2013 Taiwan Trip Day 5 East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung-Hualien) Part 2

18/6 花東海岸線(花蓮) East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung→Hualien)

花東海岸線(花蓮)三仙台→巴歌浪船屋→獅球嶼→月洞→石梯坪(單面山)→喝coffee看大浪→芭崎瞭望台→境外漂流民宿 

There is this sense of tranquility that Taitung offers. Less crowded as compared to other parts of Taiwan, it is peaceful and lovely with fluffy clouds and the azure sky. The heat in June can be unbearable though. I cannot imagine how hot it will be right in the middle of summer months. 

The drive along the scenic line was smooth and full of interesting sights. 

Leaving 三仙台，Y Ming brought us to 八哥浪船屋。Both the Bed & Breakfast and restaurant are next to each other. This place offers a wonderful view of the ocean and one can catch the sunrise here too. The restaurant is known for its no-menu creative dishes. As we were still full from breakfast, we did not try the set meal which does not come cheap.

八哥浪船屋民宿

八哥浪船屋餐厅

Tribal feel.

Next, we went to see some bats in a cave. 月洞 looks like a dated tourist spot. Nothing much to see except for a boat ride in a cave and looking at some bats. It was kind of eerie inside. My only fear was falling into the dirty and deep water. The view outside the cave is pretty nice though.

After lunch (nothing to rave about), we made our way to 石梯坪.I love the Interesting steps and impressive views. No wonder the minsu nearby is popular. The cement style may come across as old and boring, but this seems to be the trend in Taiwan nowadays. The rooms can be rather expensive.

Is this your cup of tea? 

Fancy having a cup of coffee next to the Pacific Ocean? Beat the crowds and check out this cafe. We happened to bump into a travel programme crew who were there filming.

As evening approaches, we headed to our next destination - 芭崎瞭望台.The stunning view brings about a sense of tranquility once again.

The winding road is a favourite for car advertisments ;p

Dinner was nothing much to rave about (again). After that, we checked in at 境外漂流民宿 (lots to rave about). I will share more about that in my next post. :)

2013 Taiwan Trip Day 5 East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung - Hualien) Part 1

18/6 花東海岸線(花蓮) East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung→Hualien)

花東海岸線(花蓮)三仙台→巴歌浪船屋→獅球嶼→月洞→石梯坪(單面山)→喝coffee看大浪→芭崎瞭望台→境外漂流民宿 

As mentioned in my previous post, I will share more about my stay at 寂里雅岚。Besides having a clean environment, this place offers the sea view. The locals come here to relax. If I were a local, I would have come here for a weekend getaway. The breakfast was typical home-cooked local porridge served with a few dishes. Forgot to take pictures of my room!

Traditional breakfast

Brightly lit living room

The dining area

Staircase leading to the rooms

The weather was so hot we went back into the living room after snapping a few shots. It would have been nice to sit outside and enjoy the lovely view if not for the sweltering heat. 

Catch some great views here!

It was a very hot day! 

Lovely seaview! 

Relaxing minsu in Taitung

Overall, a value for money minsu. As we did not get to talk to the lady host much, I am unable to comment much on that. No complaints on the cleanliness and environment. 
We proceeded to 三仙台 after bidding goodbye to the lady host. 

It was so hot we were perspiring just standing under the sun. There was no shelter at 三仙台，so we only made a brief stop. If the weather is good, one can walk up the curved bridge. 

三仙台

Nice stones

台东寂里雅岚VILLA
地址：台东县成功镇石雨伞路77-40号
电话：089-871-721 / 0937-900835 陈小姐
http://www.jiliyalan.idv.tw/main.php 

2013 Taiwan Trip Day 4 East Coast Scenic Line (Taitung)

17/6 花東海岸線 (台東)

花東海岸線 (台東)→利吉惡地→小黃山→黑森林(琵琶湖)→伽路蘭→水往上流→都蘭月光小棧(喝coffee)→泰源幽谷→成功住宿

After breakfast, we continued to explore Taitung. For nature or geography enthusiasts, this place might be of interest to them. Good for kids to gain more knowledge. :) Just across the road was a guava plantation. 利吉惡地 is known for its sweet and juicy guavas. They were so cheap we had to purchase a few. 

利吉惡地

Good service by our guide ; p

Freshly picked guava ready to be packed for sale

Still stuffed from breakfast, we went to explore the Taitung Forest Park. There are many cycling trails in Taitung. This park is worth a visit. Take your time to walk or cycle, enjoy the greenery and fresh air. 

Sad to say, nothing is perfect. Indulging in Taitung's lush nature comes at a price. May to July is a period where there are many 小黑蚊。Do not underestimate them. They can give you sleepless nights and scars. Do take precautions! 

For more information on 小黑蚊，check out these links: 

What is 小黑蚊？
小黑蚊防治

Bikes for rental

Fresh air!

A kind uncle who reminded me to apply mosquito repellent :)

Such lovely view!

After some workout in the park, it was time for lunch at a cosy eatery 绿房子。I like its laidback feel. Fresh ingredients and healthy cooking reminded me of home-cooked food. :)

A good way to cut down usage of paper

Fresh honey pineapple juice

Fresh grape juice 

More scenery to come after a nutritious lunch...We proceeded to 伽路蘭

The uncle probably got there at low tide

Next up, we made a brief stop at 水往上流。What 水往上流 is all about

Not really a 奇观 after all

Being a coffee lover, my trips are never complete without checking out cafes. Next stop, 都蘭月光小棧。On our way to the cafe, we drove past 都蘭。This place has many backpackers hostels. I once read on a travel magazine that some backpackers fell in love with the place so much they ended up staying there for good. Seems that life is pretty slow-paced and the quality of life is much desired. 

Nice name!

Bags overload

Now, what is with all the bags? Why 都兰国小school bags are so popular

is 

I really love this coffee place perched on a hill

Wondering what is inside the house?  What 月光小栈was used for

Cafe Latte was served in a wrong cup but I guess the view matters more

I could just spend an afternoon here reading and taking in the views...

It was close to evening when we left. On our way to 泰源幽谷, we tried the famous 东河包子。

Hmm, this looks familiar...

Getting up close with the monkeys at 泰源幽谷...They can get aggressive.

After a long day of sightseeing, we drove to 成功 where we will be staying for the night. 成功 is known for its seafood. We had a fantastic dinner! 

The area is famous for 旗鱼

Very yummy squid balls. There were bits of squid in it :)

After a scrumptious dinner, we headed to 寂里雅岚for our overnight stay. More about the place in my next post. :)