Taroko National Park

First stop.

We woke up today at 6am to catch the very efficient high speed rail. I highly recommend it. It's pretty cushy.

The high speed train only took 2 hours and 800NT = $28 got a return train ticket. Booking them online and picking them up at 7-11 took some assistance but it was well worth it. (Thanks Rice) at the train station look for the green counter next to information and bam we were able to pick up our day pass for the Totako bus. 

250NT it is 400NT for a two day unlimited bus ticket. We got our time table and late breakfast where I learned that congee can have its own innovative bag. Mind blown.

From Hualien station to Taroko National Park gate is only 30 minutes according to the schedule. In reality it takes an hour. There are 8 main stops including the gate and you can hop on and off anywhere. At the last stop, the last bus is at 18:00 but remember that's everyone's last bus too.

I want to let everyone know that when we got on the return bus trip there were people who paid 15NT which means we paid a lot more than was needed. Unless you got on and off at every stop it really wasn't worth the amount we paid, it was more for the convince. 

After our first stop we wanted to wait for the bus but we were impatient and decided to walk through the tunnel onto the next stop.

The 51 year old man who gave us a ride.

From there we started walking and walking, then I was thinking to myself there isn't a side walk nor were there anyone else on the road. I started to think maybe I could wave down a bus to stop for us and then I quickly realized that we should try to catch a ride.

We stuck out our thumb and grabbed a ride from an old Taiwanese worker. He took us to the last stop where we finally felt like we were part of civilization again. I did however think that we were going to die a couple of time due to his reckless driving. Safe and sound now.

Waterfall Cave, this was the best part of the whole ordeal, in the cave you should wear waterproof shoes (sandles) or go bear foot. The water was cold, yet refreshing. Most people were putting on the raincoats provided by the place and brought their own water booties. We went in with an umbrella and we both got wet...haha. 

Side note: There was a very tiny old lady that went through all the dark tunnels and wore a helmet and later on I saw her in the waterfall cave. She is an inspiration to all!

A picture taken by Tina...me and my backpack.Woo!