Hualien

Hualien (I)

2009.7.4

Today I slept until 10 a.m.. After lunch I picked up Chun-Bo at Chihshang Train Station and took him to Guanshan around-the-township bikeway to ride bicycle. At that time the field lay fallow so the scenery was not like the last time I came with green while rice growing and had no beautiful yellow patches of rape flowers in spring. We just rode bike for exercise. I told him It's a good place for couples riding bike in spring. At night I took him to eat Chihshang meal box and had a good chat. We slept early to have energy for the following days.

2009.7.5
We woke up at about 3:45 in the early morning and rode scooter to Lioushihdan(Sixty-Stone) mountain(六十石山) from Chihshang to see the sunrise. It is one of the most three famous Jinjhen(Day Lily) Mountain in the East Rift Valley. Compared to the Day Lily Mountain at Taima Village in Taitung, the road to the top was better and smooth. Besides, the scenery is more beautiful. We waited the sunrise in a pavilion on the mountain. The East Rift Valley was beside us. The roseate glow of dawn plus the colorful clouds on the far northern mountains made the scenery look like heaven.

The cloud before sunrise is my favorite scenery because the colors of cloud change every moment.

The scenery here looked amazingly beautiful. Mountains seemed like floating on clouds.
This picture is the rightmost in the picture below. It approximately stretched from Tungli to Fuli in the East Rift Valley. If you are interested, you can take a look in my album.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=141727&id=697191847&l=29e5957910

After sunrise, we wove through a range of hills and visited every pavilion to see different views of East Rift Valley.

The scenery looked from Hsuan Tsao pavilion(萱草亭). All the green under the pavilion were Day-Lily, It must be very beautiful while it is full blossom in early Autumn.

The scenery looked from Lu Tsung pavilion(鹿蔥亭). The scenery here is the most beautiful and broadest.

The scenery looked from Jian Ge pavilion(尖閣亭)

The picture I took after the trip to Lioushihdan Mountain. Having visited Taima Village Day-Lily Mountain in Taitung, Chihke Mountain and Lioushihdan Mountain in Hualien which are the major production areas of Day-Lilies in Taiwan, I feel the road on Lioushihdan Mountian is the best and the scenery here is also the most beautiful. If you come to the East Rift Valley, you can't miss it.

After visiting Lioushihdan mountain we rode in the northward direction to Yuchang highway and crossed Coastal Range to the seashore. The location of Changbin Village in Taitung is interesting. It locates at right upper corner of Taitung. Thus, after we crossed Coastal Range, we were at Taitung again.

Then I took Chun-Bo to the biggest Cave---Lingyen Cave of Basian Cave(Eight Immortals Cave) and then went to Jhangyuan Bridge and Ba Ge Lang Boat House in Changbi Village which I didn't notice their special character last time.

Jhangyuan Bridges locate on the northern side of Basian Cave. There are three bridges built at different time periods yet all named Jhangyuan Bridge. It is interesting that the place looks like the bridge museu.

The first Jhangyuan Bridge was built for 4 years since 1937. Shuei Mu Ding River(水母丁溪) was spanned by Jhangyuan Bridge.

It was made of cobblestone, having three arch bridge piers which have retained its natural elegance over the many intervening years.

Old Jhangyuan Bridge has a history of half centruy, and is still secure today. It is the only existing bridge built in Japanese Occupied Period in the east part of Taiwan.

The second Jhangyuan Bridge was built in 1986 for the broadened highway. The third Jhangyuan Bridge was built in1998 for the cutoff of coastal highway.

The rock in front of Ba Ge Lang Boat House(巴哥浪船屋) which is at Da Feng Feng(大峰峰)

If the lava consolidate on the top of volcanic neck structure, it will form columnar jointing. The pleated-skirt configuration of columnar jointing at Da Feng Feng is a typical example.

Afterwards we rode to Tropic of Cancer Marker and took some pictures. Then went northwards into Hualien again.

I like this pictures. There are terraced fields beside the Tropic of Cancer Maker. If you went there in spring, the view will be full of green and was very beautiful.

Tropic of Cancer Marker

This obelisk close to the border of Hualien and Taitung counties marks the Tropic of Cnacer. It is one of three such obelisks in Taiwan and has been so constructed that during the summer solstice on June 21, visitors can clearly see the northernmost declination of the sun's ecliptic in relation to the celestial equator.

When we went into Hualien again from the coastal side, we first visited Changhong Bridge and Sibulan Island. We saw some rafters float down through to the Changhong Bridge at the river mouth.

Sibulan Island

This island, located in the mouth of Siouguluan River, divides the river current into two channels. One of these currents is usually blocked up by the buildup of riversediment, which is flushed out during the typhoon season. The island is only 10.67 hectares in size and has a maximum elevation of 40 meters. It is composed of volcanic rocks and supports a relatively undisturbed exosystem that is unique in Taiwan.

