出發前幾天剛好和正在與GMAT作戰的Nicole通電話, Nicole開玩笑問"妳不會又要去爬玉山之類的吧?"... 就這樣, 她加入了我前兩天苗栗的行程. 出發前兩天, 即將回荷蘭的同事Bram也想要加入第一天的行程. Bram來台灣約一年, 充分利用各種機會到處玩透透, 他當然非常喜歡台灣嚕.
就這樣, 2/15, 天氣超級好的星期天, 我背起那跟我多年的自助旅行包, 出發嚕!
Because of some work arrangement, I started the trip around the Taiwan island one week earlier than planned. It's my first time to backpack and travel by myself in my home country Taiwan. I took trains and buses, and rented 125cc motorcycles to ride in the mountains or along the coasts. At the beginning I thought that a 7-days trip is quite good, but then I hope I could have more holidays for it.
Few days before leaving, Nicole just called and made fun of me "hey, don't tell me that you are going to do things like climbing Jade Mountain..." Once she realized that I was going to travel around Taiwan for 7 days, she decided to join my first two-days trip right away to get away from her GMAT study. :-P Meanwhile, that weekend was my colleague Bram's second last weekend in Taiwan, and he decided to join the first day as well. Bram has been in Taiwan around one year, and has visited many places in Taiwan. He likes Taiwan very much.
On Feb 15, on the Sunny Sunday, with my backpack and friends, I started my trip.
On Feb 15, on the Sunny Sunday, with my backpack and friends, I started my trip.
2009/02/15~2009/02/16 苗栗三義&南庄 Sanyi and Nanchuang at Miaoli
隨興的三人在車上臨時改變行程決定去三義的勝興車站, 龍藤斷橋, 也成功在三義木雕街用很好的價錢幫Bram的女朋友買了一尊我們三個人都非常喜歡的優雅觀音!Originally we planned to go to Nanchuang, but then in the car we just decided to go to Sanyi first. We visited an old train station, a broken bridge, and bought an very elegant Guanyin, which we three all like very much, with a great price for Bram's girl friend!
晚上在南庄夜市吃完晚餐後Bram送我和Nicole到民宿栗田莊, 可憐的Bram先回家明天還要上班. 可愛的栗田莊也加入了YH體系, 這樣的品質一張床台幣1000元對背包客來說是非常划算的. 早上在花園陽台上享用豐盛的早餐搭配溫暖香甜的熱巧克力, 花花草草貓狗雞圍繞卻不擾人, 旅程第一個早晨幸運地以這樣的清閒展開.老闆還好心的借我們摩托車, 我和Nicole原本是想要去向天湖的, 但距離比想像中遠, 油沒加夠, 何況我們實在不能錯過溫泉, 不過一路上讓我們只看得到前方三公尺以內道路的雲霧已經很值得了.
東江溫泉很不錯, 讓我想起在巴里島做SPA的感覺, 一邉泡溫泉一邊看窗外的山景一邊和好友聊天, 格外愜意~
在南庄的時間很短, 但我想我會再回來的. 巧合的是栗田莊陳老闆居然剛好要去台中開會! 所以我原本到下一站的交通工具從巴士和火車瞬間變成BMW! 真的太幸運了! 一路上和陳老闆聊天, 覺得這個世界之所以可愛, 就是因為有很多人執著於自己的夢想, 與家人朋友共同努力, 接受挑戰, 也共享幸福.
人要體貼別人, 但不能活在別人的掌聲中. 這個社會需要更多默默做事的人. 事業不用很大, 但信念卻很清楚. 自己很滿足, 家人很幸福, 自然身邊的人都很自在. 人生要寬要窄要深要淺都看個人, 更要記得愛自己與愛別人. 突然想到有個名人說過, "人生最終的成就是什麼? 是看你愛的人當中有多少人也真的愛你."
ps. 更多三義的照片在這裡. 南庄的在這裡.
After the Nanchuang night market, Bram dropped Nicole and I at the B&B 栗田莊, and then he drove back to Taipei for work tomorrow. This B&B joined YH chains. It's an extremely great deal to have the B&B facility and quality but YH cost, NTD1000 per bed. In the morning, we had the breakfast in the balcony of the garden with dogs, cats, and chickens walking around, and only felt peace.
We borrowed the motorcycle from the owner, and drove into the mountains. It was so foggy that we could only see three meters in front. On the way back, we went to a hot spring facing a river valley and the mountains. It reminded me of the SPA in Bali island in Indonesia.
