Taiwan 2016 - Day 4 - Houtong / Jiaoxi/ Yilan

Today is planned for day trip to Yilan for Mr Love to get his hands on the 葱油饼that he is craving so much for and I prayed that it would not rain since they don't operate during rainy days.

The 1st stop is to Houtong where Mr Love had so much fun playing with the village cats the last time we visited.

A local train from Taipei will take us directly here without any transfer. It takes an hour or so to reach. Take trains that are bounded for Yilan.

With Mascot of the station

 But the cats seems to be missing in action. The last time when we came, a few of them were lingering near the station and also at the row of shops in front of the station. But today, there were not even one in sight and it wasn't even raining.

Hello Black nosed!!

We brought some sausage to share and made our way to the coal museum hoping to spot more cats but couldn't see any.

Finally gave up and suggest we go to the cat cafe that we visited the last time. Again to our disappointment, the cafe had changed hands and there were no cats inside anymore. Plus the new owner was not even friendly at all unlike the previous owner.

The next stop is to the cat village opposite the station where an overhead bridge connects to it. There's a long stretch of bench where the cats will laze around but again there is any cats here. Where had all the cats gone hiding to? We couldn't understand.

Previously it was due to the rain and the cats went into hiding since they did not like water but today is a super sunny day and we see lesser cats as compared to the last trip. Mr Love was a bit disappointed. I try to remember where we saw more cats last time and kept bringing him to walk around the village to search for cats for him to interact with.

Crossing to the cat village

Cat hiding from the scotching hot sun

Hi Peeping cat

Walking around the village and even went to the village town hall and but still cannot find any.

Directions around the village

In the end we gave up and just continue to walk around the village for fun.

No real cats, so I took a pic with a fake one

Came across a few cafes but the prices were on the high side and besides we didn't see any cats inside so didn't want to spend on overpriced coffee.

Super fat fortune cat

Cats' pillow but where are all the cats??

Disappointed, we left Houtong and initially wanted to make a trip to Suao to try out the cold spring. Hoped on a train towards Yilan but as we were admiring the scenery outside, it starts to rain.

Then we changed our plan to visit Jiaoxi for hot spring since the day is gonna be cold.

Once disembarked from the train, we changed our mind to go search for the famous Jiaoxi Green Onion Pancake as were afraid the outlet at Yilan which we were due to go later will be closed like the last round.


Shop front

Its around a 15min walk away from Jiaoxi train station.

Directions :

1). Once exit Jiaoxi station, walk straight to the main road (Jiaoxi Road, Section 5)
2). Turn left on the main road and road down the street for 10min
3). You will see Jiaoxi post office on the same street and Jiaoxi Elementary School at the opposite side.
4). The shop is at the intersection facing Jiao Xi post office.

Moveable stall

We were here at around 3pm and there was a queue of around 15 pax. Business was brisk but the queue is moving at a pretty fast rate.

Mr Love joined the queue while I went next door to get drinks and get to rest for a while. Brought fresh milk with pearl and it tastes damn good under the unforgiving weather.

My drink

I sat there chilling out for 10mins before joining Mr Love in the queue. By then, it was nearly his turn. We brought 3 to share. Haha Really greedy. But it tastes really good when served piping hot.

There's a peanut ice cream wrap store besides but we were too full to try.

Full after 3pancakes and 2 cups of milk

We then took the train to Yilan wanting to visit Yilan Dong Men Night Market. But since it was still early, we hang around the supermarket up the street. It had become a must visit when we come to Yilan since we are always too early for the night market.

Super market is one of our favourite places haha so we don't really mind either.

Came across super big bottles of Taiwan's equivalent of Yakult and took photos for comparison. I do see such big bottles of milk in SG but never Yakult and we are both amused that anyone would buy such bottle to drink.

Extra large

Comparison

Large

We actually do buy the large version since usually we need to clear our system after feasting and the small bottle don't really do much help to aids digestions for us. Eat too much.

Medium

At 6pm, we strolled to the night market where the vendors are preparing to start business. I cannot locate my favourite deep fried store and was very disappointed. We did not visit the usual stall for hot plate chicken cutlet since am still full from the Spring Onion pancake. Just feel like eating finger food.

Then we ventured to another alley and by chance found the store I'm looking for! I was so excited that I exclaimed super loud to Mr Love and caught the store owner's attention. She told us that the stores ballot their location every 2 years and she was relocated here this year. Haha Glad that she did not close her store and brought from her our usual stuff, deep fried Pu Rou, chicken skin etc.

We came across a shop selling shaved ice in cup and reminds me of the shop back in mummy's hometown that we usually get as treat from my aunties.

Shake shake ice

I already forgot the taste and can only remember the name haha. Brought 1 cup each and then proceed to walk back to train station to catch our train back to Taipei.

Store front

In front of Yilan train station

It's funny to some that we just catch a 2 hour train ride to Yilan just to eat but we really love Yilan's food and don't mind the travelling since can stop on along the way for attractions on our way here.