1 / 25 - 28th Chinese New Year Trip 2012
After we got down the mountain we went to our next destination: Chi Shing Tan (七星澤). Whose deceiving name makes it sound like it’s a lake but it’s actually a beach. We stayed there for a few hours. I fell asleep on the beach and the sun burnt half my face. The rest of the day I sported a half red lobster face. We stayed in Taipei for the night and the next day went down to JiuFen (九份) and Jing Gua Shi (金瓜石) two towns situated on a mountain. Famous for their food, old architecture and history which was during the gold mine era.
The incredible colors you find on the trails.
1/ 25 - 28th Chinese New Year Trip 2012
Woke up bright and early at 5am and after a short bathroom trip realized I was awake too early. Me and my friend planned to catch the 7:06 train and I didn’t need to be there until 6:30. So I slept for another hour. :D We took a 6 hr train ride to Xīnchéng (新城) which is the train station at the foot of Taroko National Park (太魯閣國家公園). There we easily hired a scooter and off we went.
Now I have been through this road many times as a child. My father got a job in Hualien and we took the long ride from Taichung - Hualien straight across through the mountains numerous times moving our stuff into our new home. But I never appreciated it the way I should have. We spent our days camping and hiking around. Watching endless waterfalls and passing through plenty of temples. We fell asleep to the sound of rushing water and woke up to fog. It was absolutely beautiful. I hope to go back in summer and jump into that blue water.
Moon Festival 3-day Trip
Aowanda National Forest Recreational Park is famous for it’s maple trees and bird-watching. It wasn’t season for them but it was still beautiful. It is also where many rivers connect. It has a beautiful waterfall and the Fonglin Bridge.
Moon Festival 3-day Trip.
For those who like racing. Road 14 is great for that. So many winding turns. It’s fun to drive. A little scary being on the back of the scooter. Not really scary but only the parts when I was trying to sleep.
On the road to Aowanda National Forest Recreational Area we passed by Bihu Lake also known as Wanda Reservoir. It’s illegal to swim like most lakes and rivers in Taiwan. However, that’s just because the general population doesn’t know how to. Granted the lake looked a little dirty. We found a spot and jumped in. It was raining but who cares about that.
Moon Festival 3-day Trip.
We’ve done this road a few times but there are so many different things to do each time. Road 14 through the mountains to the Fairy Waterfall (which is now closed sadly!) and then through the tunnels on to Puli to Sun Moon Lake (my favorite spot) from there onto our way to Aowanda National Forest Recreational Park.
My favorite part of the road is passing through the tunnels or looking at the highways which are built so high on stone stilts and the river is flowing under them. It’s a great scene but I can never get a good picture when we are traveling so fast on a scooter. Of course the best part about all of it is when someone else is driving and you can close your eyes and put out your arms.
