Kenting（墾丁）4D3N @ Minsu 楓采藝宿/海洋生物館

What's exchange life without travelling? 

My first post will be on our 4D3N Kenting trip (7/11/13 - 10/11/13).

We stayed in Feng Cai Yi Su (楓采藝宿) for 3D2N before heading to the Kenting Sea Aquarium(國立海洋生物館) for a 1D1N stay. 

In this post, I'll be featuring our dearest Minsu boss, 豐哥! I really love him for his hospitality and his nonsensical nonsense. Haha he feels just like my dear daddy :') 

This is my second trip to Kenting and previously, i met Feng Ge (Minsu boss) at a BBQ Squid stall along Kenting Main Street. So I contacted him a few weeks before the trip, and he arranged for a taxi driver to come pick us up at Kaohsiung Main Station at 10am. So here we go! (P.S. Kenting can only be reached from Kaohsiung) 

DAY 1

Taxi from Kaohsiung Main Station to our Kenting minsu, Feng Cai Yi Su (楓采藝宿) - NT350 per pax 

On the cab to Kenting from Kaohsiung Main Station. Journey ~1.5hours

Feng Cai Yi Su, Sea-view 4 pax room (楓采藝宿, 面海四人房) - NT 6000 (NT 1500 per pax)

http://www.uukt.com.tw/_tw/member/01_detail.php?kd=445  

The paintings on the wall are all done by the minsu boss!

Featuring our super big bathtub with an awesome sea view :)

Our view from the balcony!

In Kenting, there is no public transportation system and tourists usually go by 

1) Cab 

2) Tour bus

3) Electric bike/Scooter

And of course, we hired Feng Ge to be our driver for this trip - NT3000 (NT1500 per pax)

1. Houbihu （後壁湖）

As Feng Ge knew that i was craving for the super cheap and fresh sashimi that is sold at Houbihu (後壁湖), it was the first place that he drove us to! 

We walked into this shop that he brought us to (I forgot the name) and he began to order so much food for us! 

 

THIS PICTURE HAS TO BE ESPECIALLY BIG BECAUSE IT IS THE CHEAPEST SASHIMI I HAVE EVER EATEN!
THIS PLATE OF GOODNESS (40 PIECES) COSTS NT200(SGD$8+), AND IS SOOOOO FRESH!
PROUDLY SPONSORED BY FENG GE :)

This is the price list for your reference :)

So after lunch, we headed to the beach have our water activities (also provided by Feng Ge)! We were lucky that day because the tides weren't that strong! In winter, the waves get pretty crazy, so try to come during summer :) 

He brought us to Chuan Fan Shi (船帆石), conveniently located 3 mins away from the minsu! He charged us much cheaper than those vendors along Kenting Main Street (Normally NT1000 for 3 activities)! 

2. Chuan Fan Shi (船帆石)

Sail Rock (Chuanfan Shi) (船帆石) is a large, sail-shaped rock east of the town of Kenting. It is named because of its resemblance to the sail on a ship. To most people (well, at least me), it looks like a big rock. It is also sometimes called “Nixon Head” since it looks like the head of President Nixon (you’ll need some imagination.) The rock protrudes from the remnants of an ancient coral reef, a typical scene in Kenting National Park.

Water activities - Dajiaoya+Tiantianquan+WaterATV (3 activities) for NT500 per pax

Our last friend was sleeping in the minsu hahaha 

Us with Feng Ge!

He drove his ATV to pick us up!

Posing with the marble walls after our water activities :) What a nice bg for a pic! 

Caught the sunset at the balcony which was so beautiful :) Sorry for the lousy resolution cos i took this using my iPad!

3. Kenting Main Street (墾丁大街）

We washed up and left for dinner at 5+ along Kenting Main Street. There will be stalls set up along the streets in the evening, which works just like a night market! My favourite street snacks (XL chicken, Oysters, BBQ Squid, 月亮煎餅) can be found there! There are also pubs and shops located along the street.

At Kenting Main Street!

