Taiwan top five must do list!

Traveling to Taiwan? Don't miss these spots!
With only two weeks of travel, I know I'm missing landmarks or must see's, but from my experience, I can highly recommend the following for anybody traveling to Taiwan, otherwise known to the locals as "Formosa" meaning "Beautiful Island".  You could say the list is in order of priority for must do's, but any of these are don't misses in my book! 

Typical view inside Taroko Gorge - near Silks Place Hotel

1. Taroko Gorge National Park
This marbled canyon of tropical fauna and steep breathtaking views is still the all time favorite for me of the entire 2 weeks. Try renting a bike from either Silks Place where we stayed one night, or near the gate entrance from the Hualien side at a Giant Bicycle Station. I suggest a bike ride thru the tunnels and S turns early in the morning before the double decker buses take over, or just take a side hike. Staying in the Leader Hotel is more like a quiet serene lodge. You'll be immersed in nature, possibly see monkeys. Had to be dragged out of there, as I wanted to breath it in, sit and watch the low clouds change the landscape every few minutes. See my entry's on our bike ride and stay <here> and <here> 

View from Wen Wan Resort at Sun Moon Lake

2. Sun Moon Lake

For us Californians, I suppose Tahoe would be a comparison, but it doesn't really compare. Similarities stop at the fact that it's a lake in the middle of beautiful mountains with colorful water. Taking a bicycle ride again, or perhaps rent a scooter for a fun loop around the 33km meandering Moon Lake Road. Stop at the Ci Hen Pagoda. Either arriving there via a tourist boat or via scooter or bike, then hike up the 700 meter path to capture the view from the top - where you can ring the bell. Apparently this is a perfect location to spot the annual appearance of fireflies as well. We were put up in one of the newest and highest end hotels there, and I imagine other accommodations have the same stunning views, at maybe a lesser "gold leaved elevator" price. But I can say, with heartfelt appreciation for the rare luxury, the outstanding service and food and room amenities, perhaps for a special occasion, do consider staying at The Wen Wan if you can swing the $700 room price tag (for a jr. deluxe rm). Small villages host dance recitals and markets and varied dining outside your hotel choice. (blog entry to be posted on our group's adventure there soon).

Kate LaCroix rides on one of many Taitung County bike paths

3. Taitung County "biking heaven"

This city boasts the first, and famous, bike path that the cooperative of Taiwan's Transportation and Tourism departments along with Giant's Cycling Foundation completed. The larger of completed network of bike paths that will eventually circumnavigate the entire island! 2010 is in the middle of a 4 year plan and 4 billion dollar investment to build the infrastructure needed. (Yes, I just said 4 BILLION dollars with a straight face). This landmark, original path built, even has tolls for the tourist or passerby (locals can use for free). You'll ride through terraced rice fields, under trellises, near small villages, in the backyards of local farmers. Bathrooms, parks and cycling stations within only a few kilometers make it an easy level for beginners to enthusiasts to take in the landscape. Our accommodations were first in a canyon that boasts natural healing hotsprings at the Royal Chihpen Hotel. I have to admit I didn't really get to enjoy it in my jet lagged state, with late arrival and early departure. What I did use was the japanese style soaking tub with actual spring water piped into each room's bath, quite lovely! The 2nd location that we actually rode to and from, via bike lanes and paths, was the gorgeous Papago Resort. I was able to enjoy the beautiful pool, and oversized modern, bright and beautiful room there! One of my favorite blog entries during trip with pictures of the paths <here>. 

