After long bouts of nagging from friends et al about why they haven't seen my Taiwan pix yet, and also further nagging about how they'll never see them once I start work (come to think of it, very true), I decided to sit down and do a long long photo post on all the cool stuff I saw there.
Ah, Naruwan Taiwan.
Do not be cheated. These are the beautiful skies above Singapore and Malaysia. The weather in Hongkong and Taiwan was... not so beautiful.
To be more exact, it rained, every single day. The rainwater in Taiwan must be especially corrosive. Somehow, all our umbrellas spoiled there and we had to buy replacements! I got a cool lime green, Juan a pink and Merllie a blue one! Yeah, I wanted to be special. Buy a green one heh.
Public transport was a major part of our trip. I mean, we three helpless girls, with not very much money, and no friends there to drive us around... so a lot of public transport!
On this same train trip to Hualien, as other passengers dozed, I was horrified to find two grown (and rather gay looking) fellas fish out a Chuckie-looking doll and play with it! For about an hour or so! I shall not post that photo here, so as not to scare my underaged friends.
I was on the train, and spotted some other passengers who got left behind on the platform. "Oei!" called the little girl (left) to her maid. "Quick bring the luggage! The train is leaving!"
Hualien is known as the most beautiful place in Taiwan. Or so says my Taiwanese professor.
A little piece of Europe! Everything is so still and pretty. Somehow, the clouds always seemed low enough to touch in Hualien. I kept asking myself if it would be worth it to have natural disasters (read: earthquakes, volcanic eruptions) in my backyard in exchange for these beautiful sights.
I decided, I'd rather travel.
On a side note, we experienced a little quake in Hualien! Only about 5 or 6, but it was fun! And no, unlike some Taiwanese (obviously from the cities of Taipei) who ran out screaming of the buildings, we Singaporeans remained calm (or boh chup) and stayed in our rooms.
What I found really old-school about the place is how their shops spill out onto the road. They also have loads of motorbikes everywhere. Apparently, in Hualien, you either drive or get driven (by Papa, Mama). There are NO public buses, whatsoever.
You also hardly think of going beach-hopping when in Taiwan. But it has a gorgeous coastline, right next to the Pacific Ocean. (And a shaky Pacific plate.)
More to come.... soon.
