Ohhhh! This is cool !
A new discovery as I was surfing the net! When we go to Taiwan, must remember to ask for receipts for all your purchases. That is because the tax authority in Taiwan will conduct bi-monthly draw (or quarterly maybe?) On each and every receipt that we collect, there is always a receipt / tax no. printed on it. When you are back from your trip, just go this this website to check all your receipts against the numbers published.
http://www.etax.nat.gov.tw/etwmain/front/ETW183W1
Looking at the website info as to how much was spent and what kind of items the receipts were for..wow! even buying a bottle of water at 7-11 qualifies too! Or at night markets food stalls if they do issue one. Must grab !
If your receipt(s) matches one whole complete string, like our Big Sweep, really HUAT BIG BIG AH! If it matches last few numbers, the prize money varies from I think NT 200 to NT 1000? I am not too sure as I have only found this out. Of course if we are back in Singapore and strike only NT200, don't waste money on another air ticket to fly back to collect the prize money. Just donate to charity and earn some good karma ! kekeke!
This thread on Trip Advisor will help you to understand better.
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g293910-i9303-k4561587-o20-Keep_your_receipts_for_purchases_made_in_Taiwan-Taiwan.html
Go on and read the thread ! Anything that is free and on lucky draw basis, kia-su-ism may not be a bad thing ! Lol...
Now I know :) My friend who came back from Taipei could not understand why some locals ask if she needs the receipts / fa-piao (发票）or else can they (the locals) have it.
Everybody also want to HUAT 365 days !
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Friday, October 19, 2012
Preparing for Taiwan Trip 22/11/12 - 1/12/12 Part 3/6
After a day of solid work in the office..finally reach home at about 8pm. Wonder how I managed to survive all the madness the world has been leashing out for so many years! TTA? Yucks!
Anyway after a quick dinner, I sat down to purchase a travel insurance cover for the 5 of us. Citibank was having a good promo with 30% discount if we sign up from now till 31 Dec 2012. Being true-bred Singapore lang, hurry hurry signed up and no lose out. paid S$138 for the whole trip & family. Underwritten by ACE. :))
Just like our past trip, we always book our hotel here. Rates are good and there are $$ given for the next booking. Worth!
For our accommodation in Taipei, I originally checked out Rainbow Hotel, located at Ximending. They have a room that can accommodate up to 5 persons! Only disadvantage is that there is only one bathroom and my worry of mad rush in the morning. From the reviews I gathered from other travelers, this 5 pax room seems to be somehwhat comfy and spacious, no frills. The cost per night at that time I enquired was NT4480 per night. Not too bad a deal. Hot favorite with Singaporeans and Malaysians because of its excellent location. Step out of hotel only can shop till dropped and it is very near MRT. Wonstar is another really popular hotel.
I almost nearly made a booking with Rainbow Hotel, and by fate / chance, I happened to chat with an old friend, who has visited Taipei last December with his family. He did not stay at a hotel, but went for minsu (民宿). He strongly recommended Taipei York, which is located in Ximending too.
Well, I dropped the minsu owner, Mr Liu, an email out of curiosity, googled around for more info and hey! this minsu is indeed a popular choice with travelers from Asia! Staying in a minsu is generally cheaper than staying in hotel. Reason being : there is no full housekeeping other than someone coming in to clear your rubbish for you. Plus point is that there is a kitchen where you can cook, a washing machine and a dryer.
Anyway after a quick dinner, I sat down to purchase a travel insurance cover for the 5 of us. Citibank was having a good promo with 30% discount if we sign up from now till 31 Dec 2012. Being true-bred Singapore lang, hurry hurry signed up and no lose out. paid S$138 for the whole trip & family. Underwritten by ACE. :))
Just like our past trip, we always book our hotel here. Rates are good and there are $$ given for the next booking. Worth!
For our accommodation in Taipei, I originally checked out Rainbow Hotel, located at Ximending. They have a room that can accommodate up to 5 persons! Only disadvantage is that there is only one bathroom and my worry of mad rush in the morning. From the reviews I gathered from other travelers, this 5 pax room seems to be somehwhat comfy and spacious, no frills. The cost per night at that time I enquired was NT4480 per night. Not too bad a deal. Hot favorite with Singaporeans and Malaysians because of its excellent location. Step out of hotel only can shop till dropped and it is very near MRT. Wonstar is another really popular hotel.
I almost nearly made a booking with Rainbow Hotel, and by fate / chance, I happened to chat with an old friend, who has visited Taipei last December with his family. He did not stay at a hotel, but went for minsu (民宿). He strongly recommended Taipei York, which is located in Ximending too.
Well, I dropped the minsu owner, Mr Liu, an email out of curiosity, googled around for more info and hey! this minsu is indeed a popular choice with travelers from Asia! Staying in a minsu is generally cheaper than staying in hotel. Reason being : there is no full housekeeping other than someone coming in to clear your rubbish for you. Plus point is that there is a kitchen where you can cook, a washing machine and a dryer.
