Category: Taiwan

And finally, a pleasant surprise: a bike exhibition we stumbled on, Turning Wheels: Bicycle and Daily Life in Taiwan. It was at the National Museum of Taiwan, which is deceptively spacious. Because from the outside (pic) it looks spacious. But inside… well, I’ve been to bigger Wetherspoons. Still, of the handful of galleries, two were…

We’re off the bikes now, since Tainan, but here’s a quick round-up of our non-cycling travels back to Taipei. Tim copped a leg infection in Tainan so – with the help of his fellow Bradt author Steven, who lives here – we got it sorted at the local hospital last Sunday (pic). Very efficient and…

All that End to End stuff on high-grade carbon-frame fast touring bikes (now returned) is fine, but we did some real cycle touring here in Tainan today… …on our hotel’s free hire machines (pic). I always love exploring a city on one of these: a cheap, clanky town bike stuck in its one functioning gear,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…