22 Globetrotter From there you can head to Shifen; a small town with a railroad running right in the middle of Shifen Old Street is also used as a tarmac for sky lanterns. Lanterns prices start from NT$150 and are available in different colours for different wishes. You can write messages on the lantern get pictures clicked and then send it on its way. Or you can buy mini lanterns to take home for keepsake. Here, try the famous chicken wings stuffed with rice, which used to be the meal of the miners, giving them enough energy to survive an exhausting workday. A kilometer away from the town is the Shifen Waterfall the biggest of its kind in Taiwan. At a height of 40 meters, it creates a billowing mist in the river below. The sound of the waterfall is rather calming, I could sit there for hours watching it.
www.adesiflava.com
Jiufen used to be a gold mining town during the Japanese era. This quaint place was re-popularised by the Japanese anime movie Spirited Away. Located on a mountain it is like a maze with narrow lanes and alleys and something to be discovered at each corner. Tea houses and food stalls dominate the markets. You can also buy leather, clothes, souvenirs and traditional Taiwanese candy here. As you continue walking around you are greeted with views of the Pacific Ocean and hills, and a temple above with its intricate design.
Temple in Jiufen
Day 3
Pine Garden
Hualien County is on the east coast of Taiwan is a twohour fast train ride away from Taipei. You can book a guided tour when you get there or better yet book one online before going. Train tickets can be booked at the Main Station or any 7-Eleven stores across Taipei. Some time slots tend to sell out faster than others so it’s good to book your tickets at least a day or two in advance. Hualien is famous for its natural beauty. For our day tour, the bus picked us up near the station (they also have hotel pickups). Our first stop was the Pine Garden which houses an ex Japanese military command post proving a clear view of the harbour for identifying ships and aircraft coming into Hualien. The building was hard to detect since it was hidden behind a dense cover of the pine trees. Now the gardens feature the main building with historic artefacts, a cafe, and a souvenir shop. Next, we stopped by a place called Jia Curry for lunch. This is a Japanese-inspired wooden restaurant with panelled windows. It had a decent food selection and a vibrant atmosphere. There will be a minimum charge of NT$ 100 here. However, the staff does not understand English and most of the menu is in Mandarin. My suggestion is to grab breakfast before you hop on for your tour and avoid eating in the restaurants recommended by the tour guide, especially if you are on a budget.
View from Cingshuei Cliff
Finally, we left the city and made our way to the mountains. After some winding roads, our first stop was Cingshuei Cliff which offers panoramic views of the deep blue waters and landscaped mountains. The Chongde Trail that starts just below the cliff leads down to the beach but be cautious since the trail could have poisonous snakes and wasps. After taking in the ocean air we found ourselves at Eternal Spring Shrine. From a distance, it appears to crown a mesmerising waterfall in the middle of a mountain. Cloudy skies, lush green mountains drenched in rain, a gushing grey river and an iconic red suspension bridge made me put away my camera and soak in the raw beauty. We drove from the river to a plateau and stopped at the BuluowanTerrace. Buluowan is a large hill-top terrace with a walking trail and exhibition halls where visitors can learn about the culture of tribes like Shisanhang and the Truku (Taroko) who were the early settlers of the region.