Afterwards we came to Yuedong(Moon Cave)

There are stalactites, stalagmite, the fossils of fish head, the fossils of swallow's nest, Formosan leaf-nosed bats(台灣頁鼻蝠群) and swallet stream(伏流) in cave. The most amazing thing in the cave was the root of Large-leaf Banyan on the mountain drilled through the cave to absorb water. It was pity that it was too dark to take pictures in the cave. Anyone who is interested should come here while the tide waning because you can visit both of the caves inside.

Yuedong

It is said that the water collecting in this cave, which can form pools of up to five meters in diameter, increases and falls with the waxing and waning of the moon. The cave is thus called "Moon Cave" or "Moon Well". There are two caves inside Yuedong. The left one is larger, extending down 75 meters. Boat tours can be arranged to take a closer look at these natural wonders.

After visiting Moon Cave it was about 3 p.m.. We were hungry and tired so we rode to Juo Er Chi Studio for lunch. This is an aboriginal sculptor's studio. I think his sculptures are very creative. Almost all decorations and furniture are his works. My favorite is a man-like ant warrior. Post feeding we took a nap there.

After recuperating some of physical strength, we rode in the northward direction and visited Shihmen. The most special scenery there was a car-shaped cave.

Shihmen is a coral beach extending several kilometers long. Its name, which means "stone gate", comes from a door-shaped(but I think it is like a car) cave that opens onto the beach. This region is formed geologically from volcanic rock that has been shaped over thousands of years by the sea into trenches, caves and platforms.  The coral reefs support all kinds of algae which in turn attract fish and shrimp, making this a great place for fishing and exploring the ocean ecology.

The northmost special scenery between Rueigong highway to Guanfong highway when I planned the traveling was Shihmen. Thus, after visiting Shihmen we went back to Rueigong highway, riding to RueiSuei for sleeping. We then visited Shihtiping on the way back which we skipped before.

Shitiping(Stone Stair Terrace)

During the years of Emperor Guang-Xu Dynasty, a military Chief Commander Wu Gung-Liang led his troop to braze the road here and saw the rows of rocks lying one upon another looked just like stone stairs. Therefore, he named here "Stone Stairs". The whole place of Shihtiping is a quite vast terraced rock area. Coral reefs, sea-eroded trenches, cliffs, potholes and caves are among these geological rock formations.

Shihtiping is famous of different examples of the effects of sea erosion. Its stratigraphic section is about 100-meters high. There is 30-meter thick Andesite Lava in the bottom with columnar jointing and it is covered by white tuff and volcanic sand. On the top is loose white tuff.

Because of limestone cover, it felt like in the snow land.

There is a path leading up a small hill to a viewpoint 17 meters above the Pacific breakers(where I stood was the top of the hill)

There was a man go angling down the rock. It was not easy to go down, we had to climb down with the help of the rope.

Discharging from the military only four days, it was a piece of cake for us climbing down by the rope.

When we were at the entrance of Rueigong highway, it started to rain heavily. We waited for the rain to stop in a pavilion nearby. It still sprinkled off and on after an hour. We should arrive Rueisuei Plane before it was dark out, so we still rode into Rueigong highway. We expected to see every rapid at Siouguluan River, but the places where could see the river clearly were a few.

New Changhong Bridge, looked from Old Changhong Bridge. We waited here for the rain stopping. The pouring rain disturbed our schedule a little.

Changhong Bridge

The mouth of Siouguluan River is spanned by Changhong Bridge. Constructed in 1969, the bridge was the first single-span concrete bridge in Taiwan. The shape of the bridge resembles a rainbow, hence its name which means "long rainbow". The aging bridge was replaced in 2003 with a new 240-meter span to accommodate increased traffic flow in the area.

Gorgeous views of Siouguluan River.(We were on Rueigang Highway)

Rueigang Highway

This 22.5-km scenic highway follows the course of Siouguluan River and was built along a historic road. The highway offers a fascinating view of the Coastal Range and is the most attractive of the three highways passing through the range. From the highway you can see the siouguluan River and often catch a glimpse of rafters barreling downstream. In the early morning and late evening you can also catch sight of so different species of birds found here, making the area popular with bird watchers.

This was Rueisuei Plane where we would sleep that night.

We were exhausted while arriving at Rueisuei. So we took a rest in a convenience store and called to some B&Bs asking for the price.

This was the B&B we stayed first night in Hualien. It was very inexpensive and clean and the host and hostess were very kind. $500 for a room which can accommodate 4 people. Besides, they will give each people $25 meal ticket for breakfast. It was so inexpensive that we lived here again when we were on the way back. Yikes, I really got the suntan!!

After check-in we ate dinner in two famous restaurants at  Rueisuei.

The famous Tu MaMa sticky rice dumpling at Rueisuei.

We watched TV after taking a shower. My friend told me that when I told him I was about to sleep at 11 o'clock, I slept in few seconds. It was really tired to see sunrise. I told my friend we would not see sunrise next morning because we were in the East Rift Valley, and he was very happy.

Traveling with me was really tired.

The red line was the road we rode that day.

