March 26 - Baiyang Trail (白楊步道), Liyu Lake (鯉魚潭) & Mataian Wetland (馬太鞍濕地)

This morning, we started with walking through the Baiyang Trail (白楊步道).  It is characterized by the number of tunnels on this trail.  Beginning with the entrance tunnel of 380 meters to the last tunnel before Water Curtain (Shui-lian-dong) (水簾洞), one will pass through seven tunnels along the 2 km trail.  Due to the raining condition, we did not make to the Water Curtain and we stopped at the Baiyang Suspension Bridge and viewed the Baiyang Fall.  Some of the tunnels are straight and you can see the light at the end. Others however are curved such that you will be enveloped in pitch-black darkness for a short time unless you take along a flashlight. Looking out of the tunnels from within, the lovely green mountain view is like a painting by a master. The trail was originally built by Taiwan Power Company in 1984 during the early stages of their plans (approved for construction in 1979) to develop hydroelectric power in the area, plans that included damming many parts of the gorge. The hydroelectric project for this area was eventually cancelled. Taroko survived and a road left by the project as part of this trail and It allows us to get into this once remote area. 

The next stop was Buluowan Terrace (布洛灣台地).  There are trails for hiking, however we did not do it due to the raining condition.  We visited the service station, exhibition halls to see arts and crafts of the Taroko Tribe.

The last attraction in Taroko National Park we stopped for photo was the Changchun Shrine (Eternal SpringShrine - 長春祠). It commemorates the 226 personnel (military veterans) who died during the construction of the Central Cross-Island Highway (1956~1960). Spring water adjacent by the Eternal Spring Shine flows all year round, and the Highway Bureau named it after "Changchun Falls".  It is now a scenic spot with special significance on the Central Cross-Island Highway.  

Then, we had a 2 and half hours drive to the next attraction Liyu Lake (鯉魚潭).  On the way we saw a lot of typical Taiwan farmland with lots of different crops.  It did bring back a lot of memories.

Liyu Lake (鯉魚潭) is located at the foot of Liyu Mountain, in Shoufeng (壽豐)Township’s Chinan (池南) Village. It is only 18 kilometers from Hualien City and is one of the older scenic areas; it is the largest inland lake in Hualien County. It has a variety of water activities and recreation facilities such as fishing, boating, lagoon with biking and walking trails which are suitable for family visit.  We talked to one of the business owners there and asked why it is named Liyu Lake; and he showed us a photo of the mountain he took during a sunny day and the mountain did look like a fish. 

Next, we visited the Mataian Wetland Ecological Park (馬太鞍濕地) which is the traditional homeland of the Mataian Ami people (阿美族人). In past times, due to the abundance of pigeon peas (樹豆), the Ami people named this area "Vataan", which means "pigeon peas" in the Ami language. The name "Mataian" evolved from the name “Vataan".  However, we felt that this wetland has not been maintained well and lost some of its beauty.  

We stayed at Butterfly Valley Resort (蝴蝶谷溫泉渡假村) located in Fu-yuan National Forest Recreation Area (富源森林遊樂區). They provided a nice dinner along with an aboriginal performance of making mochi (麻糬). We also got a chance to taste the freshly made mochi.

March 27 - Butterfly Valley (蝴蝶谷), Sanxiantai (三仙台) & Little Yehliu (小野柳)

In the morning, we joined a guided tour to visit the Fu-yuan Butterfly Valley Resort Area (富源蝴蝶谷) along the Fu-yuan river to learn about the ecology in this area.  She guided us through the Creek Trail for about 40 minutes and we learned about the camphor trees (樟樹). Camphor has been used for many centuries as a culinary spice, a component of incense, and as a medicine. It is also an insect repellent and a flea-killing substance. 

After the guided tour, we took an hour hiking up to the Long-ying (龍吟) Waterfall and the Long-ying (龍吟) Suspension Bridge. On the way back, we visited the Stone Park, Butterfly Eco House and Dream Garden.  The weather was sunny and beautiful and we truly enjoyed the 2 hours plus natural hike.

Then, we drove toward Taitung (臺東) for about 2 hours and had lunch at the New Cheng-Li Seafood Restaurant (新成利海鮮飯店) in Chenggong (成功) township recommended by Charles.  Chenggong is a fishing seaport and their seafood is famous for their freshness. We also tried their Mambo Fish. The Chinese translation of its academic name is fan-che yu (翻車魚), meaning "toppled wheel fish". It got this name because when they swim in the water, it looks like a car keeping turning over. 

