Heading to Hualien and Taroko Gorge

This is a place that most people go to when they travel to Taiwan. It’s one of the most famous places to visit for foreigners to Taiwan. We decided to go with this place for our outside of Taipei excursion. Originally we planned to go to three different places that were recommended in the books, but we soon realized that it was impossible for us to do with the tight schedule that we have. So out of the three that we had, we chose one to go with and it was Taroko Gorge since Lee recommended it.

The morning started off very early. We needed to be out of the house by 6:30am, which is the earliest we’ve gotten up since we’ve been in Taiwan. We needed to catch the 8am train to Hualien. The train ride was really incredible and I was surprised at all the great views that I’ve seen on this trip. It’s really spectacular to see and I’m glad to experience it. I think that I must have used up a lot of my battery in my camera and took a load of pictures more so than any other day probably.

When we arrived at Hualien station, we met up with our tour guide and they took us to a few places near the gorge. The first place we went was to a beach that was just absolutely fantastic. Then we went near the gorge and took some pictures at the entrance of the gorge. There was a little place just past the entrance that was pretty fabulous and was great for picture taking. It is by far one of the most spectacular things that I've seen in my life. It's on many postcards, so it was great to see it in person. We also went to the temple near the Grand Formosa Hotel. The bus driver kept dropping us off at various locations and gave us a chance to walk along the gorge so that we could take many pictures. It was a great view and I didn't mind the walk since it was great. I was the only one in my group to actually get to the top and take pictures, while everyone was taking a rest near the bus and at the hotel. After this pit stop we stopped off at a jewelry gift shop where Eigo bought something for his mother. Then the driver dropped us off at our hotel.

After arriving at the hotel, we watched some TV and then left to look for dinner. We had dinner at a little wonton shop, and since it was only wonton, it wasn't enough to make us full. So we just walked around to find something. It became a very very long walk around the city of Hualien. I was just following Eigo's lead, since he was getting really annoying at this point. He was just pushing my patience to its limit and I couldn't take it anymore. I was able to get a lot of photos on this walk around the city. At the last place that we stopped at, I bought a grip of DVDs and VCDs too. I was looking for some movies and found them in English. I would like to get a few more before I leave, but I doubt that it will be possible. But I finally bought some souvenirs for myself and I could enjoy it.

When we arrived at Hualien station, we met up with our tour guide and they took us to a few places near the gorge. The first place we went was to a beach that was just absolutely fantastic.

Then we went near the gorge and took some pictures at the entrance of the gorge. There was a little place just past the entrance that was pretty fabulous and was great for picture taking. It is by far one of the most spectacular things that I’ve seen in my life. It’s on many postcards, so it was great to see it in person. We also went to the temple near the Grand Formosa Hotel. The bus driver kept dropping us off at various locations and gave us a chance to walk along the gorge so that we could take many pictures. It was a great view and I didn’t mind the walk since it was great. I was the only one in my group to actually get to the top and take pictures, while everyone was taking a rest near the bus and at the hotel. After this pit stop we stopped off at a jewelry gift shop where EK bought something for his mother. Then the driver dropped us off at our hotel.

After arriving at the hotel, we watched some TV and then left to look for dinner. We had dinner at a little wonton shop, and since it was only wonton, it wasn’t enough to make us full. So we just walked around to find something. It became a very very long walk around the city of Hualien. I was just following EK’s lead, since he was getting really annoying at this point. He was just pushing my patience to its limit and I couldn’t take it anymore. I was able to get a lot of photos on this walk around the city. At the last place that we stopped at, I bought a grip of DVDs and VCD’s too. I was looking for some movies and found them in English. I would like to get a few more before I leave, but I doubt that it will be possible. But I finally bought some souvenirs for myself and I could enjoy it.

Then we came back to the hotel and ate the dinner that I bought. It consisted of Pringles and Ritz peanut butter crackers while we were watching Ocean's Eleven on TV. After that we were watching Master and Commander on TV. That is a freaking long movie and I didn't like it. So I wasted a lot of sleep time to watch it. It was definitely not a good idea.