AmyHuang
Taiwan: Travelling along the East Coast
Taiwan is the size of half a Tasmania. For a country its size it is immersed with exceptional beauty, especially along the east coast. The Portuguese called it Formosa, meaning the Beautiful Island and having leisurely toured the east coast from top to bottom I full heartedly agree.
From Hualien after our trip into Taroko Gorge, we hired a taxi to take us down all the way for the day. He charged us NT$3800 which is around AU$140 for the both of us for the 8 hours tour. It was the best way as on the train you can't stop anywhere and it does not follow the coastal drive so you won't see anything either, with a bus tour you are most likely to be given 10 mins at each attraction to take your photos, a type of 'trip' I really do not like.
So the very kind taxi driver picked us up at the hotel in Hualien and we were on our way.
Most of the Taiwanese population live on the west coast facing China as that's where most of the flat lands are. The east coast is hence a lot quieter and less crowded with friendlier people and slower pace in life. A lot of the Aboriginal culture concentrate along the coast so there are more than scenery to the drive.
As soon as we hit the coastal drive I could not pull my eyes away from the window. Lush green mountains on our left runs almost straight into the crystal blue sparkling waters of the Philippine Sea. Fishing boats dot the ocean not too far away from land, harvesting the fresh marine ingredients for the many delicious local cuisines. Unique land formations influenced by the tectonic plates causing the area to possess naturally formed rock statues and hectic ocean conditions.
Some of Taiwan's better beaches are also along the east coast, unfortunately are all closed in winter. Either way, it would have been too windy and the conditions too rough to enjoy anyway.
Taiwan is half in Sub-tropical zone, and half in Tropical zone of the planet. By driving down the east coast we got to officially cross the Tropics of Cancer into the tropical zone, which is sort of a semi-highlight of the trip. I am not sure if it's just me but crossing that line seem to have made a difference to the vegetation, there just seem to be more coconut trees rather than beetle nut trees in the tropical zone? Or am I just imagining things?
Caves of the Eight Immortals
As much as this is a tourist attraction, it is still very much a local 'temple'. The Taiwanese people are extremely religious, which makes them seem extremely superstitious at times. The Caves of the Eight Immortals are 8 caves dug into the rocky mountains so they can place 8 of the most important gods in their folk religion. Each god serves a different purpose and you can come here to pray for your soul, for your health and even for your upcoming school exams.
They also perform the Taiwan version of exorcism here, which includes being beaten by bamboo sticks while chanting Taoist/Buddhist scriptures and in the end have to drink water with burnt paper ashes in them.
Platform of the Three Immortals
It does amaze me, even with a Taiwanese background, how much they are obsessed with their gods and immortals. Any natural formation that looks anything resembling something, they worship it.
This is a case of a small off shore island with three grass humps on it, which they call the Platform of Three Immortals, and accessing it is by the locally built Eight Leap Bridge as seen in the picture. The bridge is beautiful and impressive, and standing on the bridge looking down you can see schools of fish swimming in the waters below. Yes, the water is that clear!
Other attractions such as Shihtiping and Hsiao Yeliu has rocks along the shores being washed and corroded into strange formation, a visit to these places allows you to have a good look at the coast line and really sit down and admire the scenery.
As I mentioned the concentration of Aboriginal culture is along the east coast, and are mostly the Ami tribe. There is a Ami Cultural Centre near Taitung, south east of Taiwan where you can have a look at how they live and watching dancing and ceremonies being performed. We even got the kids to show us how they used to fire fire crackers out of bamboo tubs to make it sound like canon fires to scare off the invasions.
The beautiful mountain and ocean scenery along the east coast of Taiwan
From Hualien after our trip into Taroko Gorge, we hired a taxi to take us down all the way for the day. He charged us NT$3800 which is around AU$140 for the both of us for the 8 hours tour. It was the best way as on the train you can't stop anywhere and it does not follow the coastal drive so you won't see anything either, with a bus tour you are most likely to be given 10 mins at each attraction to take your photos, a type of 'trip' I really do not like.
East coast scenery
So the very kind taxi driver picked us up at the hotel in Hualien and we were on our way.
Most of the Taiwanese population live on the west coast facing China as that's where most of the flat lands are. The east coast is hence a lot quieter and less crowded with friendlier people and slower pace in life. A lot of the Aboriginal culture concentrate along the coast so there are more than scenery to the drive.
As soon as we hit the coastal drive I could not pull my eyes away from the window. Lush green mountains on our left runs almost straight into the crystal blue sparkling waters of the Philippine Sea. Fishing boats dot the ocean not too far away from land, harvesting the fresh marine ingredients for the many delicious local cuisines. Unique land formations influenced by the tectonic plates causing the area to possess naturally formed rock statues and hectic ocean conditions.
Locals come to the seaside and pick the sea grass (a type of seaweed that grows on rocks) to take home for cooking
Some wild waves splashes up to the rock platforms, its beautiful but usually dangerous for the keen fishermen
Some of Taiwan's better beaches are also along the east coast, unfortunately are all closed in winter. Either way, it would have been too windy and the conditions too rough to enjoy anyway.
Taiwan is half in Sub-tropical zone, and half in Tropical zone of the planet. By driving down the east coast we got to officially cross the Tropics of Cancer into the tropical zone, which is sort of a semi-highlight of the trip. I am not sure if it's just me but crossing that line seem to have made a difference to the vegetation, there just seem to be more coconut trees rather than beetle nut trees in the tropical zone? Or am I just imagining things?
The Tropics of Cancer crossing, we are now officially in the tropics
Caves of the Eight Immortals
As much as this is a tourist attraction, it is still very much a local 'temple'. The Taiwanese people are extremely religious, which makes them seem extremely superstitious at times. The Caves of the Eight Immortals are 8 caves dug into the rocky mountains so they can place 8 of the most important gods in their folk religion. Each god serves a different purpose and you can come here to pray for your soul, for your health and even for your upcoming school exams.
One of the caves for the Immortals
The largest cave here at the Caves of the Eight Immortals. Many locals come and pray for whatever they are asking for.
They also perform the Taiwan version of exorcism here, which includes being beaten by bamboo sticks while chanting Taoist/Buddhist scriptures and in the end have to drink water with burnt paper ashes in them.
Platform of the Three Immortals
It does amaze me, even with a Taiwanese background, how much they are obsessed with their gods and immortals. Any natural formation that looks anything resembling something, they worship it.
The Platform of the Three Immortals and the Eight Leap Bridge
This is a case of a small off shore island with three grass humps on it, which they call the Platform of Three Immortals, and accessing it is by the locally built Eight Leap Bridge as seen in the picture. The bridge is beautiful and impressive, and standing on the bridge looking down you can see schools of fish swimming in the waters below. Yes, the water is that clear!
Other attractions such as Shihtiping and Hsiao Yeliu has rocks along the shores being washed and corroded into strange formation, a visit to these places allows you to have a good look at the coast line and really sit down and admire the scenery.
Along the beautiful east coast shorelines
As I mentioned the concentration of Aboriginal culture is along the east coast, and are mostly the Ami tribe. There is a Ami Cultural Centre near Taitung, south east of Taiwan where you can have a look at how they live and watching dancing and ceremonies being performed. We even got the kids to show us how they used to fire fire crackers out of bamboo tubs to make it sound like canon fires to scare off the invasions.
Aboriginal (Ami Tribe) housing display at the Ami Culture Centre
Setting off Bamboo fire crackers as canons to scare off the invasions