After lunch we visited Sanxiantai (三仙台) which is located in the north of Chenggong Township in Taitung (臺東) County. it is composed of offshore islands and coral reefs. Odd-shaped rock are everywhere on the islands, including three huge rocks which have spawned legends about three Chinese saints: Lyu-Dongbin, Li-Tieguai and He-Xiangu (鐵拐李, 呂洞賓, 何仙姑). They once boarded on the island, hence the name (Three Saints Island).  Sanxiantai is a geological rock that turned out to be a headland. Gradual erosion cut the neck that connected the mainland to the island, and thus became offshore islands. Tourists who used to visit this place could only reached the island during low tide. In 1987, the government completed the eight cross-sea arch bridge that crosses over to the island. It was designed in the shape of waves, like a prostrate sea dragon and connects Sanxiantai Island with Taiwan. It has become the most famous landmark on the East Coast. 

Next, we visited Little Yehliu (小野柳) which has similar rock formations of the famous Yehliu (野柳) in Northeast of Taiwan.  It was interesting to walk on the rock formation while listening and watching the sea waves rushing to these rock formations.  It was a little cloudy at the time we visited Little Yehliu, but weather did not take away any fun from us. 

We then visited the “Water Running Upward” (水往上流) wonder.  This irrigation ditch which is merely 1.8 km has violated gravity and it’s water runs slowly uphill along the canals. Next to the ditch stands a block inscribed with the words "Miracle" (奇蹟) on a monument.  People come here to witness this wonder.  However, it is just an illustration. 

We stayed at Hotel Royal Jhihben (知本老爺大酒店).  We had a wonderful dinner there along with an aboriginal dance performance.  Jhihben is one of world known hot spring area and they also provide hot spring spa in each guest room.  We had another chance to enjoy the hot spring spa in our room.

March 28 - Jhihben (知本), Taitung (臺東)

We started the day by touring the Jhihben National Forest Recreation Area (知本森林遊樂區).  There are a lot of hiking trails and beautiful forest, trees, butterflies and birds.  We spent about an hour on an easy walking trial in a garden nearby the administration building, and did some hiking to just get a feel of hiking trails in this area.  

Then Charles took us to the top of East Rift Valley National Scenic Area (花東縱谷國家風景區) to have a full view of the whole East Rift Valley from south of Taiwan.  Unfortunately, it was raining when we got onto the top of the viewing point.  We could not see anything and then we just went to have lunch at a tea favor restaurant Ai-jiao-yi Tea Restaurant (愛嬌姨茶餐飯店 - 台東鹿野高台一帶最有名飯店) nearby the tea plantation on top of the mountain.  We had tasteful tea-favored dishes (紅茶滷肉, 綠茶炸豆腐, etc) and we also tasted their green tea.  It smelled good with very nice flavor, therefore we brought some of their tea as souvenirs. Just outside the restaurant, we were able to enjoy the beautiful view of this tea plantation.

In the afternoon, we visited the Bunun Leisure Farn (布農部落屋).  There was an aboriginal singing and dancing performance.  Then, we walked around the village to witness the normal Bunun Tribe’s living environment.  Bunun Cultural and Educational Foundation is operating this facility to achieve its mission of promoting Aboriginal education, industry development, social welfare and artistic culture of Bunun Tribe.

Next, we visited the Chu Lu Ranch (初鹿牧場).  This is one of the ranch raising cattle for milk and making milk related products along with some other agriculture products; and you can have horse riding activities there too.  When we visited, it was raining again, so we only took photos and went into their market place to purchase some ranch products for souvenirs.

We had dinner at the Luolei Restaurant (響羅雷美食餐廳) which is an aboriginal restaurant with grilled fish and Shan-Shu (山蔬).

We stayed at Hotel Royal Jhihben again and enjoyed the hot spring spa in the room one more time.

March 29 - Kenting (墾丁), Pingtung (屏東) and Traveled Back to Taipei (臺北)

We drove from Taitung (臺東) to Pingtung (屏東) to visit the most southern of Taiwan’s national park - Kenting National Park (墾丁國家公園).  After 2+ hours drive, we got to Kenting which covers a total area of 33,268 hectares (公頃) of land and maritime environment.  It includes large stretches of agricultural land’s providing visitors with a view of typical Taiwanese rural life.  In addition, the national park has mountains, forest, pasture, lakes, sand dunes, beaches and coral reefs. It has everything you could desire when one wants to get up front and personal with Mother Nature. 

The first stop is Maobitou Park (貓鼻頭公園) which has 2 platforms for looking over the south to Bashi Channel (巴士海峽) and the east to Taiwan Strait (臺灣海峽). Since there is a rock falling from the sea cliff which looks like a crouching cat facing toward the sea, it is named Maobitou. The whole area of Maobitou is a typical erosional landform of coral coast which just faces windward and has abundant sea erosion. It is an excellent landform classroom with various scarps, reef columns, sea trenches, sea erosion caves and pot holes . 

