in pingdong
I went for a hike around taiwan this week (the light version)...
Starting from Taipei and heading south on the moutian roads...
"tai 3 xian"...(road number 3...
nice fontain at a gas station...
Continuing on road 7 towards yilans mountain...
Strange roundabout with traffic lights...isnt roundabouts a substitute for traffic lights...?
Nice view...I see a lake down there some where...must be tha dame near fuxing...
Mountains showing up...civered with clouds...
Pink bridges...it feels like the alps once in a while...
Buddhist flags...
Another dame...
A dry river...
Road 7 (main road)...many of these roads brake pretty easy...
There are houses far way there...its always so impressive that people lives here in the middle of nowhere...
Smoke on the moutain...maybe a hidden hotspring...
Aboriginal pattern...I find these "diamond shapes" all over the country...
"yilan", I went here with my classmates last year heading to Xueshan (second higest mountain in taiwan)...
The atmosphere here is almost like in sweden...
But the roads are more narrow (and taiwanese moutinas are one of the steepest in the world I was told)...
Cherry blossom (the red flowers)...
Raining (near yilan, as usual)...
An old train...
Locomotive...I like...
Near Tuchang...
Its a pity...its 25 km to the trail start...sun is setting and then waits another 10km to the biggest mountina lae in taiwan...(no camping allowed)...I have to do it another time...
The trip continues south up hills...
A place where the bus to Lishan us to stop (that has no conveinient stores)...but some restaurant and local stores with paintings on how houses use to look like in taiwan...
There are many things to do in yilan county...
I got beef noodles...
Its chinese new year, so many people (rather: all of them)...have vacation, and are taking trips...many buses heading to the mountains...
I was recommended to go to Lishan, in the mountains by the head of chamber of commerce...its like scandinavian atmosphere...I guess its on of the higest villages in taiwan...
Why do they have a weight in the store entrance?
Starting from Taipei and heading south on the moutian roads...
"tai 3 xian"...(road number 3...
nice fontain at a gas station...
Continuing on road 7 towards yilans mountain...
Strange roundabout with traffic lights...isnt roundabouts a substitute for traffic lights...?
Nice view...I see a lake down there some where...must be tha dame near fuxing...
Mountains showing up...civered with clouds...
Pink bridges...it feels like the alps once in a while...
Buddhist flags...
Another dame...
A dry river...
Road 7 (main road)...many of these roads brake pretty easy...
There are houses far way there...its always so impressive that people lives here in the middle of nowhere...
Smoke on the moutain...maybe a hidden hotspring...
Aboriginal pattern...I find these "diamond shapes" all over the country...
"yilan", I went here with my classmates last year heading to Xueshan (second higest mountain in taiwan)...
The atmosphere here is almost like in sweden...
But the roads are more narrow (and taiwanese moutinas are one of the steepest in the world I was told)...
Cherry blossom (the red flowers)...
Raining (near yilan, as usual)...
An old train...
Locomotive...I like...
Near Tuchang...
Its a pity...its 25 km to the trail start...sun is setting and then waits another 10km to the biggest mountina lae in taiwan...(no camping allowed)...I have to do it another time...
The trip continues south up hills...
A place where the bus to Lishan us to stop (that has no conveinient stores)...but some restaurant and local stores with paintings on how houses use to look like in taiwan...
There are many things to do in yilan county...
I got beef noodles...
Its chinese new year, so many people (rather: all of them)...have vacation, and are taking trips...many buses heading to the mountains...
I was recommended to go to Lishan, in the mountains by the head of chamber of commerce...its like scandinavian atmosphere...I guess its on of the higest villages in taiwan...
Why do they have a weight in the store entrance?
I was looking for an elemantary school, since there u can camp without problem...(people say)...
I there after went to get some food in lishan...many people ate at the "Only place open"...
Some meat screwers...
They also had ginger tea at some other place...
It was maybe 10-15 degrees outside...
The elemantary school was pretty new....even the toilet was barely used...
Next day the weather was nice...
I love pretty chirches in mountain areas...taiwan has some, since the aboriginals are mostly christians...
And many europeans went here (also some ppl from korea etc) to spread the bible message...
Wow...maybe its nanhu mountain...
And there is Hehuanshan, some where...a moutain i climed some years ago...
Nice stairs...I wanna have a house here...in these pitoresque lishan blocks...
On of the only stores open in the morning to sell breakfast...
The guy here, seems to own most big places in lishan, he has a wool sweater...
