Taipei Trip Review Part 3 - Excellent Svc of Mr Lu Lai Fu

4. Hualien (花連)

We have book online the train ticket to 花連 prior our arrival to Taipei. The online booking system is super stupid and don%26#39;t tie with the automatic ticket collecting machine at the Taipei Train station, if you key in a different format of the NRIC no.

The online booking system would require you to input yr NRIC. DO REMEMBER TO USE THIS FORMAT- First char is an alpha, follow by your NRIC no. + 2 zeros (total 9 digits). This is the format that the automatic ticket collection machine will recognised, else, you will have to queue at the counter to collect your ticket. Ticket collection due date is 2 days after your online booking, therefore don%26#39;t book too early.

We arrived Hualien around 9.50am and meet Mr Lu Lai Fu. Very warm and friendly guy and he actually engaged a driver to drive his white Toyota Wish so that he can full-time accompany us during our trip.

Mr Lu will ask you if you wish to pack Bian Dang (便當)and eat inside Taroko or go there and find some restaurant to eat. Strongly suggest that you choose the 便當 options.. many variety to choose and it is nice. Comes with soup and yakult.. XD

Also, he will ask if you wish to go to another place call 小清水 and 大清水 for another NT500.. I would say JUST GO... you won%26#39;t regret after seeing the Pacific Ocean.

Taroko is so super big... Mr Lu offer to take pictures for us, recommending the best angle for the photos.. The weather is not good on that day that we went, raining slightly. Do bring along a jacket, it can be COLD... unlike in the city.

The most memorable part is the walk on 白楊步道. It is about 2hrs to and fro. Mr Lu teach us how to pose so that it seems like we are drinking the waterfall and flying in the mountains from the photos... so funny sia..

He keep saying that 白楊步道 is very exciting.. and the exciting part 1 is walking along a very dark tunnle.. reali cant see your fingers type.. he will upon your request on his torchlight.. if you are scare.. hahahaha

Exciting part 2 is going into a waterfall cave call 水帘洞. Lai Fu will prepare raincoat for you to wear and you will walk into the cave. The water is cold and the stones on the floor really feel like 腳底按摩. Your feet will feel relax after this and your tireness will be gone. And... he will help you to take photos inside the watercave, with you standing under the waterfall. We came out 30% wet but felt worth it...siok siok..

I am very amazed by his energy. He walks and runs SO fast at his age. (He mentioned he is abt 60+ yrs old). He even said that he needs to piggy back small children if they cant walk during the trip... O.o

After Taroko, he suggested that we pack food to eat on the train since we are running short of time. He suggested some fish soup with rice. However, we think that this is not nice after we ate, so you may not want to take his offer if he make this suggestion to you. Moreover, it is hard to eat soup stuffs on a rocking train.

He also bring us to a store that sell Mua Ji (opp the train station) and again, we started buying. After reaching the train station, we bid farewell to Mr Lu. But this is not the end, while waiting for the train to arrive, we saw him still walking around. He is actually helping us to check the arrival time, and also helped us to carry our food to the train. YES.. to the train and to our seats. He goes off only when the train is about to leave the station.

Excellent service from him... 5 stars.. but he is a very busy man.. lots of phone call for his service, so it is better for you book fast so that you can request for his personal service, else, he may assign you to one of his other drivers. Hmm... he now operates like a business... LoL.. oh ya.. upon request, he can even accompany you to Taizong..

An unforgettable Hualien trip.. will surely engaged his service again.

Reached Taipei around 9.30pm by taking the new train 太魯閣號, save the journey time by 30mins as compared to 自強號

End of Part 3.... To be continued

Taipei Trip Review Part 3 - Excellent Svc of Mr Lu Lai Fu

hi PandaSea,

thank you for your informative post. you must have enjoyed yourselves !!

can i know how much you paid for Mr Lu%26#39;s service?

you engaged him as a guide and not a driver, right?

tks.

Taipei Trip Review Part 3 - Excellent Svc of Mr Lu Lai Fu

Hi

I think he used to drive and guide the tour as well. However, he is afraid of leaving his car empty and therefore now he engage a driver.

Small car = NT2200

Big car = NT2500

If want go to ching siu +NT500

Reasonable price for 1 day trip

Thats a very nice review from you. =]. Btw, you mentioned that upon request, it%26#39;s possible for Mr Lu to drive to Taichung. Is additional charges required? And, how many persons can his small car accomodate? TIA! =]

Not too sure how he charge for the trip to Taichung. But he mentioned that you can engaged his service from Hualien and play through Taichung..

His car can take 5 adults excluding himself and the driver.

Big car = 7 adults, including himself and the driver

Small car is the normal taxi type, so 5 adults including himself and the driver.

Thanks PandaSea for ur review abt Mr Lu.. v comprehensive =)

Hm.. looks like engaging him n his driver in his bigger vehicle seems more worthwhile.. i%26#39;m intending to go Hua Lien on 10 jul 08 with a fren.. any1 going on dat date and share the cost??

Hmm, i%26#39;d be going on 11 July along with 3 others. Bonkermania, if you dont want going on this date and Mr Lu is willing to do w/o the driver, we could arrange to go tog. =]

Hi,

Juz wonder if anyone can help me ask Mr Lu on the charges from CingJing to Taichung.

I plan to go from taipei to CingJing, follow by Taichung and Hualien. Wonder how much does Mr Lu charges for the trip from CingJing to Taichung, and day trip in Taichung and Hualien.

Thks.

Hi mapleaves.. Hm.. mayb can.. but i%26#39;d hav to tok to my fren to c if ok to go on 11 jul instead.. will let u noe nex wk.. Thanx!!

Hey can I have Mr Lu%26#39;s number? Or any nice and friendly cabbies number who can bring me a tour in Hualien and Torko Gorge?

Thanks!