The next stop was E-Luan-Bi Park (鵝鑾鼻公園) with the most famous landmark in the most south of Taiwan - E-Luan-Bi Lighthouse (鵝鑾鼻燈塔).

Later, Charles took us to Wanluan (萬巒) Township to have lunch at the Important Fellow Hakka Restaurant (大人物客家餐廳).  They are famous with Wanluan pig knuckle (萬巒豬腳) and they also have a cold dish with name of Opium Cabbage (鴉片白菜) which means that once you try it you will be hooked on it just like opium. The taste was good and unique.  We had a wonderful lunch with these local specialities.   

After lunch, we got to Zuoying (左營) which is the THSR’s  (Taiwan High Speed Rail) Kaohsiung station around 3PM.  We took the THSR for 1 hour and 36 minutes to get back to Taipei.

In the evening, we went to dinner at Bear Cuisine (老熊味湯包 located at 復興南路一段253巷52號) and had a wonderful dinner. Their Green Squash and Shrimp Xiao Long Bao (絲瓜蝦仁湯包) and Donkey Tumbling (驢打滾), and House Steamed Chicken Soup (原盅土雞湯) were our favorite dishes. 

March 30 - Taipei with Family

My Canon Mark II had problem with communication between the lens and the camera and it prevented me to take photos.  Charles mentioned that there is a camera street in Taipei where I can find someone to fix it for me.  Since there is no specific recommended name of the store, I was hesitated to take my Mark II to get it fixed by someone I am not familiar with.  However, Fei just encouraged me to go there and just check it out.  I checked online and found out the street is Boai Street.  When I got there, most of stores were not open yet, however, I came by this camera maintenance store (King-Tai Camera Maintenance Center) and went in.  Within a minute, the technical staff told me that it was the problem of the photo sensor in the lens, it will cost me NT$3000 to replace a new sensor and the sensor is only made by Canon.  Since it was the lens sensor and not anything inside the camera body, so I agreed to let them fix it.  By the time we got back to hotel from the afternoon shopping, they already called and told me that it was ready for me to pick up.  I was very impressed and so happy that I could get it fixed before our next stop in Japan for cherry blossom. 

We had lunch with Fei’s family at 四川吳炒手 (at 台北市大安區忠孝東路四段250號之3 near 阿波羅大廈站) and they gave us lots of goody including Taiwan tea, spicy scallop sauce, and other souvenirs.

In the afternoon, we went to Yangmingshan again to view the famous blooming azalea. We took a different route this time and walked on a forest hiking trail which we have not done previously and it give us a different aspect of Yangmingshan.  When we finally got to the azalea area, we only saw spotty azalea and most of the azalea blooming were gone.  However, we still have fun of hiking into the Yangmingshan and visited the famous flower clock again.

When we got back to Taipei, we went to Bear Cuisine for dinner again.

March 31 - Taipei with Friends

We had an arrangement to meet John and Shu-ming Yang for lunch.  It has been more than 3 years since we saw them last time.  They chose the Yangtse River Restaurant (江南春) on 3rd floor of the same building as our Howard Johnson Hotel, so it was easy for us to get there.  They were looking just the same as 3 years ago. We had a very nice lunch along with a lot of catching up.  

In the afternoon, we did more shopping and packing for traveling to Japan on the next day.  With all the added stuff, we need to rearrange our luggages to make sure we could meet the luggage weight limits.  The ANA Airways considers the flight from Taipei to Tokyo as domestic flight with more weight restrictions.

April 1 - Traveled from Taiwan to Japan & Narita (成田)

We got up very early to catch the Dai-Yu Bus to the airport for our 8:45AM flight to Tokyo international airport located in Narita (成田).  We arrived Narita around 1PM and met our tour guide Tricia Hsu without any problem. Due to the airport shuttle schedule, we got to ANA Crowne Plaza Narita hotel around 3PM.  

After we checked and settled into the hotel, we took the complimentary shuttle bus to visit Naritasan Park (成田公園) for the famous Naritasan Shinshoji Temple (新勝寺) along with the first sight of Sakura (cherry blossom).  From the bus stop, we took about 20 minutes to walk to Naritasan Park.  It was raining, but we were determined to visit the Narita Temple and surrounding park, therefore, we carried our umbrellas and walk the whole way to Naritasan Shinshoji Temple. The route was not clearly marked, however, with the general direction, we managed to find the temple and walked around the park and spotted many blossom cherry trees.  This is our first Sakura encounter in Japan, we were so excited and little rain did not impact our interest in Sakura.  We stayed until dusk before we head back to the hotel and had the SignetTour arranged dinner at the hotel.