It has a been long wait, no more delays; I hereby proudly present to y'all, Taiwan: More than in Words, Part 2!

As left of from my previous post, it continues with me still in Hualian. Having spent the most of my first day at Taroke Gorge, the second day starts with a hearty breakfast and a little walk around my neighbourhood.

I must add that Hualian itself is not a very developed city; most of the youths or skilled labour goes to Taipei to work. What's left work in plantations of fruits or flowers; agriculture is the main livelihood here. The city centre is much smaller and sub-urban as compared to Taipei City. For future travellers going to Taiwan, my advice is to visit Hualian, but don't stay long.

Anyway, we got to know from the owner of the 民宿 that there is a famous historical site in our area we can get to by foot. With a hand-drawn map (courtesy of him), we set off.

Along the way we got to walk past many of these fields. Some are growing flowers, some even rice. As I look across the fields, I hear the chirping of birds and the whistling of grass... you can almost immerse yourself in the silence and serenity. the traffic here is light, pollution is absent; a welcoming breeze in the cool weather can be really refreshing.

The historical site is a Shinto temple left from the World War I era; the Japanese that moved here when Taiwan was annexed to Japan constructed this. It was preserved by the gov't later.

Later that day, we returned to Taipei. We visited another famous attraction: 中正纪念堂. It's devoted to the founder and first president of Taiwan, Chiang Kai Shek.

The place has 3 parts: 2 side halls, which are converted to a theatre and a concert hall.

The main hall, is the main exhibition area. You find Mr Chiang sitting stiffed and encrusted in bronze at the top.

1955 6-man Cadillac

Below is where you can find the exhibition area which introduces the life and history of CKS. He's a man that led a life of taste and luxury, but also earned the respect of the Taiwanese during his time.

It's interesting to note that after his exile from China, he seems to be leading a better life... he established several diplomatic relations, made several trips to many countries, and made quite a few allies.

At night, it was 淡水. It's beside the sea, with a lot of great food. They've got a bustling night market by the sea, and they are also famous for their 铁蛋, as well as this restaurant where supposedly Jay Chou is a regular. -_-'"



We took a ferry to 渔人码头, with this bridge (情人桥) where a scene of Meteor Garden was filmed. -_-'"

But anyway it's got a nice view of the sea and the night lights of Danshui. A place for couples. :)