The higest gamler store in taiwan can be found here...
Omg, a new character...(the one to the left)...means palm tree I was told...
Another nice church...
Some meat screwers...
They also had ginger tea at some other place...
It was maybe 10-15 degrees outside...
The elemantary school was pretty new....even the toilet was barely used...
Next day the weather was nice...
I love pretty chirches in mountain areas...taiwan has some, since the aboriginals are mostly christians...
And many europeans went here (also some ppl from korea etc) to spread the bible message...
Wow...maybe its nanhu mountain...
And there is Hehuanshan, some where...a moutain i climed some years ago...
Nice stairs...I wanna have a house here...in these pitoresque lishan blocks...
On of the only stores open in the morning to sell breakfast...
The guy here, seems to own most big places in lishan, he has a wool sweater...
The higest gamler store in taiwan can be found here...
Omg, a new character...(the one to the left)...means palm tree I was told...
Another nice church...
Xueshan ridge...
Steep moutains roads...leading west...
The weather is often sunny in the morning up here...
Steep moutains roads...leading west...
The weather is often sunny in the morning up here...
I want to see Dabajian shan, a cool mountain in Hsinchu county...but I cannot see it...
Here is hehuanshan, its where im currently am heading...
There are many police stations up here...
Wow, nice cabin, I wonder how much it costs to buy that one...
Wow, nice cabin, I wonder how much it costs to buy that one...
Road 8 meets up road 7 after a while...
Passing a tunnel on the highest road in taiwan...
The "dark moutain"...
Road 14 meets up road 8...leading east to hualien or west to nantou...(on of the few moutain roads that are crossing taiwan (think there are 2-3 thats not broken)...
I camped at this parkin lot 2 years ago with NCTUs moutains climbing club...
Now Im heading to hehuan shan...
No trees grows there...im at 3000m above sea level now...
Many tai ppl are coming here during vacation to see the view...since cars can drive up here...
The traffic is chaotic...
The top of hehuanshan (centra peak)...3416meters high...
There is my favorite moutain...the pyramid moutains...no snow on any top...there are truly many rumors here...I was told there was alot of snow up here this week...
And xueshan...
And Hsinchu county...
I went on this road up...many houses and hotels up here...
The road continues west...
Nice moutain house...
The houses here looks like home...no "container architecture" like in the taiwanese cities...
Wow...Absolute vodka was found...in the the closest 7-11...
Many people came here...thay had a lady with a mic at the entrance...
And the micro waves at a separate corner of the store...
People say this area is famous due to a sheep farm...(think i visited that 2 yearsa ago when I swam cross sunmoonlake)...
The highest 7-11 in taiwan...
9 people working here...is that efficient...?
7 behind the desk, the lady with the mic and the guy at the oven...
More nice houses (pic was taken while making speed)...
Another nice house...
Cherry blossom...
I wonder why taipei dont have these nice houses (atleast I cant find them)...
the "sheep farm"...very toursitic...
Many cars here...
And maybe 10-20km of queue uphill...
the queues never ended...25million people with vacation at the same time...
But the air was fresh...
I been here 2-3 times before...its nice...
More non taiwanese roofs...
Passing a tunnel on the highest road in taiwan...
The "dark moutain"...
Road 14 meets up road 8...leading east to hualien or west to nantou...(on of the few moutain roads that are crossing taiwan (think there are 2-3 thats not broken)...
I camped at this parkin lot 2 years ago with NCTUs moutains climbing club...
Now Im heading to hehuan shan...
No trees grows there...im at 3000m above sea level now...
Many tai ppl are coming here during vacation to see the view...since cars can drive up here...
The traffic is chaotic...
The top of hehuanshan (centra peak)...3416meters high...
There is my favorite moutain...the pyramid moutains...no snow on any top...there are truly many rumors here...I was told there was alot of snow up here this week...
And xueshan...
And Hsinchu county...
I went on this road up...many houses and hotels up here...
The road continues west...
Nice moutain house...
The houses here looks like home...no "container architecture" like in the taiwanese cities...
Wow...Absolute vodka was found...in the the closest 7-11...
Many people came here...thay had a lady with a mic at the entrance...
And the micro waves at a separate corner of the store...
People say this area is famous due to a sheep farm...(think i visited that 2 yearsa ago when I swam cross sunmoonlake)...
The highest 7-11 in taiwan...
9 people working here...is that efficient...?
7 behind the desk, the lady with the mic and the guy at the oven...
