Taiwan’s Great Natural Attraction: Taroko Gorge (Mini Post)
This is it! I’m back in the United States. I can’t believe it. In fact, I’m even on my next adventure- a getaway to New Zealand thanks to a 20-minute fire sale by American Airlines. But it the meantime, I’m going to be chugging out these blog posts, before I forget all of the crazy memories that the trip has given me. You can read my other posts here.
Let’s keep this one short and sweet. Taiwan’s most famous tourist attraction is the legendary Taroko Gorge. It is a 13km river gorge that is flooded with a river, great rock formations, and natural rain forest decorating the whole place. Taiwan has built a tiny (sometimes 2 lane, sometimes 1 lane) road paralleling the whole thing, and getting to motorbike the length of the gorge and back was nothing short of visual and sensual decadence.
It is so high on the list, and deservedly so. The bright red suspension bridges, tight weaves through canyon-ous territory, ducking in and out of tunnels piercing mountains, breathtaking topography, and lush river views was a delightful treat. I would easily say it was one of my top excursions of Taiwan, if not the entire trip.
We also had some good company during our trip, Sam the Torontonian (who is a nurse back home), and the delightful Stuart from Britain. We woke up early, and the three of us guys went to go get motorbikes, about a15 minute walk down in the town of Hualien. As we arrive, Stuart decides that getting a motorbike isn’t worth the safety risk, and decides on the spot that he will take the tourist bus. Good for him, but he missed a wonderful 40 minute drive from Hualien to Taroko, and the 13 km of bliss through the gorge itself. Anyways, we go back to grab Lena, and are on our way. We get there, and lo and behold, there he was. Getting off the bus, and still as perky and roving as ever. He seemed to be strapped onto the rollercoaster of life, and absolutely charmed with wherever and however he would get from X to Y to Z. It was quite endearing, and something I want to emulate more myself.
Anyways, the four of us united, we attempt one of the walking trails at the entrance, but it leads us around a parking lot. Blah. So we decide to motorbike farther into the Gorge. Stuart decides to take the bus, and we may or may not see him, but at least meet back up at the hostel. Off Sam, Lena, and I go, stopping ever-frequently to soak in the scenery. We eventually make it to the end, and stop for some lunch. Midway through my meal (me facing the window) I near fall out of my chair and go sprinting outside! There Stuart was, walking to who-knows-where, with the same jovial bounce in his step. He then tells us that when he first got on the bus, it was actually the one heading back into town! He had to ask the bus driver to let him off (no idea how he got it translated okay), and then get yet another bus to the end of the gorge.
United once more (and laughing at the ridiculousness of it all), we do some more of the sightseeing nearby, including a 8 minute walk in an unlit tunnel, a roped suspension bridge, and another tunnel that was porous and had water falling on us. Discomforts aside, it was an absolutely fantastic day. I hope the pictures can do it enough justice. Highly recommended on any Taiwan trip. Meandering Brit not included.
