Lofalitsidwa: 13.01.2023
Today started off on the wrong foot. Our hosts were supposed to order a taxi for us to the car rental station at 08:15, but they didn't get in touch, so Uwe tried his luck at the 7 Eleven to order a taxi. Surprisingly, it worked. The next hurdle was the whole administrative process for renting a car -> insurance, front and rear cameras to record everything in case of an accident. It's like insurance in Taiwan. Then there are fuel cards and you settle the bill afterwards. With translation aids and a short phone call with Carolin's Taiwanese study colleague Matt, we were able to start around 09:30. The car was an almost new Toyota Corolla.
The city speed limit is 50 and outside it's 70, so it's quite easy to get used to the traffic situation. Carolin navigated with Google Maps.
As always, the first stop was the Visitor Center to find out which stations we want to visit and which trails are open.
Since Carolin had an online Mandarin lecture at 14:00, we planned it so that she could study in a parking lot while we did a trail.
The first station was called Swallow Grotto, the second station was the end of the 19 km long road of Tianxiang National Park with the temple and pagoda. On the way to the third station, we went through the Chanchung Shrine to the Buluowau Upper Terrace, and lastly, we walked the Shakadang Trail.