More shots of the Parkview Hotel and Resort on the 9/4/12. There is a gentle sloping hill on the side of the resort and we tak the opportunity after breakfast before we set off for the day's activities to take a walk.
A shot of exterior view of the Hualien train station
After breakfast we are sent to experience the wonders of the 七星潭. It is basically a cove located near the Hualien airport on the Pacific Ocean. I feel the enormity of the cove and the wide openness of the Ocean. We like the pebbles and "stones" which have been naturally formed by the waves buffeting the cove for thousands of years and actually decided to keep one small piece of pebble for our remembrance of the 七星潭. We hope this does not abruptly change the eco system a lot.
These represent the days of our life .....
After lunch we proceed to experience the main program of the day i.e. a visit to Taroko National Park 太鲁阁国家公园。Taroko has many amazing gorges and caves. We can see very clear water streams, green in color and so clean air and water. We can also see some amazing tunnels built by Taiwanese engineers that allow us to drive through and experience this Park. I can experience views of majestic mountain ranges, often hidden by fog, the light shower we have on the day adds to the mystery of the Park. We are also told of tracks made by the 原居民 (the aboriginals) and their life style habits even to this day.
This bridge in the background was commissioned by 建国先生 in remembrance of his beloved mother. I tell myself to take a picture and show it to my mother; in honor of her also. The bridge is named 慈母椅.
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建国先生 also commissioned this garden and village (文祥村) to commemorate 文天祥 but unfortunately I cannot remember the story
A gem stone in the shape of the Taiwan Island
We enjoyed Taroko very much and wished we had more time. We leave Hualien for Taipei but our train is delayed by more than 1 hour due to a container truck accidentally falling onto a railway track. By the time we get into Taipei it is already close to 8.40pm instead of 7.30pm. We quickly get out of our train and go buy another train ticket to get us into Tao Yuan and we manage to do so and board the train at 9.02pm. Luckily for us and despite the light showers when we arrive Tao Yuan at 9.30pm; we manage to hail a cab and get us into a local hotel called 花语.
It is a 2 star but has a clean, firm bed and clean sheets. BUT, but! Boy it is noisy because the room we have faces the main road. And no aircond. Luckily the night is cool from the showers and we only have a few hours to have a hot shower and some shut eye before we need to be at the Taipei Airport tomorrow morning by 6.45am. Well, it's either this half way house or a bench at the airport. We chose the former. The good and the bad of 自助旅行. Luckily we are tougher than this!
It is a 2 star but has a clean, firm bed and clean sheets. BUT, but! Boy it is noisy because the room we have faces the main road. And no aircond. Luckily the night is cool from the showers and we only have a few hours to have a hot shower and some shut eye before we need to be at the Taipei Airport tomorrow morning by 6.45am. Well, it's either this half way house or a bench at the airport. We chose the former. The good and the bad of 自助旅行. Luckily we are tougher than this!
Dinner of 便当 again
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