Rainy Pingxi

Our second day was set to visit the quaint little towns in Pingxi District.
From Taipei Metro Station, we bought tickets to Ruifang (pronounced ray-fung) at the TRA window. Costs 70 NTD one way.

Got on our designated platform. Turned out I left my ticket at the turnstile, thus, I anxiously ran back to ask from the lady manning the entrance. Good thing she has a key handy, and when I pointed where I entered and told her, "Ticket!" She calmly opened the box, and Ta-Da! Produced my teeny bit of ticket. 


Okay, the Taipei e-card can be used in the TRA. That was what I researched. But silly me, I was not paying attention to it. Monzenn pointed it out, but I guess, being the worrywart that I was, I was keen on buying new tickets using TRA. So that's that. 

We alighted at Ruifang Station. Proceeded outside to buy tickets for the Pingxi Line. Whole day pass is 52 NTD. Trains are available at approximately one-hour intervals, so we timed our activities for each stop to train arrivals and departures.

First stop was the Jingtong Old Street. We did nothing here but eat.

Second stop was Pingxi. Where we scoured the old street. Walked a bit. Bought souvenirs. Took lots of photos.

Then our last stop was Shifen. This probably is the most popular due to a number of food stalls lined alongside the train tracks. It was such a delight, I felt Monzenn fed himself to death. Kidding!

We walked towards the waterfalls. But we did not enter since it has a cost of about 80 NTD. I see waterfalls all the time in the Philippines. For free. So, I passed on the chance.

We also lighted our own lantern here.

And we waited for the annual Sky Lantern Festival. 

Yes it was raining. We were cold. Dripping wet. Sopping to the bones. But the wait, the cold, and the rain was well worth it. We saw a number of lights, gathered up to the sky. Reminiscent of that scene in Tangled. Every year, on the Princess' birthday, the King and the Queen holds a light festival. *cue Zac Levi and Mandy Moore song*

Albeit, in one instance, when one engineering feat was not delivered well. The big panda (oh panda!) failed to rise up to the sky. I think it was mostly due to the damp lantern. Also, I had an idea they should have lighted another candle near the panda's neck to have well distribution of hot air. (Hot air rises)

First batch. Captured by my Samsung S3