TAIWAN - Trip 2 2016

Taiwan, the heart of Asia.  

So many places to see around the world but I wanted to come back to explore Taiwan. Information can be found here and there are many resources for the areas I visited. The price decent to fly far commercially, weather generally warm, and I had winter break from work. Although Seattle area is beautiful, I was ready to get warm for a short time.

maps and explanation

Day 1. Arrived in Taiwan Airport by Taipei.
Had some desire to go to the east side again so found a bus to the train station, and on a train to Hualien

2015dec28 - Hualien City, Taiwan. First stop after a 4 hour train ride from the west side of Taiwan.

Took a taxi to amazing cliffs by the ocean.
Hualien City, east side of Taiwan.

lots of people taking photos of this beautiful place

Tourists, and the beautiful Pacific Ocean

people and tourists enjoying the view.

Driving into Taroko National Park  So much to say, the aboriginal people of Taiwan still live in some of the canyons and valleys. Its winding roads, beautiful temples, cliffs, rivers are amazing. You get a feeling every big rain causes change in the flows. Beautiful nature at work. See last years blog for more on Taroko National Park. Its worth seeing for yourself.

Driving into Taroko National Park

Waterfall, Changshun Tzu Water Temple, Taroko Gorge National Park, Taiwan, China

Back into the mountains.

Vertical walls behind the temple.

A walk across the bridge, down the path to the right

Trail cuts through the rock similar to roads here in Taroko.

.

trail to the temple head

trail to the temple head

.

.

Many people tour this area

Waterfalls

On the way back to Hualien, The driver took me to the ocean
 next to town. Notice the fishing boat a short distance offshore.
It would disappear in the waves. Only one other person
 walking at the boat ramp.

Looking north up the beach.

South toward Hualien, a group of people.
 I wanted to stay at this beach for a while.

Hualien City looking west toward the mountains from my hotel.

Day 2. Waking up in Hualien City
I debated to stay in such a precious place. My thoughts were to go south to the areas I hadn't been but it have been good to explore here more. The Rift Valley and Taitung were places I planned to go back to and explore but I made a plan to try to arrive at Zhiben where the hot springs were I last visited. There was a direct train and I still had jet lag. Hot springs sounded great to me.

Walking Hualien city to the train station

Had to wait for the train so took a taxi to the city temple in Hualien

Beautiful Hualien Temple. Cool dragons!

Hualien Temple

The smell of insense and an ancient presence.

Hualien Temple from outside.

A year ago, I stayed at a temple and helped locals make these paper foldings to burn in memory of friends and family who had passed.

.

Gardens

walkways that became busy before I left.

Love the dragons

Gods of the Hualien Temple

These were very large statues

Add caption

Some kind of young Buddha.

.

statues.

huge statues.

.

.

.

And back to the Hualien city train station, train heading southbound.

Scenery through the Rift Valley of east Taiwan.

Scenery through the Rift Valley.

I past the rest of the Rift Valley and Taitung. Didn't take photos south as I was tired and it was getting later. The train arrived at Zhiben, Taiwan. This is where I stayed, Toyugi Hot Springs. The hot springs pools were great to come back to. I had been here a year before. There are multiple pools, different temperatures, depths and appearance. Some had sprayers and jets, some indoors, some outdoors, some steamed. Its a relaxing place. I spent a few hours swimming and relaxing before dinner and the evening.


Day 3 waking up at Toyugi Hot Springs in Zhiben. This part of town was in the hills covered with forest. Weather was perfect to warm.

Toyugi Hot Springs in the morning. This is 'Journey to the East Spa'.
Many pools and hot springs to play in.

The outdoor very warm lap pool was my favorite outdoor pool.

Cooler outdoor pool.

Park next to the hot springs.

Looking west. Nice to have warm weather, warm
enough to cool off in the shade sometimes.

west to the bridge in the distance.

For friends who have beer on the way to temple.

The river at Zhiben

Across a small bridge, temple in the distance.

Many kind of bees and things at a store.

Large bridge in Zhiben

Large bridge in Zhiben

In the temple.

In the temple at Zhiben

Back to the train station at Zhiben.
Heading southbound to Fangliao, Taiwan.
Leaving Zhiben Heading southbound to Fangliao, Taiwan

Train from Zhiben went to Fangliao, Taiwan. I believe this is
Pingtong area. From here, a bus to Kenting, furthest south
in Taiwan. Sky was hazy here, maybe fog. Traveling
 back to the west side of Taiwan.

Trying to read the signs, which way to go.
Tired and switched from train to bus for an hour or so

 .

I feel like riding a scooter

 at this point

countryside

Passing a temple

.

Evening 3, Arrive at my hotel in Kenting, far south Taiwan.
So glad and so cool to be here. This is on the ocean,
sounds of the ocean, winds of the ocean.

I stayed at this hostel/activity center for a few days through
 new years. It was busy but I was asleep by 10, new years eve 2016.

Evening 3, Kenting, Taiwan. South Taiwan.

.

The open square at the hotel. Walkway to the beach.

Few more photos...

.

Evening beach at the hotel.

.

.

.

Walkways to hotel rooms.

Beautiful entryways.

and squares.

Kenting city around New Years.

Rented one of these bikes for a while to travel for a day.

Beautiful beaches.

clear water

evening views

nice beaches again

always great food.

I was here, on the hill, in the wind.

This was also on the hill, looking south.

beach shells.

by my hotel, nice beach.

at the hotel.

Hotel and activity center

.

.

touring

windy cliffs further east on the scooter.

Wind!