If you want to see more pictures about Hualien,
click on: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=141727&id=697191847&l=29e5957910

Orchid Island

2009.7.3

Orchid Island (III)

Like Green Island, Orchid Island is formed by volcanic activity and surrounded by extensive coral reefs. Over the years, the effects of tidal, wave and wind erosion have sculpted cliffs and caves in the coastal rock. These unusual formations along with the rich local cultural heritage and ecological resources make Orchid Island well worth a visit. The best ways to enjoy the island attractions is by following the 37-km island-round highway.

This morning Hsiao-Fan accompanied me to see the sunrise. Because the way to Weather Station was a little far away from the place we lived, we got up at about 4 a.m.. While arriving at the Weather Station, there were quite a few people waiting for sunrise. However, it was cloudy that day.

Qigong!!

Cannon in the mouth!!

After sunrise, Hsiao Fan was so tired that he came back sleeping. I rode on the Round-the-Island Highway again to take some more pictures.

the airport of Orchid Island

Steamed Buns Rock

Looking from this side, it didn't look like steamed buns

Mt. Nipple(Why? I thought it might be called Mt. Breast)

Look like the back of a gorilla

The abandoned lighthouse of Orchid Island

Red Head Rock, it really looks like the side face of westerner. It only can be taken from a far distance. I tried any points on the island when approaching to the rock, and It wouldn't look like side face from other angle. (Except you can take a boat there)

The way to the lighthouse. The Z shape road made me feel a giant Zorro taking his sword and left his mark on the mountain.

It was clearer in the day time. Does anyone also think it looks like Ninja?

The front side of Tank Rock

Battleship Rock

Some say the rock in the end of Battleship Rock looks like Guanyin(one God in Buddhism)~

I felt this rock looked like an ancient sitting there writing with a pen (the tree on the rock). But it was not famous. Doesn't anyone think the same with me?

I finally found the little road to Lover's Cave by the tip of the host when I rode to Mt. Grass where I came yesterday.

Lover's Cave

Lover's Cave

Looking Dongcing Bay from Lover's Cave.

This was the first time I saw Elegant Five-Lined Skink(石龍子) at eastern of Taiwan.

Does anyone think the other side of Helmet Rock looks like an old woman wearing coif?

Then I went to Dragon Gate to find Kiss Rock again

Kiss Rock. I could not find it yesterday, and the host didn't know where it was, too.(It is really not so famous) But the hostess knew it!!! She describe the shape of it for me and I finally recognized it today

Loom in!! Do you figure out? The boundary of two mountains looks like two people kissing.

It was about 9 a.m. when arriving the B&B after I went around the island. My friends just woke up and was going to eat breakfast. = =
OK~The attitude for traveling of us were quite different. They like to go on a vacation leisurely, but I like to take every moment to visit scenery as much as possible and sleep at home.

While they ate breakfast, I went to climb mountain to see Heaven's Lake. I gave them the scooter, because the host was going to take new visitors to do snorkeling and could take me for a drive. It was a very steep mountain, and I had to use both of my hands to climb most of the time. It was a pity that it started to rain after half of hour. Afraid of the danger, I went down the mountain.

When I went down I called Yao-Ching to pick me up. I was wondering why he took so much time to ride here and he told me that he rode on the opposite way!!= =||| How amazing to get lost on a one way island!!


Then we went to eat lunch. I was wondering the pictures I took at Green Prairie last evening were not clear and I would regret if I didn't have good pictures of Green Prairie. Therefore, I took the last one hour before we took ferry boat to go there and finally took clear pictures of Old Man Rock.

I felt this picture looked like a side face

Old Man Rock and Little Orchid Island

The sea cave which is on the opposite site of Old Man Rock

After taking pictures satisfyingly, I went back to the B&B and packed my backpack. Looking Orchid Island gradually disappeared from my sight, I was glad I used every moment to find the beautiful scenery of the island. Though it was pity that I could not climb on the mountain to see Heaven's Lake and visited the beach with a lot of shells, I hope I could visit those places next time.^^

On the way back to Taiwan, Hsiao-Fan and I stood on the deck, watching sea spray and beautiful scenery. The waves were quite large that day and the ferry boat swayed. However, It could not make me sick for two and half hours swaying. Cars and Planes never make me sick. I thought this experience let me know I am also free from sea sick. This was the first time I met large waves on the boat.

The most impressive scenery of Orchid Island was its underwater world. It made me love snorkeling. I think everyone can try snorkeling at least once at a beautiful place, and it will give you a very impressive experience.^^

It was pouring rain when we arrived Pingtung in the evening. I had not seen it rained so heavily for a long time. Saying goodbye to my friends at Pingtung Train Station, I took the train to my aunt's home at Taitung. I had a really good sleep that night because I was exhausted. It is better for me not to take a trip for more than three days because the way I travel spends too much energy. That night I was looking forward the trip in Hualien with my friend--Chun-Bo next few days.^^

If you want to see more pictures about Green Island,
click on: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=99857&id=697191847&l=81a30f49e7