Scooter Touring Taiwan

[dilphinus]

I did a 14 + 3 days scooter trip around Taiwan in April 2013. Thread was deleted so info was gone. Had some who pm me for into so I thought I'll put the info here.

I rented the scooter from Jeremy. He's a Caucasian living in Taipei. He speaks English and Mandarin.

Corresponded with him recently as I'm intending another scooter trip.

Email dated 11 July 2014

The scooter. Pitstop at 平林 to refuel. 15 April 2013.

My itinerary was as follows:
Day 01 / 14 April - Taipei
Day 02 / 15 April - Su-Ao
Day 03 / 16 April - Su-Ao
Day 04 / 17 April - Hualien
Day 05 / 18 April - Taroko Gorge
Day 06 / 19 April - Shitiping
Day 07 / 20 April - Taimali
Day 08 / 21 April - Heng Chun
Day 09 / 22 April - Kaohsiung
Day 10 / 23 April - Kaohsiung
Day 11 / 24 April - Tainan
Day 12 / 25 April - Tainan
Day 13 / 26 April - Taichung
Day 14 / 27 April - Taipei
Day 15 / 28 April - Taipei
Day 16 / 29 April - Taipei
Day 17 / 30 April - Taipei

 

[dilphinus]

I brought along a helmet and a mesh jacket. Also a camping tent. Sleeping bag couldn't carry on cos my bag was over-weight. Bought a sleeping bag upon arrival in Taipei.

This book is pretty comprehensive. It has the routes a scooter can take. Can be bought at any 7-11.

The route map.

The Highway System in Taiwan.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_system_in_Taiwan

Scooters are not allowed on certain highways/expressways/motorways. I can't remember the wrong term it. I remember by the symbols they use. As long as it is a 梅花 sign, scooters aren't allowed on it.

 

[dilphinus]

15 April 2013

I set off from Taipei at about 2pm.
Went to Xindian 新店. Lost my way. Went round and round. Couldn't get onto the right motorway.

Took the 北宜公路 and the 宜蘭平原线

Scenery along the way

I lost my way a few times when in Yilan. I thought I was near Su-Ao already and did an exit. It was almost sunset when I found my way back to the motorway. It was around 7pm when I arrived at the Wulaokeng Scenic Area. Camped there for the night.

 

[dilphinus]

16 April 2013

The campsite. There's shower facilities and security patrolling the entire night.
I was the only camper.

I spent the day at the scenic park and went to the 羅東 night market.

 

[dilphinus]

17 April 2013

Woke up at 5am and started to pack and wash up. Left at about 5.45am.

Took the 蘇花公路.

Pit stop. Butt was hurting and needed the washroom too. Train station was empty.

Another pit stop. This time becos the view is awesome! The Pacific Ocean. Photo doesn't do it justice.

Arrived in Hualien at noon time. There were signs for the train station but I wasn't heading there! Took me a while before I found my way to the hostel.

Stayed at the Sleeping Boot Hostel. I didn't pre-book. Lucky there's plenty of space! Very nice and clean hostel.

I kinda rest the entire afternoon/evening as I was tired from waking up at 5am and being on the road.

Went to the 自强夜市

My dinner. I was more tired than hungry.

 

[dilphinus]

18 April 2013

Woke up early but dilly dallied. Spent the morning deciding to take the bus or ride the scooter to Taroko Gorge. Eventually missed the bus so had to take the scooter instead.

Not posting photos of Taroko Gorge as most people would be bored of them by now!

After Taroko Gorge, went to 七星潭.

Headed back to the hostel to shower, then went for dinner with the backpackers and host.

 

[dilphinus]

Dinner at the 公正街包子店

So someone said he had one of the best red tea ever in Hualien, and we decided to head there.

 

[dilphinus]

2nd round dinner

YES, the red tea is indeed the best I ever had!

 

[dilphinus]

19 April 2013

Woke up not decided where to go. Knew that I would be on the road for quite a number of hours so decided to get some food first.

Had the glutinous rice at a roadside stall on the street. Pretty delicious!

I was ready to head to Taitung when the host (of the hostel) told met that someone of someone he knows could put me up (foc) in a village in Taimali. Sounds like a good plan

So off I went. Took the 花东海岸公路.

Couldn't resist stopping to take photos!

 

[dilphinus]

This is the best route (in the trip). Really awesome views of the Pacific Ocean. The roads aren't winding and it's easy to ride.

 

[dilphinus]

石梯坪
Stopped to have lunch, cup noodles. Decided to camp here for the day/night. It was drizzling slightly and the views were too awesome.

 

[dilphinus]

20 April

Woke up to the chirping of birds and sounds of waves!
Washed up and packed up and went for a walk.

 

[dilphinus]

Stopped by the Tropic of Cancer 北回歸線標 en-route to Taimali

The Tropic of Cancer Marker is the position in the Northern Hemisphere farthest from the Equator where the sun rays can shine directly down on the Earth.

Another stop, at the Water Running Up

Stopped for lunch at the 7-11

 

[dilphinus]

Continued the journey to Taimali. Pretty easy route. Didn't lose my way even without the aid of GPS.

Arrival at the Taimali train station, waiting for pickup.

Local aboriginal village schools sports day

Aboriginal Village

 

[dilphinus]

The hut I stayed in for the night. With a fireplace.

Lodging is free.

 

[dilphinus]

21 April

Wanted to do some trekking but it had been raining since last night.

Slept in a bit, chatted with the village head and then set off for Hengchun.

Had an accident in the mountains. No phone signal. Waited 15mins for a car that passed by and helped.

Random stop

South Gate, Hengchun

Cape No. 7

East Gate, Hengchun

 

[dilphinus]

Didn't do much today. Stayed in a lousy hostel, probably the worst of this trip. I had the entire room to myself. Low season.

Dinner at the night market

Was feeling quite bored in the hostel and decided to go to the Eternal Flames. Kinda went up and down the same stretch of road looking for parking.

One of Taiwan’s more bizarre (and rare) natural phenomenon is its series of natural ‘eternal flames'; natural gas rising through cracks in the mudstone and igniting when it reaches the surface. The gas comes from deposits of shale, which are common in southern Taiwan. The high temperature of the bed rock (hardly surprising, considering Taiwan’s geographical position on the Ring of Fire) helps break down the large carbon molecules in the shale, creating smaller molecules of natural gas which then rise through cracks in the rock to the surface, where they can be ignited.

 

[diu___]

why didn't u rent yellow or red plate motorbike?

can go sexpressway

 

[dilphinus]

The next day, I set off from Heng Chun to Kaohsiung via the 恒春半岛環线 (page one of this thread). Relative easy ride except for the strong winds in Heng Chun.

Arrived in Kaoshiung in the afternoon. Pretty industrial feel as I entered the city. Found the hostel pretty easily. Went for a walk after settling in.

Stayed at the Cosy Planet Hostel. One of the best hostel I've ever stayed in.

 

[zuoom]

This is probably more doable than the cycle around Taiwan thing.