More nice houses (pic was taken while making speed)...
Another nice house...
Cherry blossom...
I wonder why taipei dont have these nice houses (atleast I cant find them)...
the "sheep farm"...very toursitic...
Many cars here...
And maybe 10-20km of queue uphill...
the queues never ended...25million people with vacation at the same time...
But the air was fresh...
I been here 2-3 times before...its nice...
More non taiwanese roofs...
A nice yellow house...
A nice church top...
More houses...
Another church...
A nice church top...
More houses...
Another church...
And more churches...
Hours of queuing up hill...
A seediq aboriginal resturant...sweet...
And Bitan, my favrite lake...
seen it many times before...but its hard to get to...
I was told its a dame thats not "real"...
Well...I wanna see it closer...
After 10-20 mintues(to the other side of the dame)...I reached the bank...
Some boats, and float bridges...no people...
They could have nice swimming competitions here...
The churches and houses I just passed are up on the hill...
More traffic...
Hours of queuing up hill...
A seediq aboriginal resturant...sweet...
And Bitan, my favrite lake...
seen it many times before...but its hard to get to...
I was told its a dame thats not "real"...
Well...I wanna see it closer...
After 10-20 mintues(to the other side of the dame)...I reached the bank...
Some boats, and float bridges...no people...
They could have nice swimming competitions here...
The churches and houses I just passed are up on the hill...
More cherry blossom...
Its fun, these yellom reflectors on thecrash barriers...makes vecicles sound funny...the sound reflects differently...
Now heading to next lake...to road 151...how do I find that one?...
Funny jacket...with the "7-11" logo on it...I will look like a staff if i wear that in a store...
Have to pass sunmoonlake to get to road 151...andmore traffic...
Taiwanese hollidays...
Its fun, these yellom reflectors on thecrash barriers...makes vecicles sound funny...the sound reflects differently...
Now heading to next lake...to road 151...how do I find that one?...
Funny jacket...with the "7-11" logo on it...I will look like a staff if i wear that in a store...
Have to pass sunmoonlake to get to road 151...andmore traffic...
Taiwanese hollidays...
Some people now wearing helmet (its like beeing on the east coast or south of taiwan, where helmet is more a recommendation or decoration)...
And a "fjällräven" bag...they are getting more popular here...
Road 21 to sun moon lake...road 21 crosses the island from middle to south...
The cars were still...
The cars were still...
Wow, sun moon lake...
A police man trying to arrange the traffic...
FUnny bulding, is that typhoon proof?so high and thin...
Nice bike path going around the lake...
A ridge that separates the lake from the farms to the right (the lake was created when japanese people occupied taiwan)...
Very touristic here as well...
Nice bike path going around the lake...
A ridge that separates the lake from the farms to the right (the lake was created when japanese people occupied taiwan)...
A marathon will go around the lake soon...
"666"
It was less traffic on the south part of the lake...
Taking road 131 up to some mountain village...
More traffic...
Changing to raod 151...towards an old "forrest park":..
never ending... queues...
Here...some 1000-2000 meter up some one had an arcade...
15 degrees...its warm for being home...
An "all you can eat" meal was waiting, only 300nt (70SEK)
The food was soso.
People drive car up here...and take a walk between the houses to say they been on a hike...
I was heading to a lake that was created by an earthquake...but I prefered to hike near the lights...
And no vehicles allowed near the path, so I had to walk 2km, or wait for a but that leaves in 1 hour...
Locals tolb me it would take 6-7hours to walk there...(to the lake)...
They had ceom nice flowers in the area...
The path was pretty small and steep...
I had to climb ladders some times...
It was very bad infromation, only in chinese some times...and some ribbons of different colours leading to different places...
Nice shape of the mountain...
Hmm, where to go...I got the characted of the destimation...both ways are leading to the destination...
I pickes a steep path, hoping it will be faster...I had to be back at the hotel area before it gets dark...
Nice view...
Omg, a rest place on the top of a mountain...
But chinese information, and to ways to go...hmm, I walked back and forth, trygin to figure out whree to go...
I picked the road to the left...it seemed like more people walked this way...
I also meet some random people who said it was this way (i hope they are right)...
Yep, more ribbons...
Nice forrest, I felt like home for a while...
Omg, the path just ended...where to go...
its a small path heading into the high grass...but barely anyone walked there before...
Hmm...after 10 minutes looking, I found a had written sigh, saying "walk left"...
