Our Taiwan Island Excusion ~ Part 2

Taiwan is such a scenic country!  It has grand towering mountains and a long stretch of pristine coastline.  Our eyes burst in delight!

Our 1 to 3 of our 5 days tour of Taiwan brought us to Kaohsiung and Kenting.  Our next county in the itinerary is Hualien, where the very first National Park of Taiwan is located, the Taroko Gorge!

Day 04 - Thursday

Taitung－East Coast National Scenic Area－Hualien 
Taitung－East Coast National Scenic Area (Xiaoyeliu－Sanxiantai－Shitiping－Fanshuliao)－Marble Factory and Exhibition Hall－Hualien－Swallow Grotto 
Hotel: Silks Place Taroko 

En route Hualien is a smorgasbord of breathtaking coastline ~ 

On board the bus, you have the grand mountains on your left and the pristine water on the right!  My eyes are impressed.

The geographical landscape at Xiaoyeliu is  exceptional, resulting from inverted sandstone and mudstone layers.

As Sanxiantai with the Dragon Bridge as our background.

The Taroko Gorge is amazing ~ it is a wonder of nature!  

We were made to were safety hard hats. Rocks falling down from the mountain tops is quite common.

At the Swallow Grotto Trail at the Taroko Gorge complex.   The mountain walls contain caves used as natural nesting places for spring swallow birds, hence the name Swallow Grotto.  We saw a couple of swallows flying by.

Our stay at the Silk Place Hotel in Taroko Gorge was my favorite.  The place looks unassuming from the outside, but inside ~ rooms, spa, service and food were all impressive.    

The night ended with a mini-concert by aborigines singing traditional songs (which I think sounded a bit like very Filipino).

Day 05 Friday:

Hualien－Taroko Gorge－Qingshui Cliff－Taipei 
Hualien－Taroko Gorge Gateway－Shakadang Trail－Eternal Spring Shrine (Changchun Temple)－Qingshui Cliff－Taipei.

We were actually sad waking up to our Taiwan Island Tour Day 5.  I wished we could have extended our vacation, unfortunately work waits in Manila.

The Eternal Spring Shrine was built in 1958 to commemorate 212 workers who died constructing the Central Cross Island Highway!  This location is one of the most famous spots in the Taroko Gorge complex.  Natural spring water empties into the river below through the shrine middle portion creating a dreamlike effect.

The Taroko Gorge has dozens of hiking trails to explore.

We visited the Shakadang Trail (also known to locals as the Mysterious Valley Trail).  This trail is built along the river valley.  Sight as expected was amazing.  The deep pool with crystal clear water below is enchanting.

From Shakadang we made our to Buluowan. This area used to be inhabited by two aborigine tribes, the Shisanhang and Truku (later on Taroko, where the Taroko Gorge got its name).  You would find here several exhibiting halls where you can learn about aboriginal culture and way of living   

This is our last stop in Hualien before making our way back to Taipei.  

I personally enjoyed every minute of this 5 days tour.  Nothing was rushed, through more than a day is needed to really enjoy Sun, Moon Lake and the Taroko Gorge Park.   If only we have more vacation leaves to spend.  

EDISON TRAVEL SERVICES CO., LTD

Email: edison@ms6.hinet.net

Check also their website for inquiries: www.edison.com

For more on our Taiwan Travel, please check the links below:

Taiwan More than Just a Vibrant City (Travel Tips)
Day 1 (Arrival / Taipei City)
Day 2 - Jiufen and Pinxi Tour
Day 4, 5 and 6 - Taiwan Island Excursion (Part 1)

Our Taiwan Island Excusion ~ Part 1

We were determined to see Taiwan's beautiful coastlines and grand, towering mountains so we left Taipei City and toured its outskirts ~ Kaohsiung, Kenting, Taitung and Hualien!  

We wanted to get the most of our limited time in Taiwan so we simplified our lives and booked an arranged 5 days Taiwan Island via Edison Tours 

Arrangement was done primarily via email.  Booking was fast and convenient; And our tour was hassle free, from beginning to end.  We enjoyed Taiwan without worrying of getting lost and wasting our precious time. It was overall relaxing ~ the way all vacations should be.

With less than 20 people (consisting of an American family, an Australian and Malaysian couples and a local Taiwanese family) in our group, our guide did quite well managing his guests.    

Our guide would explain everything twice, once in English and once in Chinese.  The downside was, I would fall asleep as he mumbles stuff in Chinese until he start talking in English again.

Our tour is inclusive of: 

• Taipei hotel pick-up and drop-off via an airconditioned bus with Wifi access; 
• A local guide;
• Supply of bottled mineral water to keep us hydrated.
• Entrance to all the attractions we have visited;
• 5 stars hotel accommodation (which includes buffet breakfast)
  

Our Taiwan Island Excursion Itinerary (with select photos from the hundreds we've taken): 

Day 01 Monday:
Taipei－Sun Moon Lake
Taipei－Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area－Round Lake Tour by bus (Ita Thao Village－Ci'en Pagoda－Xuanzhuang Temple－Wenwu Temple)

Hotel: Fleur De Chine, Sun Moon Lake – Mountain View 

 The Sun, Moon Lake from the Wenwu Temple

Our hotel in Sun, Moon Lake ~ Fleur de Cine!