We bought some street food for dinner as we were still really full from lunch! 

4. ATV Trip at night (MUST GO)

After which, we headed for our ATV trip up the mountain in search of deers (梅花鹿) and nocturnal animals, as well as crab hunting along the beach! Met Feng Ge after dinner and he drove us back to the minsu to take his ATV. This was a really unique and eye-opening experience for me as we were going to intrude the natural habitats of these deers! These deers are protected by the country, but the gates weren't locked, so we could go in! 

ATV Ride at night - NT500 per pax

 Crabs and prawns that could walk! Feng Ge's eyes is sooooo sharp! I couldn't even see anything moving in the water! Hehehe this crab's really huge! But it was really scary going downhill to the beaches at night, as it was really dark and we could only rely on the few torchlights that he prepared. Felt like an adventurous girl that night hahaha :) 

 We got our chance to drive the ATVs along the mountain roads too, but i was too scared to drive with those two behind me hahahaha. Si Hui had so much fun driving it hahaha~

We switched to another sea-view room that night as the air-con was faulty. As you can see,  all the rooms are themed differently! And this one has my fav yellow colour hehehe :D 

 DAY 2

Woke up after a good night's sleep :) The beds were so comfy!

Feng Ge bought hamburger and black tea for us for breakfast, and got it delivered right to our doorstep! :o so we could have the luxury of eating on our beds! HAHAHA no la we sat around this mini table to eat while watching this rather horrifying documentary on TV. Taiwan's TV has all sorts of channel lol. After which, we headed out to visit the other attractions in Kenting. 

1. 砂島-貝殼砂展示館 (Seashell Sand Exhibition Centre)

Sand Island Beach is the purest shells on the beach in Kenting, calcium carbonate content of 97.6% sand. Previously, visitors would often bring a pack a bag of sand back, or even smuggle sand out to sell, causing serious destruction. Now, in order to protect this world-class beach, the current system only allows visitors to look from a distance. There is a shell exhibition hall which describes the precious resources available on the beach and allows you to have a feel of these unique sand made up of corals.

Oh did i not mention that our cab was actually Feng Ge's Mercedes? HAHA.

2. Southern Most Point (最南點)

As explained by the name of this place, it is Taiwan's Southern Most point!

Us chilling at Southern Most Point (最南點) while waiting for our friends to tour Eluanbi Park.

3. Wind Blow Sand (風吹沙）

Wind blow sand（風吹沙）Okay la i translated directly. But the wind here is insane, it was so difficult to take a proper photo as my camera was shaking intensely with the freaking strong wind. If you're too light, you may fly away!!! So have a heavy lunch before heading here hahaha.

4. Ah Jia's House in Hengchun（阿嘉的家）(恆春）from the movie Cape No. 7

You'll have to pay NT50 to get into the house, so we just took a photo with the exterior of the house hahaha.
I didn't really like the movie because it had an underlying story which i couldn't understand.

5. Lunch in Hengchun (恆春)

Lunch at Hengchun (恆春), some restaurant which was nicely decorated with vintage stuff! 

Pork Slices with Garlic Sauce 蒜泥白肉
DAMN NICE T.T

Bittergourd T.T It looks and tastes differently from those in Singapore.
THIS ONE WAS ESPECIALLY COLD AND BITTER.

6. North Gate（南門）

One of the four gates in Kenting :)

Bubbletea treat by Feng Ge!

7. Maobitou(貓鼻頭)

 Maobitou (猫鼻頭) (Cat's Nose) is the second most southerly point on the island of Taiwan. It sits across a wide bay from Eluanbi, but in many respects, Maobitou is much more beautiful. The area around Maobitou has a rugged, rocky feel to it. This is exemplefied by the ground you walk on: it was formerly a coral reef but is now rock, and it's extremely difficult to walk on. Rocks protrude at random angles into the sea, with the most noticeable rock being shaped somewhat like a cat (hence the name). The rocks are covered with grass and moss, with a beautiful contrast of rock and greenery.