Omg, a house in the middle of nowhere, who carried these stones here (maybe 2-3 hours walk for normal people, in steep terrain)...
And later on I found another house...
It turned out that the first house was a temple...and this was a hosue for workers, in the area, long time ago...
It seemd pretty nice...
The path became better after a while, I turned out that when the "other" road met up wuth my "fast and steep" path, it was easier to walk...
And some roads were closed...
Not sure where to go...I take right...
Steep hills...
More signs...hmm copnfusing...I sked everyone I met (3-4 people If i was on the right path)...I hope they were right...
Wow...after 3 hours i came to the lake...good, then I have plenty of time, to contines to destination number 2...a cave...
Many people camped at the lake...
Some foreingers....I asked how to walk to the cave...and they gave me directions...
This was a normal forrest 10 years ago...(something)...then suddenly the earthquake created this lake...
I had to walk alon the lake to get to the cave...
And I met more foreinger who were heading to the same direction, they camped at the lake for some days...(all american english teachers, as it seemed)...
"666"
It was less traffic on the south part of the lake...
Taking road 131 up to some mountain village...
More traffic...
Changing to raod 151...towards an old "forrest park":..
never ending... queues...
Here...some 1000-2000 meter up some one had an arcade...
15 degrees...its warm for being home...
An "all you can eat" meal was waiting, only 300nt (70SEK)
The food was soso.
People drive car up here...and take a walk between the houses to say they been on a hike...
I was heading to a lake that was created by an earthquake...but I prefered to hike near the lights...
And no vehicles allowed near the path, so I had to walk 2km, or wait for a but that leaves in 1 hour...
Locals tolb me it would take 6-7hours to walk there...(to the lake)...
They had ceom nice flowers in the area...
The path was pretty small and steep...
I had to climb ladders some times...
It was very bad infromation, only in chinese some times...and some ribbons of different colours leading to different places...
Nice shape of the mountain...
Hmm, where to go...I got the characted of the destimation...both ways are leading to the destination...
I pickes a steep path, hoping it will be faster...I had to be back at the hotel area before it gets dark...
Nice view...
Omg, a rest place on the top of a mountain...
But chinese information, and to ways to go...hmm, I walked back and forth, trygin to figure out whree to go...
I picked the road to the left...it seemed like more people walked this way...
I also meet some random people who said it was this way (i hope they are right)...
Yep, more ribbons...
Nice forrest, I felt like home for a while...
Omg, the path just ended...where to go...
its a small path heading into the high grass...but barely anyone walked there before...
Hmm...after 10 minutes looking, I found a had written sigh, saying "walk left"...
Omg, a house in the middle of nowhere, who carried these stones here (maybe 2-3 hours walk for normal people, in steep terrain)...
And later on I found another house...
It turned out that the first house was a temple...and this was a hosue for workers, in the area, long time ago...
It seemd pretty nice...
The path became better after a while, I turned out that when the "other" road met up wuth my "fast and steep" path, it was easier to walk...
And some roads were closed...
Not sure where to go...I take right...
Steep hills...
More signs...hmm copnfusing...I sked everyone I met (3-4 people If i was on the right path)...I hope they were right...
Wow...after 3 hours i came to the lake...good, then I have plenty of time, to contines to destination number 2...a cave...
Many people camped at the lake...
Some foreingers....I asked how to walk to the cave...and they gave me directions...
This was a normal forrest 10 years ago...(something)...then suddenly the earthquake created this lake...
I had to walk alon the lake to get to the cave...
And I met more foreinger who were heading to the same direction, they camped at the lake for some days...(all american english teachers, as it seemed)...
The lake was big...
And here the lake goes down, a small creek...I would have been disapointed if it was a stone blocking the creek, but it seem like the earth was pushed up...
A flying lantern had landed on a tree in the middle of nowhere...thats cool...
The path was leading to a dry river...
I had to walk on stones for a while...
I was on the right way (i recognized these character)...
The cave...not as impresive as the lake...
A sign that it was the thousan people cave...
Some people campes here before...
And potts gathered dripping water...
It would be nice to stay here...or continue on the path (That accutlaly leads to alishan)...
11.09, it took me about 4 hours from the hotel area to the cave...
I headed back, n time to waste...seeing nice shaped cliffs on my way back...
After another hours I came back to the lake...
A guy called Tyler said I could use his water filter to refill my water bottle...
Many old taiwanese people were at the camp...
And an american who ben to taiwan only for 2 weeks...and will study chinese for a year while teaching english...