Starting path ride towards Hualien City,  from Hotel Bay View

4. Hualien - Coastal bike paths and dining

Despite our group's arrival at the same time as Typhoon Megi's rain and wind, we road the bike path from our Hotel Bay View to it's end the other side of Hualien. The path was first paved in marble bricks (rather slippery in the rain, but beautiful), mostly followed the coastline, occasionally moving through an industrial cement plant or factory's property, into small neighborhood villages, parks and then the city itself. Our Hotel Bay View, was new, beautiful, and charming with compact rooms, but views of the roaring Ocean below - and Agean style decor. I do suggest eating at the Moon House restaurant, if you can find it, inland, between Taitung and Hualien in the "Rift Valley".  Ride in the rain with me in blog entry <here>

Author Beverly Garrity,  at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Buildings

5. Taipei - Markets and landmarks

A clean and friendly city that has more history than I could absorb, more markets to explore, and stunning accommodations and dining, that it would take months to visit. A short list of to-do's there would be to visit the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. Memorial has gardens, buildings and museum to explore. Soak in a 360 degree view of the city and take a ride up the worlds fastest lift, to the top of what was the World's tallest building at Taipei 101. A night market is a must, I suggest more than one - the busy bustle of locals displaying their wares, local cuisine, open late. Stimulating with creative marketing to people watching and exploring, a must do. A couple entries in my blog from Taipei City <here> and <here>.

70 kilometers of bike lanes and paths

For 35 km I rode out on Hwy 9 with my new friend Mark Blacknell escorting me and helping encourage me to go farther. The entire way there was a nice wide lane designated for us and scooters, not always with this median area - but on the long "Rainbow Bridge" crossing the wide Siouguluan River to the town of "Yuli" - we had extra elbow room. He continued on to the goal of most the group- a marker for where the Tropic of Cancer crosses the island. This ended up to be a total of 98 Kilometers when they returned. My ride was 70 - and I was wiped out, tired, happy, and a drowned rat with completely soaked clothes. Richard of Cyclelicous warned me of my clothes staying damp the entire trip. Damp versus Soaked are two different things!

My solo return started and while I was thinking of re-crossing the river - I notice a path to the right. Taiwan is littered with new bike paths and "cycling stations" to encourage recreational riding and tourism. I thought... "heck, I'm here for an adventure, and it looks like it parallels Hwy 9 - why not go explore". Sure... I have NO TOOLS or spare anything, but in Taiwan, a Country where I know not how to read the alphabet - nor say anything but HELLO or THANK YOU, I've never felt safer. I've travelled a good part of the world, and in Countries more developed - and with a language I speak, I would worry about getting stranded, especially as a woman.

After crossing a straight bridge for pedestrians/cyclists only - I continued on an amazingly empty and beautiful flat path that was clearly once a busy railroad track. Stunningly bright green rice fields flanked the path - and the rain let up for my peaceful exploration and photo ops. I came across a colorful building that was once a train station, a "Giant Cycling Station". Giant is the worlds largest bicycle manufacture and based in Taiwan - and here was a store, snacks, maintenance help. Pumps, water, rest.

Facilities at the bike station - men's and women's showers and lockers.

I briefly hesitated to pass the unknown message on the barriers - but if I didn't I would have had to back track all the way to the beginning and then return on the hwy. The construction is freshly happening along the path. Seemed like the Anasazi Indian's ruins... like they abandoned in mid project there. Strange place to stop with boards leaning and laying and unattached. I looked around wondering if the workers where hiding in the rice field or something. Ha!
The pathway was smooth and safe - as long as you kept your eyes forward and didn't accidentally roll into the exposed Rebar and fall off the raised levy into the rice field 10 feet below.
A new bike station to be was at the end of my Path journey. Just before I found my way back to hwy 9 - after about 12 km of path, this station was not very far along, But they already had racks installed. Can't help but feel they are so far ahead of us in their infrastructure to encourage sustainable transport, recreation. and tourism.
A close up from the pathway map - even let's you know how much fun you'll likely have!

The erie emptiness of being on this route alone, was surreal. I pondered the history of this very spot, and imagined the station in it's full glory - full of workers commuting to larger villages with industry and jobs.

Not long after I returned to Hwy 9 for the rest of the return, I was so fortunate to have the speedy Mark Villegas from BikeHugger.com come up on my left. He caught me in mid sentence of seriously talking out loud to myself, but that didn't stop me from locking onto this back wheel and picking up my pace to get the ride over with. Yes, I was that tired and needed to get back sooner than later. My slow pace was going to be the my nemesis - and his too fast a pace, was my challenge. My ill fitting Giant bike with not so great ergonomics was making my hands tingle with uncomfortable numbness, and my wider - slick but not pumped up well tires were feeling like lead weight. I owe this man his next cocktails for the next few days I'd say!

