Today was an easy day exploring Kaohsiung by bike. We decided we hadn’t spotted enough monkeys on this trip, so we cycled up to Shoushan (‘Long life mountain’) and walked some of the trails. Lots of monkeys, including this grooming pair (pic). Given the excellent quality of food here in Taiwan, I was surprised that…
Category: End to Ends
Taiwan 10: Hengchun to Kaohsiung
Up to Kaohsiung by bike and then train today, with several quirky sights en route with something of an animal theme, another fab night market and a surprise festival. We were intrigued by this as we left Hengchun (pic). Tree-hugging architect, or very swanky treetop house for some rich children? Then this by the road…
Taiwan 9: Hengchun to Eluanbi (to Hengchun)
We finished our Taiwan End to End at 11am today, greeted by crowds of paparazzi – or perhaps holidaymakers taking selfies – and heavy rain. But there was a real feeling of achievement. And that was just getting to the end of the walkway to the southernmost point through the holiday crowds. The final leg…
Taiwan 8: Dawu Harbour to Hengchun
The most pleasant day of cycling so far, ending with a long downhill into the old town of Hengchun, just a few miles from the southernmost point. Our usual morning routine is breakfast at a 7-Eleven. There are branches everywhere in Taiwan, so you don’t even have to deviate from the cycle route (pic). This…
Taiwan 7: Taitung to Dawu Harbour
Today’s blog is a CUSTARD APPLE special. It’s CUSTARD APPLE season right now in Taiwan, which is why I’m smiling, and they grow them big here (pic). It’s one of my top three favourite fruits, along with honey mangoes and persimmons. Nobody in Hull has ever seen a CUSTARD APPLE, even if it is the…
Taiwan 6: Zhuwu to Taitung
Yet more bike problems for Tim, on an otherwise straightforward day of sun, cycling, more coast views, buns and night market grub. It’s New Year’s Day today, and this display of figures in a little village evidently celebrates the new Year of the Helicopter (pic). The holiday was being celebrated domestically in just about every…
Taiwan 5: Hualien to Zhuwu
Tim’s run of bad luck with the bike plumbed new depths. The back axle failed a few k outside Hualien, and he had to get a taxi back to a bike shop to sort it. I therefore rode by myself to our hostel down the coast in Zhuwu, and enjoyed a fabulous day of coast…
Taiwan 4: Heping to Hualien
A lovely day of coastal scenery, lots of mildly scary tunnels, the awesome Taroko Gorge, and the unusual experience of sunburn taking over from trenchfoot as the most likely health hazard. It was all smooth, level cycling along Highway 9 today, the first half alongside lovely ocean views in the sun (pic). Lots of cars…
Taiwan 3: Luodong to Heping
The biggest climbs of the trip today (1500m in total), along ‘one of the world’s most dangerous roads’, more equipment disasters, plus a statue made of jade, some scary tunnels, and many awesome coastal views. We squelched out of Luodong through heavy rain, weaving between local cyclists who have perfected the art of one-handed riding,…
Taiwan 2: Keelung to Luodong
A day of on-and-off drizzle that wasn’t too bad until the last hour. Then it was bad. But with a friendly tailwind and smooth fast roads all day, it was plain sailing. (Rather too literally in that torrential last hour.) Anyway, the upshot was we got to our hostel in the lively town of Luodong…