The visit of Nanchuang is short, but I think I will come back next time. When the owner Mr. Chen drove us to the bus station, he said that it was such an coincidence that he was going to have a meeting in Taichung where I needed to go to. Therefore, instead of the train and the bus, I had a BMW ride. ha ha... I was really lucky!
From the conversation with Mr. Chen, I realized that the reason the world is so great is because that many people really persist in their dreams and work hard with their family/friends, facing the challenges and sharing the happiness.
We need to be considerate, but shall not live in claps from others. The society needs more people who do things without requiring spotlights. The business might not be huge, but the faith is clear. Self is satisfied, family is happy, and people feel confortable to be around naturally. Every one decides the depth and width of his or her own life, and we should not forget to love ourselves and others. Suddenly I remembered that a famous and successful person used to say that "Eventually what is the greatest achievement of your life? You should see how many people, who you love, actually love you."
ps. Other photos at Sanyi are available here and at Nanchuang are available here.
2009/02/16~2009/02/18 南投清境&合歡山 Cingjing and Hehuan Mountains at Nantou
和要回去唸書的Nicole告別, 搭陳老闆的車到台中, 轉國光號到南投, 租摩托車進清境, 迎接我的YH實在是太讚了! 香格里拉是清境第一家民宿, 也加入YH的行列, 一張床也是台幣1000元. 大概是台灣很少女生會自己出去玩, 加上非假日, 我一路上都是用YH的價格享受雙人房的空間, 早上在蟲鳴鳥叫聲中睜開雙眼, 轉頭就看見窗外的藍天, 想起半夜那嘴角上揚的上玄月, 還有晚上騎摩托車出去那一整片屬於我的星光... 差點想直接在這應徵工作~ :-PSaying goodbye to Nicole, having the ride from Mr. Chen to Taichung, taking the bus to Nantou, renting a motorcycle to Cingjing, I finally arrived the great B&B 香格里拉, also a YH. Because it was not weekend and rare Taiwanese girl would travel by themselves, all the way I just kept using YH prices but staying alone in the suites. In the morning, with the sounds of birds, I opened my eyes, turned my head a bit, and then saw the clear blue sky with clouds. I almost wanted to apply jobs right there~ :-P
吃完豐盛的早餐buffet, 和櫃檯打聽一下, 翻了一下書, 騎著我的125出發前往合歡山. 一路上山形地貌總會不斷給我驚喜, 我也格外喜歡那紅橘黃搭配的欄杆, 在陽光下顯得耀眼卻不突兀. 在台灣公路最高點武嶺看到一片雲海就忍不住一直朝她靠進, 騎摩托車享受風的自在.After the breakfast buffet, I chatted with the worker a bit, read a guidebook from her quickly, and ride my motorcycle toward Hehuan Mountains. The views of the mountains and the highway surprised me again and again all the way. On the highest point of the highways in Taiwan, I saw a sea of clouds, and couldn't stop myself from getting closer and closer to it, enjoying the freedom of the wind.
標高3237公尺的石門山主峰非常容易走, 山頂風大, 但四周群山圍繞, 非常漂亮. 標高3416m的合歡山主峰比石門山長些, 但也算是非常平易近人的路線, 登山路線都開得非常好, 還設有休息的平台. 非假日人真的很少, 我自己躺在平台上休息曬太陽, 登頂時也是一個人享用整個山頂的視野和空氣, 頗有獅子王的氣魄. :-)Shimen Mountain Main Peak, 3237m high, is very easy to reach. It's very windy on the peak, but it's very beautiful with all the mountains surrounded. Hehuan Mountain Main Peak is not as short as Shimen Mountain Main Peak, but it's not difficult to climb as well. There are few balconies in the middle of the way, so I could lie there to enjoy the sunshine. During the week days, there were just few people there. When I reached the top, I was alone, feeling like Lion King. :-)
傍晚在落日步道觀賞清境火紅的夕陽. 我喜歡旅行, 有時喜歡和家人朋友一起走, 有時也喜歡一個人走, 旅行不應該有任何形式的侷限; 每次的旅行都是獨特的, 因為形式, 因為地點, 因為人, 也因為心情; 旅行就是體驗, 體驗世界, 也體驗生命; 旅行就是享受, 享受自己所有, 享受他人分享. 一個人的旅行可以和自己對話, 和別人旅行則可以充滿分享. 我覺得當我一個人旅行的時候, 我會更深刻地面對自己, 各種感觸認知赤裸裸的呈現在天地之間無所遁形, 有的時候會突然想起一些往事或是一些人. 想想很像是人家說死前的那種畫面回顧, 不過差別大概是如果真的有什麼後悔的, 還活著就有機會趕快彌補. *o^ps. 更多清境和合歡山的照片在這裡.
