My last day in Hualien (and my last full – full day in Taiwan) was a rainy day …
I basically had the important item for Hualien kicked off my list (Taroko Gorge) … so I decided for something easy and got myself on a tour bus for a day trip around the East Rift Valley and the East Coast. I somehow expected similar service than on my trip to Sun Moon Lake … however as it turned out I had joined a Chinese speaking tour (there was actually no choice, when I booked – and no one bothered telling me) … in short … I did not understand a word of what our driver/ guide (same person) was telling; however the guide made any effort to at least give the most essential information (i.e. when to be back at the bus).
The tour of course followed the usual Asian pattern … going from tourist trap (= a place were they show you something being produced to then sell it to you) to tourist trap in the morning with an occasional stop at a ‘real’ attraction.
Our first stop was at a cookie factory with an opportunity to buy cakes, cookies and sweets – followed by a stop at Liyu lake … nice scenary somehow reminding me of those pictures, you see in Chinese restaurants.
After that stop we dropped most people on the bus at an oddly themed Theme Park (gigantic smiling cows and similar stuff), then stopping at another tourist trap (they were selling a sort of perfume smelling like smoke) to then have an early lunch.
Next stop was at the Hualien sugar factory … another opportunity to buy stuff .. focus on sugary items here, with ice cream being most popular.
From the sugar factory we went on to the Butterfly Valley Resort for a short walk in the gardens and through the butterfly houses – followed by a short stop at the Tropic of Cancer monument.
We now left the East Rift Valley and made our way to the East Coast and the Pacific. From now on basically following the road, I already traveled on, when I got into Hualien. We stopped at the Caves of the Eight Immortals (Bashian Caves).
Around 1km before Shihtiping (no … I am not making up this … it is really the name of the town) we had a short tea stop. Instead of having tea, I headed out to the waterfront to see the waves crashing in.
The last stop of the tour was at the Bachi Watch Tower to see more of the fabulous East Coast scenary.
Overall this day was an odd experience … surely the tour was far from being good … but anyhow it somehow was fun and is surely a story to remember 😉 I had a full further day in Taiwan – which I spent doing some last minute souvenir shopping in Hualien, then a few hours on a train to Taipei, dinner there and then by bus to the airport … to leave Taiwan after nine exciting days. … Taiwan – Touch your Heart
