Hualien

Today is Dragon Boat Festival, so I had the day off today.  Linda and I went to Hualien for the weekend, I really wanted to see that side of the island before I'm done here (less than six weeks to go!).

Day 1- Took a bus to Liyu Lake to see the Dragon Boat Races.  We ended up getting a paddle boat for an hour, and watched the races on the lake.

 We walked around for a little while, then caught the bus back to Hualien

Traditional rice dumplings

Pine Garden

By dinner time, it was pouring down rain.  We got a little lost, and it took extra time to walk back to the hotel.  Not a bad day, though.

Day 2- Got on a tour bus early in the morning and toured Taroko National Park.

The Pacific Ocean, from Cingshuei Cliff

Shrine of the Eternal Spring.

I guess they're worried about falling rocks, so everybody had to don an oh-so-flattering construction helmet.

Linda was sooooo kind to let me have the window seat on the bus.  It was either this or a straight drop down the entire tour!

Chihsingtan Beach

After the tour, we had dinner at Subway, then just hung out at the hotel for awhile.  Today (Monday) was two train rides and a very long journey home.