In the evening, I walked along a trial into a farm to wait for the red sunset. I love travelling, sometimes with family/friends, and sometimes by myself. There should be no specific or limited types or styles of traveling. Each trip is unique because of types, places, people, moods, and etc. Traveling is to experience, experiencing the world and experiencing the lives. Traveling is to enjoy, enjoying what we have and enjoying the sharing from others. Traveling alone could stimulate the conversation with ourselves, while traveling with others could share and create common memory. I think when I travel alone, I talk to myself more and face my soul deeply. Like what people mentioned about the scenes before the death, some memories or some people might suddenly pop up in my mind. However the difference is that if there is really any regret, as long as I am alive, I could do something. *o^
ps. Other photos at Chingjing and Hehuan Mountains are available here.
2009/02/18~2009/02/20 屏東墾丁 Kenting at PinTung
高雄到墾丁搭乘Express巴士約三小時車程. 買來回票打折後單趟約300元, 後來在墾丁有遇到一些計程車司機, 價錢差不多, 時間應該可以更短, 下次試試. 墾丁青年活動中心就位在墾丁大街上, 一大片傳統閩南式的建築在台灣應該算獨一無二, 中心內濱海步道直接通海邊更是看夕陽的好地方.It took me 3 hours by an express bus from Kaoshung to Kenting. The youth hostel 墾丁青年活動中心 has an excellent location, close to the main street and next to the ocean. You can't find this kind of hotels in any other places in Taiwan. There is a trail to and along the coast, a wonderful place for the sunset.
在墾丁一定也是要租摩托車的, 說到摩托車, 來談一下全省租車價錢的差異, 我記得在花蓮125cc開價在每天350~400元, 通常300或350可以拿到, 在南投居然一般開價每天550~600元, 後來我因緣際會找到一家摩托車行, 老闆很阿殺力, 44小時算我700元, 還熱心接送我去坐車, 下次一定再找他! 墾丁一般開價每天400元, 350可以拿到, 但車況和新舊要注意. 台東我剛好遇到一些人都想要當天下午租到隔天中午前, 愛開玩笑的可愛老闆全部統一租我們200元, 原價好像一天是350吧. 團夠力量大~ 哈哈~ok. 回到墾丁. 這次我主要是想要去南仁山生態保護區, 一般墾丁著名景點以前都去過, 這次只存著路過有機會就看看的心情, 騎著摩托車往南仁山的路上就有經過像帆船石, 風吹沙等. 海岸線風光特意展現國境之南特有的風情.
This time the main place I wanted to visit in Kenting is Nanren Reservation. However on the way to Nanren, I still passed many beautiful places. It's a highway along the southern coast anyway.
要進入南仁山生態保育區必須事先登記, 南仁山是一個天然的熱帶季風雨林, 頗為原始, 一路上山即可抵達南仁湖, 圖中的一片綠草都是長在水中的, 景象非常特殊. 由於當天有點下雨, 當我早上10點多到的時候, 管理員問我: "下雨天地很泥濘喔, 整座山現在都沒有人, 你會不會怕?" 我說: "哇~ 那整座山都是我自己的ㄟ~ 但我該怕嗎? 有蛇嗎?" 帶著管理員借我的木棍一根, 我就開始奢華地獨享5800公頃的保護區.沿路好多漂亮的蝴蝶陪伴, 數千種的植物與數百種的動物都在這, 但我們人類在這是客人, 看不看得到只能看緣分, 就像在山上能看到螃蟹的機會應該不多, 但就有一隻半透明的溪蟹在我去程和回程的路上都和我相遇.
當我在山頂欣賞山光水色一陣子後, 一對中年夫妻也來了, 我們開心地聊了一下, 然後媽媽說: "剛才管理員跟我們說有一個女生自己來, 沒和你聊天前, 我一直在想這個女生一定是想不開或是來散心的." 哈哈~ 不能怪這個媽媽, 這是非常典型台灣的思考方式~ 在國外自己玩就普遍多了, 只能說在台灣有更多姊姊妹妹自己出來玩之前, 這種思考模式是很難改的, 在此同時, 我就好好享受高級的YH"付買床位的錢但享受買房間的服務"吧~ ^_^
An reservation is required to be able to enter Nanren Reservation. Nanren mountain is a rain forest of tropical monsoon. The Nanren lake is on the top of the mountain. The grasses in the picture is actually growing in the lake. Since it was raining a bit, there was no visitors when I arrived. The guard told me "it's quite messy inside and right now there is no one in the reservation at all. Would you be afraid?" I said "it's great that I own it by myself! Should I be scared? Should I worry about snakes and etc.?" Taking a stick from the guard, I started my luxury trip, having the "personal" mountain.