Featuring this China lady who borrowed my friend's hat to pose for a picture =.=
THAT WAS AWFULLY FUNNY HAHAHAHA

8. Baishawan（白沙灣）

After which, we arrived at 白沙灣.
In comparison to 南灣, this place is less commercialised and the beach is prettier :) 
The water activities here are less pricey too. 

The waves were really strong that day!

Mini Hermit crab! The creatures that Feng Ge caught. He's totally a seaside kid!

放生

9. Guanshan 關山 

The well-known attraction for catching a sunset! As Feng Ge knew everyone around here, he was able to get us a really really good seat for catching the sunset! :D hahaha this one that we went to was our second choice because the rest of the places were too crowded! There was a min spending of NT 50 for each pax. However, there were a handful of rabbits and hamsters in the cafe so it wasn't so bad afterall! :D:D:D 

The beautiful sunset. 

 10. Hengchun Prawning 恆春釣蝦場

We wanted to sing some karaoke but ended up having a prawn feast! Hehehe prawns-overload @.@

6 different flavours of prawns!

11. Chu Huo 出火

This attraction is famed for fire coming out from the soil. There's natural gas in the soil (can't exactly remember too, too technical for me to remember haha). 

There will be vendors selling corns, popcorns and fireworks at the entrance normally. As it was drizzling that night, the vendors were not there :( 

Wanted to sing karaoke with the boss and his friends but was called off because we were too tired. And partly because his friends were drunk that night @.@ Feng Ge's a really fatherly man who will really take care of our needs! VERY TOUCHED BY HIS HOSPITALITY.

DAY 3

DEAREST FENG GE, IT'S REALLY MY PLEASURE TO MEET YOU, AND I REALLY HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

Our final lunch in Houbihu.

Featuring my favourite sashimi again (40 PIECES OF GOODNESS FOR SGD$8)(NT 200).
This time, we had loads of salmon belly (YUMSSSSS). THANK YOU FENG GE.

THIS DRINK IS THE BEST DRINK I'VE EVER HAD IN TAIWAN.
IT'S CALLED Haiyanwo 海燕窩 and i swear it was soooooo gooood. Sold at the sashimi shop!
And 豐哥 sent us to the Kenting Sea Aquarium and we parted our goodbyes T.T

 1. Kenting Sea Aquarium (墾丁海洋生物館）

Paid NT2300 per pax for our 1D1N program

Penguins!

Our team leaders showed us around the aquarium and we were told to remember some characteristics of the fishes in the day!
And at night, we'll be making a visit to these places again and they will show us how these fishes will behave differently!

Buffet dinner yumsssss 

After dinner, we toured the backstage of the aquarium, where we were given the chance to feed the fishes. Hahaha sorry i have no photos for that. 

Clay making session :)

Our makeshift beds along the tunnel that were so comfy!

This is how it feels like to have a huge stingray swim over your head at night.  

DAY 4

As i couldn't take a proper picture of the penguins the previous day, I WENT BACK HERE TO TRY MY LUCK AGAIN!!!
In the morning, we had our Western-styled breakfast and sneaked into the penguin exhibition and managed to take a pic of this cutie pie. hahaha :) It was much easier to take nicer pictures this time round as we were the only ones in the exhibition hall! (The aquarium opens only at 10am!)

And we were given the chance to watch the fish-feeding session! Damn amazing!!!
This is exclusively for members participating in this program!

And then we were brought to the seaside to look for these mini mini seashells! It's a pity they are protected by the government and we couldn't smuggle any back :( 


***UPDATES (30 Apr 2015)

Missing kenting and contacted feng ge! He renovated his rooms and now they look oh so pretty 😍 If not for work and financial constraints, i would fly immediately to kaohsiung and chiong down to kenting!
Recently scoot has this new route to kaohsiung directly and it definitely helps so much in fulfilling my cheap sashimi cravings! CHEAPEST SASHIMI EVER #sashimiheaven #kenting #kending #kaohsiung #singapore 

Let the pics do the work k! 

Will be back one day! Feng ge wait for me!