus that will take us to HSR Taoyuan station, we cannot push or cycle out of airport because all road link to airport was highway.
Started to unpacked my bike once alight from bus. Hope to get all setup soonest possible to start our ride.
First stop...breakfast at 7-11 with my friend who have to wake so early in the morning to meet us.
Have the final check on the bike setup before rolling...
Get ready to roll and you can see everything still so clean with the smile. We were excited to start our journey!
Hydration break, we didn't bring any drinking water thus need to buy one from shop.
Found this cherry blossom tress along the way and luckily we stop by to snap a photo. We can't find any better cherry blossom after this.
The tank attract me but not very much, it was the military school as well as command center for armored force.
Thought he might want to bring back as souvenir.... :)
Reaching first POI of the day, the architecture along this steet do brings up the memories.
He wanted to get something to eat and I said go ahead without me.
Nice uniform building with older taste....
Some new building just opposite and I believe this older building will remain as long as government appreciate them.
Saw a bunch of bicycle parked near to a temple, had a chat with one of the cyclist. They are organising weekly cycling event for the kids and most of them already done going around Taiwan island. The guy said it is better to tell lies so the kid would go outdoor than let them got rotten sitting at home with TV, computer and/or iPad.
Getting our lunch in Hsinzhu, not the type of meal I want but need to get my stomach filled.
Took a seat near to window to keep an eye on our bikes.
A view of another small town.
I can't recall what I want to capture here but somehow it does what I like.
My favorite hydration stopping point...though it was not a very hot day but good have a break.
Cold sugar cane was always good to have regardless what kind of day. :)
We are here and not sure which road to choose because this intersection has 4 way to go besides one we are on. Moreover 2 out of 4 need to climb.
It is good to always have an alternative to cross check, we are using Open Street Map, Garmin Taiwan map, Google map and paper map to crossed reference during our journey.
Search for better route on mobile Google map to verify the location.
Drop by this town and he decided to eat something then we stop at a corner shop near to train station.
I was told this was a famous eatery recommended on TV program, anyway I don't really like this kind of food. Moreover I prefer to have proper meal rather than this small meal.
Met a cyclist who is going home after joining a cycling event. His girlfriend is riding on a scooter to be his support personnel.
By the time we reach here the sky is getting darker and we still have about 35 km to our destination. We need a contingency plan otherwise will have to sleep on the street.
Just before we reach our revised destination, Sanyi Train Station, came across this nice little decoration along the road. Besides using it as a warning light it is also a beautify the place.
A simple cockpit yet meaningful to motivate me going on.
This is our revised destination, started to pack while waiting for rescue car.
After bring back our stuff to my sister place where she will host our first night, clean up ourselves then headint o this hotpot restaurant for dinner.
Everyone will have their own pot for the the chosen dishes, thanks to Winnie Soon for this dinner treat.
The actual ride route on day 01 with elevation profile and speed graph against distance.
Ride detail from my Garmin Edge 800.