Wonderful, true 5 stars accommodation.

I enjoyed the in room hot spring.  It was a perfect way to relax ones tired muscles after a day of non-stop walking.

The view of the Sun, Moon Lake was splendid!

This view just outside our balcony :P

Day 02 Tuesday:
Sun Moon Lake－Fo Guang Shan－Kaohsiung 
Sun Moon Lake－Xiangshan Visitor Center－Fo Guang Shan－Love River－Liuhe Tourist Night Market

Hotel: Grand Hi-Lai Hotel, Kaohsiung 

Sun, Moon Lake up close through the Xiangshan Visitor Center.

One of our Taiwan Island Tour highlights ~ the Fo Guang Shan Temple.  This is said to be the center of Buddhism in Taiwan.  It is a huge complex with endless stairs :P   

Finally in Kaohsiung City ~

The Lotus Pond is an artificial lake surrounded by pagodas and temples... 

Our favorite is the Dragon and Tiger Pagodas.  Locals enter the Tigers mouth and exit through the Dragons mouth for prosperity and good fortune!

My husband got immediately lucky. 

He spotted a fruit stand selling Taiwan mangoes!

Before heading to our hotel in Kaohsiung ~

We found ourselves at the Liuhe Night Market to try local favorite snacks!    

Our hotel in Kaohsiung is located at the city center ~ the Grand Hi Lai Hotel. It is a huge hotel connected to a shopping mall. It is very accessible if you are planning a city tour in Kaohsiung.  

The view from our room ~  The Kaohsiung Port.  It is largest and busiest port in Taiwan.

I love Grand Hi Lai as well, however, we were a bit dismayed by the amateurish and sloppy handling of breakfast turnover the following morning.  It was a riot! 

There was no attendant and guests were told to look for their own seats. 

It really felt like I was in a school cafeteria, even the food was mediocre.  So the Grand Hi Lai ~ wasn't really as grand as first thought!

Day 03 Wednesday:
Kaohsiung－Kenting National Park－Taitung (Chihpen Hot Spring Bath) Head for Kenting－Maobitou－Chuanfan Rock－Eluanbi Park (Light House)－Longpan Park－Taitung
Hotel: Hotel Royal Chihpen, Taitung 

Our eyes were at spoiled with Kenting-Taiwan's beautiful coastline in this leg of our tour!

At the Maobitou Park ~ Maobitou defines the sea border of Taiwan Straight and Bashi Channel.

Near Maobitou is the Eluanbi Park Lighhouse ~ the southern most point of Taiwan!

At the Hotel Royal Chihpen, Taitung we were treated to an aboriginal show ~ to cap our day!

 

Follow Part II of our Taiwan Island Excursion by clicking the link >>> Taiwan Island Excursion Part 2


EDISON TRAVEL SERVICES CO., LTD
Email: edison@ms6.hinet.net
Check also their website for inquiries: www.edison.com

Taiwan Day 2 - Jiufen and Pinxi Tour

Our Day 2 is one of Taiwan's most popular day tours ~  Jiufen and Pinxi

Jiufen and Pinxi are relatively near Taipei.  Jiufen the nearer of the two is only about 40 minutes by private car.  A DIY is a viable option, but we want a worry free tour and so we opted to simply book a tour via My Taiwan Tours. Click on this link to their website ~ MY TAIWAN TOUR.

Our Jiufen and Pinxi Tour is an eight (8) hours day tour which includes: hotel pick up and drop off (via a 9 seater sedan), a local guide  and a sky lantern crash course :P

Our ride for today

Arrangement via My Taiwan Tour was fast and easy.  They contacted me 2-3 days before our schedule, which assured me everything will go as planned.  

Lucy our guide was at our hotel doorsteps early to pick us up.  She is energetic and bubbly. Her enthusiasm is contagious, enough to make us feel excited of our day's itinerary. It was clear that she loves Taiwan and she is proud to show-off its beauty!

Jinguashi

Our first stop ~ Jinguashi is a  mining village, which was famous for its vast gold mine exploited during the Japanese colonization of Taiwan.

Here is a view of an abandoned mining refinery called Thirteen Ruins

The Golden Waterfalls and Yin-Yang Sea

Next stop is the decommissioned mining  town of Jiufen.  It is now alleys and alleys of tea house and stores selling local  snacks and souvenirs. 

We tried their Peanut Ice Cream Roll and Taro Balls 

From Jiufen we travelled to SHIFEN, PINXI ~ 

the  Lantern Capital of Taiwan.  

Our HANDMADE Sky Lantern  with our Family Wishes:

GOOD HEALTH and LONGLIFE, HAPPINESS and PROSPERITY, PEACE ON EARTH, LOTS OF LOVE (and my youngest son's personal wish "MORE FOOD" ~ I think there is no need to explain)!

The highlight of our day ~ seeing our sky lantern FLY!