Our group made the paper! Strategically placed just behind the dignitaries - you can see Kate, an orange shoulder of Mark V, Pink with flipflops Niamh, then me in my SLaB jersey.

Front row: Giant Founder King Liu, Mr. Mao Taiwan Minister of Transportation, Chieh-Ting Magistrate of Taitung, Janice She Jen Lai -Director Taiwan Tourism.

"No time for lunch today" Joe warns...

Well our first full day- call it day 2 of the journey - was jammed packed, and as Joe warned us "No time for lunch today". Starting in Taipei with a refreshed outlook after some sleep, we walked to coffee amongst the scooters and taxi's. A 45 minute visit to a park and memorial for your hero from the political history I can't quote, and to see stunningly bright red columned buildings and marble shrines was truly breathtaking. Taiwan is clean, friendly and beautiful, you had me at Ne Hao!

NOTE TO OUR SPONSORS...

Dear GoTaiwan.com and Tourism Bureau - so kind to sponsor and organize and pay for this trip. If I may make an assumption, your mission could translate likely to something like: "Expose media of adventure travel and cycling industries to the beauty opportunities in Taiwan, so they have a great time and tell everybody they know and every media outlet they have- so to get exponentially more tourists to our Fermosa (beautiful) island."... (*asterik - then we can take back China and be in power and prove the "David and Goliath" story to be poetic justice).

Just going out on a limb - if you want to show your best side, and sure you don't want to overspend your budget - I still don't suggest putting your evangelists in the back two isolated rows on the plane, directly... DIRECTLY in front of the prisoner in shackles and handcuffs.

A 7-11 stop for Pringles and mystery juice is not going to hold me over for another plane trip (50 min hop to South East Taitung), bus ride for over an hour to the "raft" river float, then bus back to check in at the hotel after 6. Just another dually noted piece of advice... feed your media.

After the brief view of Taipei, then the unusual flight experience, we directly were bussed North of Taitung to board likely native traditional rafts. A couple fun tragedies that included swimming and losing my beloved Specialized Endo Pink Cycling glasses *sigh* and Wireless Mark's phone AND sunglasses, were balanced out with the most excellent attitude of the group and kindness of our guide.

Joe, Canadian "Neeve", and Cola Mark.

Bev and Kate - while Wireless Mark has last moments with his gear before sliding into the river exposing circuits to water. Hrmph!

After seriously combing the shallow rocky bottom - crawling around like a crab, I resume to Cap't Morgan's way of searching for one's lost sunglasses.

Driftwood is everywhere. Some made into clever and beautiful sculptures. HUGE piles of gigantic post Typhoon debri so large, that I need to figure out a way to photograph the stacks and stacks of wood.

At a lookout along the highway that had stragglers finishing a 250km bike ride - was this beach and tree. Look closely at the tree, and you'll see spiders the size of my hand. No fibbing.

FRUIT OF THE DAY - can you name it?!

Taiwan Cycling Festival Tour Plan

Arriving October 14th in Taipei.

We'll be transported to Taitung for 3 different nights to see 3 different hotels and some "short" rides of 60km and 80km (yikes for me!) and hopefully river rafting!

Then bussed up to Hualien for a 40k and then 26k ride, 2 nights in 2 different lovely accommodations before heading to Taipei. This includes the International Cycling Team visit and press conference in Taipei.

We'll bus back to Hualien for a 50k ride, then Hualien City tour before day 10's 100km road race. I'm sure I won't be doing that - so I hope I get lots of great pictures watching it! Last day has us on a 30km mountain ride. Not sure what any of these rides look like, but I hope my leg and freshly starting to be active body can participate in all these challenges!

Leave either for home on the 25th, or I'll extend it to try and go to Taichung by myself - and visit a bicycle factory.