Looking northeast from furthest south point, Taiwan.

Notice the RC glider flying the windy cliffs here.
Beautiful place but extremely windy.

Again evening around new years 2016

Morning in the square.

walkways to my place.

activity square.

Beach at Kenting

more cycles.

Beautiful beach, looking west

viewpoint on the trail in the park

furthest south point.

Southern tip of Taiwan

at Southern tip of Taiwan

Southern tip of Taiwan

Sunset

Sunset, temple at the beach

sunset

Temple at the beach

Temple at the beach

cycle store

Last morning in Kenting, I took the bus to New Kaohsiung.
No photos but it was an hour or so, partly cloudy from countryside to city.

 I only had time before the train to walk a block of New Kaohsiung.
Next few photos are the city of New Kaohsiung

around the block in Kaohsiung

small alley busy with seafood products in Kaohsiung .

.

Busy day at work in Kaohsiung

Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Dog waiting for any leftovers, Kaohsiung.

Pit stop for food.

A small temple on a busy industrial alley.

small temple on a busy industrial alley.

.

Across from the train station in Kaohsiung

Underground Railway Creating New Kaohsiung  said on           
 the sign. I'd like to know this city better, but just passing through
Heading north to Luzhou District of Taipei. It will take
 a few hours, then a short subway..

Passing Taichung City via train, en route to Taipai.

.

.

.

Motorcycles stopping for the train in the city.

OK, Arrived evening in Taipei to stay with friend Claudio
 and his family Sandra, Susannah and Junior.

Here in the morning for great Chinese breakfast.

the restaurant in Taipei

It was extremely good!

Susannah took my photo.

In Taipei - the city is comfortable. The streets are what you see in the next couple photos

.

Taipei - city streets.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Claudio and his family took me to Beitou, Taiwan.
We planned for a certain hot spring area in Beitou.

I had been to some areas before. This was a developing city park..

Claudio and family at the fountain. Holiday so many people here..

Historic Japanese building in Beitou, Taiwan.

Historic Japanese building in Beitou, Taiwan.

.

We drove further to hot springs area, thermal valley, very hot.

Thermal valley. This area is all on Yangmingshan National Park.
The area is totally volcanic with hot springs and steam
in hidden places everywhere. Some streets were steaming.

We went for a bite to eat before the soaking.

Another great lunch and company!.

Another view of this restaurant at the natural hot springs..

Hot springs entrance. Men and woman's areas are separate.
No photos of the hot springs but this is one of the highlights
of traveling to Taiwan. I enjoyed the hot springs with locals.

People at Yangmingshan National Park, one of the hot springs entrances.

Yangmingshan National Park.

Yangmingshan National Park.

Somewhere in Yangmingshan National Park
with Claudio and his family. Thanks so much Claudio!.

Next was to the underground train and train, Taipei
to Keelung City, north Taiwan.

I put my bags away and walked around
the Keelung City Night Market.

Keelung City Night Market.

Most beautiful photo of Night Market Corner shop.
See what is in there.

Next day by the train station in Keelung City.

Keelung City bay.

Next Photos are of Peace Island, right here. Google it.
Its at Zhongzheng District of Keelung City. As you can see,
so much to check out here. I want to come back in
the summer to swim here.

 dfdsfsdfds

Sea Stature

Viewpoint to the north sea at Keelung.

.

See the fisherman on the lower right.

The swimming area is so natural and combines with the ocean.

There are fish swimming into this public swimming hole,
which is connected to the sea.

My buddy, Jer, from last year from Keelung City, actually Badouzi
near Keelung. His friends couldn't join us. We explored the area.

Around Peace Island

Peace Island Park.

Next to the Keelung Port at Peace Island Park. .

We ate at a Taiwan seafood place that was excellent.

Hot pots on the table, Jer and I.

Leaving my friend, Jer and walking to the train station.
Thank You Jer for showing me around Keelung!

Last train out of Keelung City to Taipei. Keelung is a place
I will always love.

I went to Taipei, then on to the train, to a bus, to Wulai District.

Next photos are from Wulai area of Taiwan.

Wulai is a mountain town outside Taipei, Taiwan. The bus
curves its way up the road that closes sometimes due to
rains and erosion. A very natural valley close to Taipei.

Main Temple at Wulai.

Brisk river after the rains. Note the clouds.

At my hotel..

and more and more

view in the morning.

Morning walk in Wulai, Taiwan.

beauty in the parking area.

.

Fish at the hotel..

Fish at the hotel.

Fish at the hotel..

Walkway to the river and springs.

I got the locals to let me swim down the river. Not many guys
doing it but I asked, "Do you speak a little English" and just got
the hand signal, "Is it OK if I follow you down? I'm a good swimmer!"
Off we went down the river!

People were working, cleaning the pools, taking care of this place. A steam room built into the rocks,
changing areas. It was a gem of a place. Locals were proud.

Downstream, note the hot spring public area.

Across the river.

Mist in the sky.

Wulai side river.

Wulai side river. Hotels seem to be closed here.

Morning in Wulai.

.

.

.

wulie

Leaving a great place, Wulai, Taiwan.

Note, everyone has electronic devices.

Back in to Taipei City. A few photos downtown.

One of the bigger temples in downtown Taipei.

Waterfalls in the temple, downtown Taipei.

Temple, downtown Taipei.

Temple, downtown Taipei..

Temple, downtown Taipei.

Taipei streets. Leaving the temple, shopping area. I am headed to the airport.
Farewell to Taiwan for this trip. It was wonderful.

home again. thank you travels.