Cliff(y) Goes Travelling

Xincheng - Taipei (3h 2m) ETD: 9.30am (GMT + 8)  ETA:  12.32pm (GMT + 8) Saying goodbye to Taroko wasn't easy, but it had to be done. After filling out stomachs with the free-flow porridge at Li-Wu Hotel , my BFF and I walked all the way from the hotel to Xincheng Station to catch our train that'd depart at 9.30am.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan Said to be one of the less visited places at Taroko National Park, the bell tower is a great spot to marvel at the beauty of the gorge. Despite suffering from acrophobia, I braved myself to go all the way up. I simply like challenges as always.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan Daily: 6.00am - 9.00pm Despite the disappointment over the fact that Eternal Spring Shrine was under renovation, my BFF and I pressed on to trek to Changuang Temple that's also known as Zen Monastery. 

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan A popular picturesque spot within the national park, Eternal Spring Shrine was erected to honour those who were involved in the labour-intensive job of building the Cross-Island Highway. The construction took close to four years, claiming more than 200 lives in work-related incidents.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan Daily: 6.00am - 5.00pm Built on the mountainside near Tianxiang is an ornate Buddhist temple named Xiangde Temple, which was completed in 1968. It's known for having the world's highest elevated statue of Ksitigarbha, a bodhisattva who's primarily revered by East Asians and usually depicted as a monk.

Sioulin Township, Hualien, Taiwan Originally known as Tapido, which means 'sugar cane' in the language used by the aboriginal Truku tribe, Tianxiang is a small village that serves as a resting area for many visitors. It was renamed to honour the Song Dynasty hero who resisted Kublai Khan and subsequently executed after four years of imprisonment.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan Buluowan is one of the few flatland areas at Taroko that was previously inhabited by two aboriginal tribes, the Truku and the Shisanhang. It's said to be a great place for picnic on a clear day, which I can understand why after reaching the area.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan It's said that the best place to view the magnificent gorge of Taroko is the Swallow Grotto located after Buluowan. My BFF and I were lucky as it wasn't raining at all in the morning, on top of the fact that we were the only two trekkers at the trail.

Taroko National Park, Hualien, Taiwan Not wanting to go back to Li-Wu Hotel so soon, my BFF and I decided to do a short trail despite the rain. Not far from the souvenir shop of Taroko National Park Visitor Centre is the south section of the short and easy Terrace Trail. 

Off Zhongbu Cross-Island Highway via Jinwen Bridge, Hualien, Taiwan Daily: 8.30am - 5.00pm My BFF and I were waiting for the rain to stop till both of us fell asleep in our room at Li-Wu Hotel . Thankfully, it stopped for a while, allowing us to walk comfortably to Taroko National Park Visitor Centre. It's open daily, except for the second Monday of every month and the day before Chinese New Year.

Zhongbu Cross-Island Highway, No. 242-2 Fushih Village, Hualien, Taiwan Said to be a pet-friendly accommodation, though my BFF and I didn't have any pets with us, Li-Wu Hotel (3*) is approximately 300 m away from the Gate of Taroko near the bridge that leads to the Taroko National Park Tourist Information Centre.

Taipei - Xincheng (2h 1m) ETD: 10.26am (GMT + 8)  ETA:  12.27pm (GMT + 8) Having heard of the unparalleled beauty of Taroko Gorge, my BFF and I made it a point to see it with our own eyes despite the rainy season in June. Our journey began from Taipei Main Station by making use of the Taiwan Railway Administration (TRA) system on Tze-Chiang Limited Express (Puyuma), the newest, fastest and more spacious train type introduced in 2013.

15 Hankou Street Section 1, Taipei, Taiwan Hotel Relax II (3*) is one of the four hotels owned by a group of contemporary artists, interior designers and marketing experts. All of the hotels are located within walking distance from Taipei Main Station, as well as Ximending if you feel like exercising a little bit instead of taking a public transport.

MNL-TPE (2h 15m) Boeing 777-300ER ETD: 12.40pm (GMT + 8)  ETA:  2.55pm (GMT + 8) After we got bored with the new, but uninspiring Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport , it was finally time for my BFF and I to fly to our last holiday destination for our mid-year trip: Taipei, Taiwan. That was my virgin experience with EVA Air.

Andrews Avenue, Manila, the Philippines Today's short post is aimed to offer a glimpse of the only airport serving the capital city of the Philippines, specifically the relatively new Terminal 1 that underwent a major renovation in 2015. The airport is named after the late Senator Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. who was assassinated at the airport in 1983.

F. B. Harrison Street, Manila, the Philippines The Mabuhay Manor (3*) is proud to be the first balikbayan (lit. homecoming) hotel in the capital city of the Philippines. I'm not too sure why, but the hotel does feel pretty homely. It's located not far away from Baclaran, which seems to be a popular shopping district.