Taiwan-The Unknown Island

Day 171

Hello everyone

On our last day in Macau, we spend our time in the shuttle bus of the casinos and visit the Galaxy casino, where we watch a show in the lobby. A huge diamond emerges from the magnificent fountain, accompanied by amazing sound and light effects, leaving no Chinese person unimpressed as they capture the spectacle on their phones. In the evening, we dress up and dine at bene, an Italian restaurant in the hotel. The ambiance, service, and food are top-notch. Of course, on our last night, we have to do some gambling. I lose myself in the popular dice game Sic Bo and can only enjoy the funny music as the oversized dice jump around in the container. Anita sits at the roulette table and plays with a 20 euro bet. An amount that would be gone for me after four rounds continues to multiply in her hands. She hits the numbers precisely and at the end of the evening, she walks away with a hefty prize of 250 euros. Around 3 AM, we call it a night and go to bed, slightly intoxicated.

After a few hours of sleep, we wake up tired and take the hotel shuttle to Macau's port. The check-in for the ferry to Hong Kong is also the check-in for the airport. To our surprise, the staff asks us to show not only the ferry and flight tickets to Taiwan but also the onward flight ticket from Taiwan... Say what?%%%&#@!%

Oh shit, how stupid can we be.. Devastated as we are, we manage to book the onward flight from Taiwan to Japan, not without some effort. Luckily, we have allowed enough time and the check-in staff is kind enough to let us take a later ferry to Hong Kong airport, ensuring that we make it in time for our flight.

The next destination is Taipei, the capital of Taiwan. We don't know much about the country and have no idea what to expect. Into the unknown we go. The flight goes smoothly, and this time, both backpacks arrive at the baggage claim! Yaay! With a little bit of orientation difficulty, we find the right bus and head to the capital city.

Since accommodations are not cheap, we booked our stay through Airbnb this time. For those who are not familiar, Airbnb is a platform where private individuals offer their apartments or rooms for overnight stays. For 30 euros per night, we found something in the heart of the city. We set up our imaginary tent with two young Taiwanese girls and a Dachshund. The stay is very pleasant, and it's nice to be so close to the locals. We receive some curious looks in the neighborhood, but it doesn't bother us. Taiwanese people are very friendly and helpful. Not many speak English, which can be challenging at times when ordering food or taking a taxi.. But we manage with gestures and somehow make our journey in Taiwan adventurous.

In Taipei, we take some time to digest the many experiences of the past few days.

During the three days in Taipei, we explore the city using the well-developed subway network. Everything looks quite modern. We conquer Elephant Mountain, located on the outskirts of the city, where we can enjoy a brilliant view of the city. The climb up the countless stairs is sweaty but definitely worth it. We also visit the Parliament buildings and come across a small military parade. The flag in the middle of the gigantic square needs to be lowered. It's funny not to be the ones standing out in the world's history, while a cold wind blows around our ears, all for a piece of fabric. The buildings have a very impressive architectural design. As we admire a statue, we are approached by a Taiwanese woman who asks where we are from. When we tell her, she responds in almost perfect German. We have a conversation with her, more so Anita than me, because she says I have a strong accent and she can only understand a little. Gibelhäärigehundsniere! :)

After three days in the capital, we continue our journey to Luodong. Finding our accommodation is a bit challenging this time, but with the help of a local father who tries to assist us in Chinese and makes phone calls, we find it after about 10 minutes of wandering around. Luodong is not particularly beautiful or touristy. Unfortunately, Anita is not feeling well, so we take a two-day break and spend a lot of time planning and chilling. On the last day, we take the train north to Jiaoxi. The many natural hot springs make this place a wellness oasis. Anita waits in the park and bathes her feet in the many free footbath pools, while I head to the Forest Park. It is a beautifully designed wellness landscape with hot springs and a sauna. Just what I needed! I search in vain for a shower, even though the entrance sign says to shower before entering the pools. A friendly man points me to the inner area of the facility, where there are basins and water taps. After a Taiwanese-style shower, I immerse myself in the hot and cold baths. I have a chat with a few old "senpai" in the hottest bath until I can't take it anymore and have to say goodbye. It felt good to relax and do nothing; the days in Hong Kong and Macau were exhausting, and it was priceless to let my mind wander freely.

After three days, Anita is feeling better, and we set off for our next destination: Hualien. After a short train ride, we arrive at our destination. The Time Hostel is great, well-maintained, and centrally located. We grab the free bicycles and cruise around the city and then onwards to the beach. It is a rugged coastline covered in stones. Although we don't go swimming due to the weather, we fully enjoy being by the sea. After our tour of Hualien, we plan our main goal for this place. The Taroko Gorge, a huge national park north of Hualien. We decide to take the shuttle bus instead of renting a scooter, considering the weather and the distance to the park. We leave early in the morning (10:00 AM :) ) from Hualien's main train station and head to the Taroko Gorge for the first trail. The Shakadang Trail runs for about two hours along huge rocks in a riverbed that carries very little water. A natural spectacle. Everything is green, and the beautifully designed paths along the water make this trail a hiking paradise. After two hours, we turn back as we find out that the round trail, as described in the brochure, is not actually round, thanks to Google Maps. So we march back to the starting point. Back on the bus, we make a stop at the Eternal Spring Shrine on Mount Hualien and walk through small caves to get there. Exhausted but happy, we shuttle back to the hostel. In the evening, the two of us greedy sports enthusiasts take the bikes to the night market and indulge in the local delicacies from the food stalls. Being so impressed with the gorge, we plan another hike in the Taroko Gorge for the next day. This time, we take the Lushui Trail, which passes through the jungle and along a mountain slope. We leisurely have lunch before tackling the last part, the Yanzikou Trail. We walk through an endless tunnel so dark that we need a torch. We walk along the paths on the mountain until we reach a suspension bridge with a waterfall. It's breathtaking how beautifully green everything is; you can feel the spirit of nature in the air. After several kilometers, we return to Hualien and enjoy some relaxation time in our hotel. The next day, we continue to Taitung, a small town south of Hualien. We reach our accommodation by train and taxi, a hotel near the coast. The hotel feels a bit weird; the owner barely speaks English, and we seem to be the only guests. He is also the first and last person we see. We borrow the hotel's bikes and ride along the coast. Unfortunately, my creaky bike doesn't last long, and the spokes suddenly break. Annoyed but still in one piece, I push my vehicle back to the hotel. We explore Taitung on foot a little before retiring to our rooms. On the second and last day in the city, we try our luck with the bikes once again and head to the nearby park, which has beautiful nature trails. We ride around leisurely, take a rest by the lake, and enjoy the freedom. In the evening, we stroll through the local night market before going to bed.

We have conquered the east coast, and now it's time to head to the southernmost tip of Taiwan, to Kenting National Park. We are excited to see what awaits us next!

Best regards,

Lars