bentontaiwan

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Day 27 - 31 - Boring Hualien Train Back to Taipei

5 Days Spend - NTD 2658
Total Spend - NTD 17923

We spent 3 nights in Hualien, 2 nights in Love East Homestay were quite expensive NTD 1100 but the room was quite satisfactory and clean. The owner Mr Liu and wife were very friendly ,and Mr Liu himself is a very keen competitive cyclist participated in many races,although at the age of 52,but we told him we were only interested in smell the roses slow cycle touring.We decided to move to another cheaper stay just round the corner for only NTD 600 for our last day in Hualien. The room was quite spacious,a little bit old but the bathroom was surprisingly new with bathtub,for that we saved NTD 250 each. Hualien city in itself has nothing much to see, it more or less become a night stopping town for tourists planning to explore the Taroko Gorge which we had already done earlier. So our 3 days stay is pretty much of eat,sleep,internet while waiting to board the train back to Taipei on 29 Oct. It took only 3 hr to arrive in Taipei Main Station and we had to cross a street to collect our bikes. We rode a distance of 5 km to Rod Lin, my warmshower's apartment in Kinmen Street,Guting, and Rod's friend Matilda was there to pass the key for us. At last we were able to meet Rod , a very friendly, tall and handsome young man,brought up and educated in US.We did not chat long enough as Rod looks very tired after his work. Next day our main task is to source for 2 bike boxes to pack our bikes.Mind you, this is by no means an easy task,and we only have 1 day to do it. First we had to surf the net on bike shops nearby with some help from Rod,and then we went to the shops, were disappointed some shops were either closed, or being told no boxes available now,if we don't mind comeback few days later. We thought of the worst scenario of just wheel in our bikes straight without boxing them.Thank goodness, we don't have to and we finally got 2 dismantled boxes in one of the Giant bikeshop, some 8 km away from where we stay.The owner charged us NTD 50 per box and bought 2 rolls of packing tapes 3 shops away. Now come the problem of transportation,Tony volunteer to carry by fastening them at the rear rack using used inner tube with the help of the shop owner.With me riding at the back so that i can give instruction for him.Watching from the back,a funny ride like this, is part and parcel of the bike touring adventure. With our bikes all boxed in,feeling happy and relief,we treated Rod a steamboat dinner for his kindness and hospitality at the start and end of our Taiwan tour.

Bangla caught in stealing boxes

Recycling is a serious business

Hualien street on Sunday

Rice ball with many variety of fillings NTD 30

Our 3rd night cheap room NTD 600 in Hualien

Antic hotel telephone

Bikes check in as luggage separately NTD 378 per bike

panniers have to carry with us

View from the comfort seat of the train

Train ride which took 3 hr from Hualien to Taipei

Its good for a change to a comfortable train ride

View from the comfort seat of the train

Don't worry, Tony, the Bangla can do it, you can do it too

On your mark

Taipei Raiway Station

This is our thanks to You - Rod Lin

With Rod Lin, my warmshower host in Taipei

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Day 26 Fri 26/10 - Xiuguluan Homestay to Hualian Homestay

Today Distance : 73.3 km
Today's Temp : 21 - 28 C Cloudy
Average Speed : 15.9 km max: 60
Time On Bike : 4 hr 35 min
Average Climb : 3 % max: 12 %
Total Altitude : 628 m max: 189 m
Today's Spending : NTD 1567
Total Spending : NTD 15256

If everything goes well,today might as well be our last day of loaded riding in Taiwan.It's only 60-70 km to Hualian on not so tough terrain,makes me feeling relax,easy and enjoyable ride.While my partner Tony,being so much younger,wanted to finish off faster and always speeding ahead of me,tempting me to follow his pace, but his trick won't work on me as i am a hardcore experience tourer.I know my pace,when to slow and when to speed. In Taiwan,especially if you plan to go bike touring, one important aspect of knowing the kilometer indicated signboard is for example,a signboard say 160 km to Hualian, means only to the outskirt of Hualian, more often than not, you have to add another 15-20 km, that is a lot of different more so if you are already exhausted towards the end of the ride.We arrived in Hualian around 1,20pm and head straight to the railway station. There are lots of accommodations opposite the station, even a Giant bike shop is just located besides the station. We got a clean room for NTD 1100,a little bit pricey for 2 days. Later we went for a late lunch in 7-11 before booking a train ticket NTD 440 on 29 Oct back to Taipei, with our bike check in as baggage NTD 375. Initially we wanted to book on 28 Oct but ticket sold out. Now looks like we will stay in Hualian for 3 nights.No plan yet as our mind is just too tired to think of it.

Morning wet start

The road is still wet but feel cool

Air is very refreshing

Shitiping fishing village

Very quiet road with mountain and sea views

Fengbin town

Creative painting on the house

Transporting of giant wavebreakers

1st tunnel 841 m

At a hill top rest stop

Where we came from

2nd tunnel to Hualian

Luxury Homestay near Hualian

Manggo Laci ...so gooooood.We had 2 cups each

Another 12 km to Hualian Central

Passing by Hualian Ocean Park

Hualian train Station

Statue in front of Hualian train Station

Roadmap of Taiwan Railway

Queuing up to book a train ticket back to Taipei

Giant Bikeshop besides Train Station

Our Room in Hualian opposite Train Station NTD 1100 ,we stay 2 nights

Friday, October 26, 2012

Day 25 Thu 25/10 - Taitung National Army Heroic Hotel to Xiuguluan Homestay

Today Distance : 101.5 km
Today's Temp : 23 - 29 C Sunny
Average Speed : 16.9 km max: 43.5
Time On Bike : 6 hr 0 min
Average Climb : 2 % max: 7 %
Total Altitude : 623 m max: 48 m
Today's Spending : NTD 678
Total Spending : NTD 13689

Today was another long and hard ride started from Taitung city at 8 and ended in Xiuguluan late at 5.15 just before dark. Taitung is a moderate city with no high rise modern buildings,but many rows of street shops and junctions.To get out of it,is pretty much easy,just head straight to the sea coast and follow route11 with the sea on your right.Next is a town, its name meant a lot to the Malaysian Cantonese is called Duolan, something to be angered with.Luckily nothing of that sort happened when we passed, a very small town with unattractive Duolan Hill...Doulan Bay....and the Doulan Town. What catches my attention next is a place called "Water Running Up". It is located only 50m from the road and its free. The water is actually flowing from a drain up on a gradient of 5-7% to a small hill. Tony was not interested,maybe he had seen many,but i wouldn't want to miss it for the 1st time. Next attraction is the Sanxiantai,about 2 km right turn from the road to the sea coast, where a bridge consisted of eight arches connect the mainland to the island of Sanxiantai.Two other roadside attractions we passed but did not stop to see were Tropic of Canser Marker and Baxian Cave,as we were hard pressed to reach our destination of Xiuguluan ,a place popular for white water rafting sport in Xiuguluan River.Our room chost NTD 1000.We cooked our own dinner as the centre has no restaurant.