And here the lake goes down, a small creek...I would have been disapointed if it was a stone blocking the creek, but it seem like the earth was pushed up...
A flying lantern had landed on a tree in the middle of nowhere...thats cool...
The path was leading to a dry river...
I had to walk on stones for a while...
I was on the right way (i recognized these character)...
The cave...not as impresive as the lake...
A sign that it was the thousan people cave...
Some people campes here before...
And potts gathered dripping water...
It would be nice to stay here...or continue on the path (That accutlaly leads to alishan)...
11.09, it took me about 4 hours from the hotel area to the cave...
I headed back, n time to waste...seeing nice shaped cliffs on my way back...
After another hours I came back to the lake...
A guy called Tyler said I could use his water filter to refill my water bottle...
Many old taiwanese people were at the camp...
And an american who ben to taiwan only for 2 weeks...and will study chinese for a year while teaching english...
Johan, high on caffein, convinced he can do any hike in taiwan in less than 6-8 hours...
Omg, a Mcdonalds "M" on the ground...can u find it?
I carried my friend luggage back to the hotel area...and we picked an easier way (but longer) back...
Strange sign...the information was facing the forrest, not tha path...
It was showing the distance (finally), so far, no distance was displayed...
But stupid enough itwas not readable for people walking on the path...
Starnge...
The new path was steep in the begining...
But later it was very easy...(2050 meter high)...
Some old map...
This I could run...no wonder so many kids come here...
More chinese maps...
And a hut, for slow hikers...(or who just enjoy spending their time in the rural area)...
And some old, shit house...
I met a guy from Changhua with orange beard...wierd...
A nice water fall...but it was dry...
Wow...here tha cars can drive up....for lazy walkers...
pretty fresh...mabye the people i passed by on my woy down took the car...
It started to rain when I arrived to the hotel area (a little)...
cloudy skies...
And back to the forrest park...
Dinner was eaten at a "famous" place near nantou...chicken place...
It was ok...
They had the soap in a web, that was clever...the it wont be dropped....
Later a visit to exther was made...she is nice...
She has many white vehicles at her house...
We ate breakfast at a shark place...
I had a strawberry pancake thing...
With coffee...
Omg, a Mcdonalds "M" on the ground...can u find it?
I carried my friend luggage back to the hotel area...and we picked an easier way (but longer) back...
Strange sign...the information was facing the forrest, not tha path...
It was showing the distance (finally), so far, no distance was displayed...
But stupid enough itwas not readable for people walking on the path...
Starnge...
The new path was steep in the begining...
But later it was very easy...(2050 meter high)...
Some old map...
This I could run...no wonder so many kids come here...
More chinese maps...
And a hut, for slow hikers...(or who just enjoy spending their time in the rural area)...
And some old, shit house...
I met a guy from Changhua with orange beard...wierd...
A nice water fall...but it was dry...
Wow...here tha cars can drive up....for lazy walkers...
pretty fresh...mabye the people i passed by on my woy down took the car...
It started to rain when I arrived to the hotel area (a little)...
cloudy skies...
And back to the forrest park...
Dinner was eaten at a "famous" place near nantou...chicken place...
It was ok...
They had the soap in a web, that was clever...the it wont be dropped....
Later a visit to exther was made...she is nice...
She has many white vehicles at her house...
We ate breakfast at a shark place...
I had a strawberry pancake thing...
With coffee...
Heading south from nantou on road 3...passing many hills...and binlang trees...
They never seemed to end...
Road 3, the same I started on, in taipei...
Nice view...
A car was delvering binlang or something...
MIssing kids were announced at a local gas station...
Omg...up here, its rare with gas stations...
Another moutain lake...
They never seemed to end...
Road 3, the same I started on, in taipei...
Nice view...
A car was delvering binlang or something...
MIssing kids were announced at a local gas station...
Omg...up here, its rare with gas stations...
Another moutain lake...
Raod 20...its broken...else I would take it, it leads to the east coast...and a place I wanna hike...instead I was heading south, almost to the very south of taiwan to be able to cross the island...
This lady in pingdong was amazing, she acctually knew were to find "allyoucan eat" resturants...and she also knew how to go there...
Omg,,,199nt for all you can eat meat, (50SEK)...
This lady in pingdong was amazing, she acctually knew were to find "allyoucan eat" resturants...and she also knew how to go there...
Omg,,,199nt for all you can eat meat, (50SEK)...