There are thousands of plants and hundreds of animals in the reservation. However we are not the one to decide whether we could see them or not. Human being is the guest in reservation. On the way many butterflies accompanied me. It's not common to see a crab in mountains. However I saw one crab on the way into the mountain and on the way back.
Enjoying the view of the lake on the top for a while, a middle-age couple arrived and we had an interesting conservation. At the end, the woman told me that "Before chatting with you, when the guard told us that a girl came alone, I thought that the girl must be unhappy." ha ha.. it's a very typical Taiwanese way of thinking. Before more girls travel alone in Taiwan, I think it's hard to change it right away. Meanwhile, I could enjoy the "buy a bed but get a room" service at YH. :-)
龍坑生態保護區也必須事先登記, 我之前要登記就已經登記不進去了, 下南仁山後, 隨口向管理員打聽沒登記進去的可能性, 他查一查後確定名額已滿不可能, 但親切的管理員幫我打了個電話, 我就以"朋友"的身分獲得特殊許可, 耶!!!龍坑主要是看崖邊隆起的珊瑚礁群, 相當壯觀, 而且, 還是只有我一個人! 奇怪, 不是都登記滿了嗎? 後來我一個人躺在那享受海的聲音的時候, 管理員過來聊天, 我才知道早上兩台遊覽來過.
Like Nanren Reservation, Longkeng Reservation has limited number of entrance as well. When I booked it, it was fully occupied. When I finished the trail in the Nanren Reservation, I asked the guard about the chance to just go there and ask for the entrance. He checked the system for me and said that it's impossible. However, at the end he made a phone call, and I could just go as a friend of him! Thanks him!
Longken Reservation is an area with groups of coral reef above the sea level. Again, I was alone there. I lied there and just listened to the ocean for a while. A guard stopped by and chatted with me a bit. He said that I was lucky because people came in the morning and no one will come in the afternoon on that day.
隨便玩, 隨便吃. 到了台灣最南點看看, 到社頂公園繞一圈卻沒進去, 在墾丁大街上買一堆很久沒吃的小吃配上清境買的梨山水梨當晚餐, 一點都不配, 但吃得很高興. 最後一天的早晨, 買了三明治和奶茶, 騎著摩托車特意到白沙灣的漂流木上享用早餐. 這次我不覺得墾丁很觀光了.ps. 更多墾丁的照片在這裡.
I had no fixed plans. I checked the shouthest point of Taiwan. I went to certain park but didn't get in becasue I didn't really feel like to. For a dinner I bought lots Taiwanese local snacks with a pear carried from Cingjing. It's not sounded like a good mix, but I like it. In the last morning at Kenting, I bought the breakfast, ride the motorcycle to a beautiful beach, sat on a driffting wood, and had my breakfast over there. This time, I don't consider Kenting too touristry anymore.
ps. Other photos at Kenting are available here.
2009/02/20~2009/02/21 台東知本 Chihpen at Taitung
到台東知本, 原本純粹是為了在墾丁和花蓮中間找個點停一下, 剛好有個卷就決定到亞灣溫泉飯店住一晚泡個溫泉再出發. 只是後來天氣不好決定不進花蓮, 知本突然成了這趟行程的最後一站.原住民的雕刻, 圖畫, 住家等都是非常需要被保存的文化, 原住民的漂亮色彩自然地點綴知本的道路. 小小的知本, 步調很慢, 人很單純.
回家的火車上, 旅程的最後一餐是火車便當, 也算是這次火車環島很完整的結束吧! :-)
I planned to stop at Chihpen because I wanted to have a stop between Kenting and Huailen. Having a hot spring on the way is always a nice idea and Chihpen is famous of its hot spring of course. However at the end Chihpen became the last stop of my trip because the next day the weather at Hualien was bad so I decided to go back home one day earlier.
Chihpen is a little town with very slow pace and pure-minded people. Some aboriginal clutlure and decorations are shown next to the roads. They are very colorful and attractive.
Taking the train back to Taipei, I had the railway meal box as my last meal of this trip. It's a good ending of the round trip by the trains, isn't it? :-)
