Craig's Dad played tour guide for Craig's Uncle Jim, Aunty Anne and Cousin Maree. The destination was
Taroko Gorge. They set off very early by train from Songshan Station. When they arrived at Hualien they had to wait a while for the hotel bus. Aunty Anne and Maree deserved a better picture but this is the only one that was taken while waiting for their late breakfast.
Craig really liked the room at the hotel
Silks Place. He seemed very pleased with the sofa.
And, even happier with the bed.
Craig liked the balcony too. What he liked most about it was candle that was on the table. He really wanted to light the candle but Craig's Dad didn't have a lighter!!
The party of five headed off for a hike. They had some trouble finding the trail they were looking for and then, when they did find it, the trail was way to tough for a little bloke like Craig.
Craig didn't mind at all when they went across the little river to a nearby temple. It was quite high and there were plenty of stairs to climb but Craig was very happy to pose for photos.
Craig became very worried about his hat blowing away. It was a windy day but Craig's Dad thinks the boy worried a bit too much.
Craig kept a firm hold on his hat everywhere he went.
When a spot out of the wind was found, the light was less than perfect for a photo.
The view from the front of the temple was lovely.
In the riverbed beside the hotel, people have lined up stones to write various messages. Why? Who can say.
But, all the walking during the day and the very early start meant Craig was exhausted and he fell asleep during dinner.
After a good night's sleep he was back to his old self and ready for a tour of
Taroko Gorge that was run by the hotel.
The
Eternal Spring Shrine is really quite beautiful.
Photos don't do justice to the setting.
Craig and his Dad were a bit slow walking over to the shrine. Craig's Uncle Jim and Cousin Maree had gone ahead and were already inspecting a section of unused former road bridge.
But Craig and his Dad arrived at the shrine eventually.
And Craig was very good about posing for pictures.
This is the view back towards the parking area from inside a little tunnel that leads to the shrine.
Inside the tunnel, next to the broken bridge is a shrine to those who died building the
Central Cross-Island Highway.
To amuse Craig, his Dad allowed him to take some photos with his Dad's camera. He pressed the shutter too quickly the first time.
He still needs practice at putting the subject into the frame.
And he doesn't think about the light at all.
This one was about the best of the lot.
Back on the tour, Craig put on his new Taiwanese aboriginal headwear.
But, Craig was very hungry. He hadn't eaten a proper breakfast and it was almost midday. The tour driver Nelson was very helpful and carried Craig across the suspension bridge that was the last stop on the tour. Meanwhile, Craig was too busy eating a banana to look at the view.
After lunch, everyone went for a hike. To get to the head of the Lyushuei-Heliou Trail they had to walk down the road for at least a kilometer. There's some info and picture about the trail
here about half way down the page.
A section of the trail sits on a cliff face. During the hike, Craig was completely oblivious to any danger and almost fell in one spot where the railing would not have saved such a skinny little boy. He had a good time but his Dad was nervous the whole way and very pleased when it was over.
Then, as soon as they returned to the hotel, Craig insisted on going swimming. He had plenty of fun in the pool but afterwards he was way too tired and couldn't stay awake to eat dinner. Plus, there was nowhere to buy dinner outside of the hotel after 7pm and his Dad was too slow to get out to buy something.
Craig woke up about 11pm and had a snack on some biscuits and fruit before straight back to bed and sleeping until morning. He needed all the sleep he could get.
After two beautiful sunny days, on the last morning, clouds had begun to gather on the tops of the peaks above the hotel.
After a midday departure from beautiful Tienhsiang they moved on by train to the slightly less beautiful Luodong. Craig was able to run around in a local park to stretch his legs after the trip.
Later in the evening, everyone went to
Luodong Night Market. Craig was pretty happy about sitting down to eat ice cream.
The next day they paid a visit to the
National Center for Traditional Arts. Craig did well to hide to hide his boredom most of the time.
There was a special performance that grabbed Craig's interest for a little while.
Still, Craig was good about posing for photos when asked.
There was a more than
100-year-old house inside the center. In its courtyard, Craig joined Maree and Aunty Anne on this thingamabob for walking on.
