Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Day 14 Mon 26/10 - Renai Holiday Villa to Sun Moon Lake in Puli

Total Distance : 34.8 km
Today's Temp : 21 - 27c
Average Speed : 13.5 kmh  max: 42.5
Time On Bike : 2 hr  34 min
Average Climb : max: 3%   max: 14%
Total Altitude : 495 m   max: 793 m
Today's Spending : NTD 515
Total Distance Todate : 405.1 km
Total Spending Todate : NTD 1761

Only a very short ride today.The intention is not to miss a very popular Sun Moon Lake which I had heard so much about its beauty from the travel agencies advertised holiday packages back home. Da Tou Mu has recommended a camping ground around the lake and also volunteer to ride with me,after leading me to the campsite, he will continue to cycle back to his Holiday Villa. We started at 8.30am on a perfect morning, still following route 14 ,traffic is mild and terrain is flat all the way to Puli, we have our breadfast in a fast food outlet and Da Tou Mu made lots of fun with the shop lady owner.After the break we detour from the busy main road 14 to a more secenic,quiet route 131,considered a short cut but several hills to climb,along the way, small and scattered villages can be seen .By 12.30pm , we arrived at the camground and the fee is NTD 250 per night with your own tent. There were hot showers and you can do own cooking at the at the camping site with power point and water .The business is bad as I was the only one in a big campground which can easily accomodate 100 . Thrughtout the day, then came another family camper with their 2 children. Besides the camgroung,theowner also owned a goceries store.He allows me to use his personal computor,so that's for reading and replying mails only. With the tent up and it's time to explore, the lake looks more beautiful at night than the day as all the lights were lid -up.Wooden plank walkway was built along the edge for the tourists easy access to the main tourist spot, where you can find many stalls selling sovenious and foods from the Ita Thou ,one of the smallest tribe found in Taiwan here at Sun Moon Lake.I was lucky enough to catch the last cultural dance stage performance at 7.30pm for free.I really enjoy the 45min show and went back to the camp to end the day . Tomorrow ,it is off to Shuli on route 21 south in the dirction to Alisan.


                                   Da Tou Mu who volunteer to ride with me to Sun Moon Lake


                                                Sun Moon Lake campground NTD 250/night


                                              Wooden plank walkway around the lake


                                                                Ita Thou floating houses





                                                Soveniors and handycraft shop from Ita Thou tribe


                                                                  Taiwan popular drink


                                                                       Hotel near the pier





                                                                    Ita Thou wines


                                                and the famous Taiwan sausage...


                                                                Ferryboats for tourists


                            This grasshopper was sitting next to me watching the cultural dance


                                       The stage before the dance start. Sorry video unable to upload


                                  My camping neighbour with his two kids, wife is taking the shot