Sun Moon Lake 日月潭

Original Plan:

Take a taxi from hostel to bus station 台中干城站 (note: this is not your normal bus station but a row of bus companies in the shops with their buses parked by the road). Buy tickets from one of the operators for the first bus to Sun Moon Lake 日月潭. We had checked earlier and found out only 南投客運 runs between Taichung and Sun Moon Lake. Tickets cost NT180/pax.

But we got intercepted:
The moment we stepped out of the taxi in front of the bus station, a lanky man in his 40s cut into our path and asked if we were going to Sun Moon Lake. He then offered to bring us in his taxi for NT200/pax. He claimed to specialise in ferrying tourists to and around SML. It was hard to resist his offer, considering the comfort and privacy of a taxi. After a quick discussion, we were in the taxi and on our way to SML.

The journey was smooth and we reached SML in merely an hour. Learning that we hadn't booked any accommodation in SML, our dedicated driver recommended a minsu called 潭之戀 located at Shuishe 水社 (the main tourist stretch on SML). We took a look at the room upon arrival. No frills, air-con, en suite. NT2000/night with breakfast for three pax. Good enough for us.

Now, our enterprising taxi driver (Mr Liu 劉) didn't just leave us there. He then offered to take us around SML, covering all the sights for NT3000 (inclusive of the fare for our ride from Taichung). Promising that we don't have to waste time waiting for the scheduled shuttle buses, take as long as we want to at each location, stop to see whatever, wherever and whenever we like to. We caved in again to the offer.

Our whole day tour of SML in our private-hire taxi took us to the following:
- Wen Wu Temple
- Ita Thao Aboroginal Show
- Ita Thao Market Street
- Lake Tour on boat (additional NT300/pax)
- Xuan Guang Temple
- Xuan Zang Temple
- Ci En Pagoda
- Da Zhu Hu Hiking Trail
- Peacock Park

Wen Wu Temple 文武廟:

     

Ita Thao Aboriginal Show and Market Street:

     

Lake Tour:

  

Xuan Guang Temple 玄光寺:

  

Xuan Zang Temple 玄奘殿:


Ci En Pagoda 慈恩塔:

    

 Da Zhu Hu Hiking Trail 大竹湖步道:

  

Peacock Park:
Beware: This is a tourist trap. A few rare and beautiful bird species in cages, and many 'free-roaming' peacocks in a fenced-up compound. Don't waste time on this unless you're totally into birds.