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Preparing for Taiwan Trip 22/11/12 - 1/12/12 Part 2/6
Finally..completed planning itinerary for our Taipei Trip! Not the best, but good for a start. Will make adjustment when we are in there.
| Taiwan Trip (22/11/2012 - 1/12/2012) | ||
| Day 1 | 22/11/2012 | Arrive in Taipei |
| (Thursday) | Miramar Entertainment Park | |
| Ximending | ||
| Day 2 | 23/11/2012 | Wulai SkyWalk |
| (Friday) | Wulai Old Street | |
| Persimmon Farm | ||
| Beipu Old Street | ||
| Neiwan Old Street | ||
| Day 3 | 24/11/2012 | Flying Cow Ranch |
| (Saturday) | Shang Tian Coffee House | |
| Sheng Xing Railway Station | ||
| Strawbery Farm / Winery | ||
| Shokolake Choc Factory | ||
| Salt Factory | ||
| Nanzhuang Old Street | ||
| Day 4 | 25/11/2012 | Breakfast at Fu Hang Dou Jiang |
| (Sunday) | Longshan Temple | |
| Taipei Main Station | ||
| Lunch at Ding Tai Fung - ZhongXiao FuXing | ||
| Wu Fen Pu | ||
| Raohe Night Market, Songshan Ciyou Temple | ||
| Day 5 | 26/11/2012 | JiuFen |
| (Monday) | Jin Gua Shi (Museum, YingYang Hai, Huangjing Waterfall) | |
| Shi Fen Waterfall | ||
| Shi Fen Old Street - Sky Lantern | ||
| Qingtong / Pingxi | ||
| Toufu Street ( depends if have time) | ||
| Day 6 | 27/11/2012 | MaoKong Gondola |
| (Tuesday) | Taipei Zoo | |
| Taipei 101 | ||
| Keelung - Miaokou Night Market | ||
| Day 7 | 28/11/2012 | Beitou |
| (Wednesday) | Danshui | |
| Fisherman Wharf | ||
| Shilin Night Market | ||
| Day 8 | 29/11/2012 | Yeliu |
| (Thursday) | Ocean Park | |
| Dihua Street | ||
| Ximending | ||
| Day 9 | 30/11/2012 | F&E |
| (Friday) | ||
For Day 2, 3 and 5, I have engaged a guide cum driver, Mr Lai. Got his contact through...
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Preparing for Taiwan Trip 22/11/12 - 1/12/12 Part 1
After rounds of "family conference", our next travel destination would be Taiwan ! :)) Old folks wanted to go to Korea and kids - to Hongkong again, to eat fishballs! *FAINT*
I have just started to blog about me and my travels..hopefully this will bring back sweet memories should mine fail one day. LOL! I have just uploaded some pics that I took when we were in Hongkong last year. Instead of putting up pics which most bloggers would have already done, I have chosen to put up pics which we took when we were in Cheung Chau and Tai O. Not much narration since the trip was one year back. However, for those of you who are reading and has any questions, just roll me an email..
For the coming Taiwan trip, I will try to blog in as many info and details as possible. With my Iphone 4S, this should make blogging more fun ! :) I was scribbling an itinerary one fine day in my office and my colleague teased and say that I should have it properly documented. Hmmmm..I saw that cheeky look on her face and asked : you intend to go har"? Bingo ! Answer is ya lor! She was hoping for me to do all the "homework" and she piggy back.
As of now, I have already booked the air tickets. We are going via Tiger Airways. This is the first time we are traveling via budget airline and I find the booking online kind of confusing. Besides booking the flights, we will also have to estimate the weight of baggage and purchase the needed weight package. This is to avoid paying high charges at the airport should we exceed to baggage allowance. As for meals, we have decided not to make prior purchase. Rather, we will buy on board as and when we feel like eating. My mum always have problems with airline food. Says that it is full of "rubber" texture and taste.
Going out now. Will talk more about my hotel booking and tour guide arrangement in my next post!
Lovely weekend!
I have just started to blog about me and my travels..hopefully this will bring back sweet memories should mine fail one day. LOL! I have just uploaded some pics that I took when we were in Hongkong last year. Instead of putting up pics which most bloggers would have already done, I have chosen to put up pics which we took when we were in Cheung Chau and Tai O. Not much narration since the trip was one year back. However, for those of you who are reading and has any questions, just roll me an email..
For the coming Taiwan trip, I will try to blog in as many info and details as possible. With my Iphone 4S, this should make blogging more fun ! :) I was scribbling an itinerary one fine day in my office and my colleague teased and say that I should have it properly documented. Hmmmm..I saw that cheeky look on her face and asked : you intend to go har"? Bingo ! Answer is ya lor! She was hoping for me to do all the "homework" and she piggy back.
As of now, I have already booked the air tickets. We are going via Tiger Airways. This is the first time we are traveling via budget airline and I find the booking online kind of confusing. Besides booking the flights, we will also have to estimate the weight of baggage and purchase the needed weight package. This is to avoid paying high charges at the airport should we exceed to baggage allowance. As for meals, we have decided not to make prior purchase. Rather, we will buy on board as and when we feel like eating. My mum always have problems with airline food. Says that it is full of "rubber" texture and taste.
Going out now. Will talk more about my hotel booking and tour guide arrangement in my next post!
Lovely weekend!
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