Experiencing Taiwan - October, 2017 -sailor(Ocean & Mountain) @The Rolia Forum of Baltimore

Experiencing Taiwan - October, 2017

sailor(Ocean & Mountain)

Unlike many people, our Taiwan trip started in Kaohsiung in the south, and ended in Taipei in the north.

In the following map, the yellow pins are places we visited. Cities/towned we stayed overnight were: Kaohsiung, Taitung, Yuli, Taroko Village, Jiaoxi, and Taipei.

Season:

October is usually a good time to visit Taiwan, when it's not too hot, not too cold, and not much rain. Although this year was somehow unusual. In Taroko we encountered very heavy storms. But it's a rememberable experience!

Transportation:

Taiwan has a very good network consisting of buses and different kinds of trains. There is an "iPass Card", togeher with a few other cards, that is good for most transportation tools (excepts high speed railway). It's also cheaper than paying cash.

In smaller towns, you can rent a scooter. However, keep in mind about two things. First, you need to prepare an International Driving Permit in your home country; Second, some stores don't rent scooters to foreigners. If that's the case, just go find another store that wants your business.

Language:

If you speak English, there's generally no problem, maybe with help from some younger people. Metro and buses announce stop information in several languages, including English. Good news: Taiwan is considering to set English as the second official language.

(#3622@4096)
Last Updated: 2018-1-4

Buddha Light Temple, the global headquarter -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {272} (#3623@4096)

Kaohsiung -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {570} (#3624@4096)

Inside the Formosa Boulevard MRT Station:

There is a piano open to the public to play:

This sign reads R.O.C. (Republic of China), the official name of Taiwan. It's not easy to see this name nowadays.

Taiwan is a very spiritual place. Temples are everywhere. Modern digital technology is used too!

On the way to Guan-zi-ling Hot Springs -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {1142} (#3625@4096)

The Guanziling Hot Springs can be done as a day trip from Kaohsiung, through public transit system. First it's a train ride to Xinying (Singing), then bus to Baihe, and another bus ride to the Hot Springs. The rides were very comfy.

It is a mud spring. The mud is provided in a bucket. You can apply it all throughout your body.

No camera is allowed inside the soaking area.

This restaurant sells terracotta pot chicken. The yellow sign reads, "I'm very hot".

At the bus station in Baihe town. This wooden table/seats is of very good quality. Guess Taiwan should have a very good forest industry?

Military service has been changed from compulsory to voluntary. This is a recruitement advertisement at the bus station.

I like the English translation of the name of this town: Singing!

Kenting National Park -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {1256} (#3626@4096)

In front of a bus station, this is the Moon Festival offering. The gods now also enjoy package food. :)

This place is called "Chu Huo". In the wild, natural gas comes from underneath and is lit.

The south gate of the old town of Hengchun.

Beautiful spinning wheels hung over the streets of downtown Hengchun.

A hanging bridge near Jialeshui.

Near Jialeshui. People surf here.

Dragon fruit farm.

Peppercorn?

Jialeshui.

Looking out to the Pacific Ocean.

The lush countryside.

In Jialeshui.

Taitung -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {1037} (#3627@4096)

Liji Bad Land.

Little Yellow Mountain.

An artwork in Taitung.

Taiwan's National Day Fireworks takes place in one location each year. The cities take turn to host it. I'm so lucky that I'm able to watch it in Taitung.

For those who didn't know: The official name of Taiwan is Republic of China (ROC), founded in 1911 in Mainland China to replace the Qing Dynasty. In 1949, the Communist took over Mainland China; ROC government was forced to move to Taiwan and has been staying since then.

Yuli -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {824} (#3628@4096)

Rice paddies along the railway.

This is around an elementary school. Smoking is not allowed on the sidewalk.

A very good bike trail in Yuli.

Two railway bridges. They used good color!

A waterfall on Walami Trail.

This hanging bridge was built in the 1930s. Thanks to good construction quality and good maintenance, it's still functioning well.

A view on the Walami Trail.

Hualien and Taroko Village -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {1044} (#3629@4096)

This gate marks the starting point of the highway connecting east and west coasts of Taiwan.

First day in Taroko. The weather was not good. Raining, cloudy.

This shows the water level on the first day.

Standing on the bridge, a view of the river.

The next morning: learned that Taroko park was closed due to heavy rain. Visited Qixingtan instead.

There is an air force base next to the beach.

They are recruiting too!

Third day: still raining, park still closed. The river water had swollen a lot!

Taroko National Park -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-4 {819} (#3630@4096)

The fourth morning, blue sky appeared again. The national park reopened.

A Buddhist tower in Tianxiang.

Do you notice the road on the cliff?

A rapid, viewed from a bridge.

Basically no hiking trail was open. From this photo you understand why.

Falling rocks is a concern. What we didn't expect is that inside the tunnel, rocks fell from the ceiling too!

Thanks for sharing. Been there two times, but still feel there is more to explore. -april(april); 2018-1-5 (#3634@4096) +1

Right. My most enjoyable time was in Yuli, small town, but everything is neat. Would love to stay there doing nothing... -sailor(Ocean & Mountain); 2018-1-8 (#3645@4096)