Taroko Trip

This last trip we had the great chance to visit one of Taiwan´s most famous National Parks… Taroko National Park, located in the northeast coast of Taiwan, near Hualian, quite long trip from Neili but fun inside the bus, just by having the change of continuing exchange cultures with different YZU´s international students and this time with Peter, our only Taiwanese friend in the bus. Our first stop was in Taroko´s Terrace located in the Visitors Center of the park, the center of this building is occupied with key exhibition area, such as the Environment Hall, Humans in the Environment, Environmental Education Hall and Special Exhibition Room which provided us educational and travel related information just enough for us students to get started with our wonderful trip. Right here we watched a introductory video about the park, there I realized that the place was just a wonderful landscape of Taiwan, the beauty in its flora, fauna, and nature is just amazing, it´s like having part of heaven on earth.

Not that far from this center we got off the bus and walked through Shakadang (molar) Trail also known as "Mysterious Valley Trail", trail that has a beautiful light blue water river next to it and all the way until the end. Since this trail is built along the river cliff we could easily observe both the rock folds and ecosystem beside the river´s shore.
Just a few minutes by bus after this trail we went to one of the most pleasant landscapes that I enjoyed the most in this trip… the Tunnel of Nine Turns (Jiucyudong) this is the most magnificent part of Taroko marble gorge, where the uprising sheer cliffs are facing each other. Here I watched rock folds, joints and faults of marble cliffs, the two cliffs are so closed to each other that it looks like they are joining to each other if watching them from afar, I also watched the tunnels and the ecosystem of the vegetation growing amidst the rocky terrain.
Later this day, after having dinner and resting for and hour we went to experience, in my case for first time a Nauruwan dance from aboriginals of Taiwan, these dances were so nice and enjoyable, the steps of the dancers and how they put their heart in what they are doing and how they represent their culture is just valuable to admire these feelings of happiness in this people. I am also glad that I had the chance to go in front and practice some of their steps with them; it was very nice from them to show some of us and be part of them while we are complete estrangers for them.

Early in the morning of the next day we went to Lushui-Holiu and see its suspension bridge spanning a verdant hollow followed by a narrow tunnel. Oh! It was a long walk in this place to be so early in the morning but the nature was beautiful, the water look so clean a nice; cold weather was not enough to stop us to reach or main point… find the Baiyan Waterfall, trail that exhibits splendid examples of the geology and morphology of the marble gorge, I went inside of this cave… Oh my God one of the most exciting, noisy, and scared moments I have had in Taiwan… honestly, I was scared at first because I didn’t know what was inside plus it was too dark, oh well, I got inside and I was starting to get wet when I looked up I see light from behind this wonderful waterfall into the cave going down all over the places coming from the inside of the rocks, I got really wet but the experience is unforgettable, I will do it once again if possible.
After coming back fro this two hours walking trail we were so tired, we got something to eat and went to see this nice temple which is in between two mountains where a river goes into the middle of the temple and continues its way to the sea.
Another exciting moment was to be able to know that we were in one of the eight wonders of Taiwan, the Cingshui cliff which rises vertically from the Pacific Ocean. Its height looks magnificent and after my research I found that it is known as the second great cliff in the world. Being up here feels so close to the sky that with the wind of the ocean you can feel as if you are flying if you close your eyes…