Category: The Taiwan Coast


MARBLE MOUNTAINS

Probably one of the best points in the tour.  A road has been carved through the side of this marble mountain.

Probably one of the best points in the tour. A road carved through the side of this marble mountain.

 Rainbow marble vase

Beautiful colors

We did a full-day tour from our hotel at Hualien.  (I must return one day).

Picked-up and delivered, very easy.  This was one of the highlights.  The rock pools below looked inviting to have a swim with mask and snorkel.

At the end of the day the bus stopped at a gift store where marble vases were available for sale. A stunning rainbow marble vase caught my eye.  Too large and heavy to take home, very tempting if I had a suitable place to display it.  Great for someone else.

There is an older post here with a picture.

Use the search function if interested.

1-SHARK AS FOOD-002 1-SHARK AS FOOD-0081-SHARK AS FOOD-006

 

The author of this blog

The author of this blog

Space below for 1000 cars and container trucks.

One of the 70 million sharks killed this year. How terrible.   Are the other fish black trevally (known for their stinging spine that will cause agony – I think).

“Rare fish” is really raw tuna.  The very large prawns were US $15 each!  Brother and sister ran the show.  Almost opposite the Dianji Temple in a famous area known as Keelung Miaokou (page 126 Lonely Planet TAIWAN 8th Edition 2011).

RED FISH.  Very small coral trout (or lunar-tail trout) probably from aquaculture.

The name (species) of this fish had me baffled. Look carefully – then it’s suddenly obvious.

Fish shop that seems popular with locals, as opposed to others catering to tour groups from PRC.  Further out of town, i.e. the wharf.  Hire a bike for NT$100 per day and ride along the beachfront.  You won’t find it too easily as it’s down a lane and these signs are not on the main road.  The web site might be some help?

One of the half-dozen ancient temples on Cijin Island.  This one is about number three on the beachfront (from the wharf end of the island).  Further down is the Temple of the Golden Elephant.  (My title for whatever it’s called).

Ancient house in ruins.  The tree was probably planted about the same time as the house was constructed. The tree has now grown all over the roof and has broken through the ceiling to the interior.

Nearby a female dog with a litter of pups began barking.  Maybe we’ll add a short video of this old dwelling?

CLICK ME – Trees video on You Tube

In Australia especially, the councils everywhere seem to hate tree’s and remove them (cut them down).   There is no copyright on this video.  Maybe it will be used elsewhere to help save trees anywhere – please keep link for reference and tell your friends.

These big shady ones are at Tamsui, the last MRT station on the northern Red Line from Taipei Main Station.

Let us hope these stay in place for decades to come.

I have a feeling the local council is proud of them too.

Part of a large sign has a few words of wisdom in English, this is the temple next door to the former British consulate’s house.

If visiting during weekends, you will not be alone.

From the center of town to the mountains and Pacific Ocean – including Forest Park.  A super way to stay fit – but not when it’s 36 degrees, unless it’s going to be an early morning ride.

October and November would be perfect for a return visit, especially now I’ve got the hotels (where to stay) worked out.

Thank you for stopping to help adjust my bike Mr Wang. Yet another example of how friendly Taiwan is.

Nearby is the military air force air base.  Fighter jets fly low over Forest Park and Taitung city regularly all day.  Locals would be used to it.  The sound of low flying jet aircraft is always exciting to my ears.