So, today we're on the move again, on a journey that will take 4 hours. We need to be awake at 6:00 AM to be packed and ready and then have breakfast at 7:00. The breakfast is something we look forward to, but the room I won't miss. Several issues, including getting in the bath for a shower and living in a rabbit palace, I can now put to the back of my mind. The full breakfast gives us the chance to overindulge before a long journey, but it also takes time. It's nearer 8:00 AM before we leave.
Yesterday's experience has taught us that city bus 307 is the best option to get to Taipei bus station, especially with luggage. It's just across the street, and we're soon on our way. My only concern is that we haven't booked travel tickets. The plan is to take a bus directly to Sun Moon Lake, but fortunately there are other options. Despite missing a stop, we are on the way to the bus station, which is easier said than done. The underground concourse of shops and passageways is like a rabbit warren. It takes ages to locate the ticket office. Once there, though, we have our tickets to great relief for a 9:30 departure. We hop on board, and a major piece of the puzzle is in place.
The bus departs Taipei on time and heads down the western coast using good roads. A significant milestone is reached as we pass to the west and then south of Taichung, which is an important city on the high-speed railway line. It's time to head into the mountains along HWY 6. This highway is a well-built carriageway with tunnels. Soon though, we must head south towards Puli. This is a drop-off point, and after more than 3 hours, there is a chance for a comfort break. There are just 30 minutes left now to Sun Moon Lake. It's now a question of where the bus will terminate. As it reaches the lakeside, it turns right, and I know where it's going. We arrive at Shuishe, but that's not where we need to be. We collect information, but asking 6 different people, we get 6 different answers as to how to use the shuttle bus. In the end it's just a matter of patience as shuttle bus 6669 arrives. From Shuishe it's another 15 minutes around the lake until we find Ito Thao, the lakeside village we need.
From the drop-off point it's less than a 10-minute walk to the lakeside. Taihu Hotel is close by. We check in and settle up for the room, then receive the keys to Room 303, which is certainly different from First Hotel. It's been refurbished to a good standard with a nice bathroom with a walk-in shower. The standout feature is the large flat-screen smart TV, so there's entertainment galore should all else fail. On the negative side, the double bed is up against the wall, awkward for someone who needs to get up in the night. The other inconvenience is the rather inadequate tiny wooden chair, ok for a dwarf but not so good for Snow White.
Arriving in mid-afternoon gives me a rare chance to catch up with some sleep. It's around 5:00 PM when we head out for some food. We soon find out what this little tourist town has to offer in the unfamiliar shops and boutiques with food of many types, all a bit strange. We eventually find a restaurant that will do for the moment, but it doesn't provide the flavorsome food I'm used to in Thailand. Time will tell if we can discover something amazing here.
As we settle in to our first night, I'm relieved that we have made it here under our own steam. It is a challenge, but thankfully all is well in the end as we tick one more box. From now on it's a matter of adding the froth to our stay in Taiwan.

Source: Visit