Day 1 Taiwan: The Gorge

With towering cliffs and indented gorges, Eastern Taiwan has rivers of crystal clear water meeting with sludge-like but clean, gray raging water. A jagged coast line is interrupted by beaches which are the foreground to steep cliff faces.

We spent our first full day in Taroko National Park. Here, majestic beauty and natural marble-walled scenery surround the Liwu river. We rented a motor bike and paid no mind to the intermittent rain.

First, we hiked along the blue river water of Shakadang trail.
Next we rode through the rock tunnels, sighing in amazement at the sheer precipices and contorted turns in the road.






Siangde Temple sits above the confluence of the Liwa and Dasha rivers. Here we ate a vegetarian lunch of bean curd, day lily soup and a tofu noodle dish that - fortunately for me - actually tasted like beef.


We also climbed Tiafong Pagoda. At one point we crossed the river over a scary lord-of-the-rings-rickety bridge. Gino got this video right before slamming his head into the archway. Doh!

We winded up the mountains and visited more enchanting sights. It's hard to put into words views the back of a motorcycle has to offer.