Penghu Islands (Part 1/3)

My collection of travel highlights in Taiwan is steadily growing. Last weekend, I visited the Penghu Islands, which are located in the west of Taiwan. I can already say that the Penghu Islands are a must-visit on any trip to Taiwan! =)

On Thursday morning, we flew from Taichung to Magong, the capital of the island group, on an ATR 72. The well-organized airport transfer took us to the hotel located right by the harbor. Our first priority was to organize the ferry for our journey to the smaller islands of Wang'an and Qimei. This turned out to be more difficult than expected, as the ferries were not operating every day due to unpredictable weather. Additionally, there were some communication difficulties due to a lack of English skills, but we were prepared for that. Finally, we were confirmed that there would be a ferry to Qimei the next morning at 9:30 a.m.
We made use of the remaining hours of sunlight and rented a scooter for the rest of the day. Without a scooter, getting around the islands would have been difficult due to the lack of public transportation. Plus, you have incredible flexibility…and let's not forget about the fun factor! Our first stop was Shanshui Beach. I have never seen such a beautiful and untouched beach before. We were practically the only ones enjoying the beach, even though the temperatures were clearly inviting for a swim. Most beachgoers were wrapped in warm jackets, as my selfie shows. After this longer stop, we continued westwards until reaching the end of the island. Along the way, we discovered several other beautiful places. Just in time, we enjoyed the sunset at Shili Beach with a cozy beer. Without the sun and with increasing wind, it quickly became cooler, so we headed back to the hotel made.
In the evening, we went in search of a restaurant, which wasn't easy. Eventually, we found a small Taiwanese restaurant that had even translated part of the menu into English. So, we knew more or less what we were eating. The first successful day on the Penghu Islands came to an end...