They seemed to enjoy themselves.
In the afternoon, Craig went with his Dad and Uncle Jim to a school not far from their hotel. He had a great time playing on the school's jungle gym.
It was really good for him to be able to play on something a bit familiar and not have to follow the adults around.
Craig fell asleep on the train home. He had been very good for the whole trip but there was just too much walking for such a little bloke.
Craig really liked the room at the hotel Silks Place. He seemed very pleased with the sofa.
And, even happier with the bed.
Craig liked the balcony too. What he liked most about it was candle that was on the table. He really wanted to light the candle but Craig's Dad didn't have a lighter!!
The party of five headed off for a hike. They had some trouble finding the trail they were looking for and then, when they did find it, the trail was way to tough for a little bloke like Craig.
Craig didn't mind at all when they went across the little river to a nearby temple. It was quite high and there were plenty of stairs to climb but Craig was very happy to pose for photos.
Craig became very worried about his hat blowing away. It was a windy day but Craig's Dad thinks the boy worried a bit too much.
Craig kept a firm hold on his hat everywhere he went.
When a spot out of the wind was found, the light was less than perfect for a photo.
The view from the front of the temple was lovely.
In the riverbed beside the hotel, people have lined up stones to write various messages. Why? Who can say.
But, all the walking during the day and the very early start meant Craig was exhausted and he fell asleep during dinner.
After a good night's sleep he was back to his old self and ready for a tour of Taroko Gorge that was run by the hotel.
The Eternal Spring Shrine is really quite beautiful.
Photos don't do justice to the setting.
Craig and his Dad were a bit slow walking over to the shrine. Craig's Uncle Jim and Cousin Maree had gone ahead and were already inspecting a section of unused former road bridge.
But Craig and his Dad arrived at the shrine eventually.
And Craig was very good about posing for pictures.
This is the view back towards the parking area from inside a little tunnel that leads to the shrine.
Inside the tunnel, next to the broken bridge is a shrine to those who died building the Central Cross-Island Highway.
To amuse Craig, his Dad allowed him to take some photos with his Dad's camera. He pressed the shutter too quickly the first time.
He still needs practice at putting the subject into the frame.
And he doesn't think about the light at all.
This one was about the best of the lot.
Back on the tour, Craig put on his new Taiwanese aboriginal headwear.
But, Craig was very hungry. He hadn't eaten a proper breakfast and it was almost midday. The tour driver Nelson was very helpful and carried Craig across the suspension bridge that was the last stop on the tour. Meanwhile, Craig was too busy eating a banana to look at the view.
After lunch, everyone went for a hike. To get to the head of the Lyushuei-Heliou Trail they had to walk down the road for at least a kilometer. There's some info and picture about the trail here about half way down the page.
A section of the trail sits on a cliff face. During the hike, Craig was completely oblivious to any danger and almost fell in one spot where the railing would not have saved such a skinny little boy. He had a good time but his Dad was nervous the whole way and very pleased when it was over.
Then, as soon as they returned to the hotel, Craig insisted on going swimming. He had plenty of fun in the pool but afterwards he was way too tired and couldn't stay awake to eat dinner. Plus, there was nowhere to buy dinner outside of the hotel after 7pm and his Dad was too slow to get out to buy something.
Craig woke up about 11pm and had a snack on some biscuits and fruit before straight back to bed and sleeping until morning. He needed all the sleep he could get.
After two beautiful sunny days, on the last morning, clouds had begun to gather on the tops of the peaks above the hotel.
After a midday departure from beautiful Tienhsiang they moved on by train to the slightly less beautiful Luodong. Craig was able to run around in a local park to stretch his legs after the trip.
Later in the evening, everyone went to Luodong Night Market. Craig was pretty happy about sitting down to eat ice cream.
The next day they paid a visit to the National Center for Traditional Arts. Craig did well to hide to hide his boredom most of the time.
There was a special performance that grabbed Craig's interest for a little while.
Still, Craig was good about posing for photos when asked.
There was a more than 100-year-old house inside the center. In its courtyard, Craig joined Maree and Aunty Anne on this thingamabob for walking on.
They seemed to enjoy themselves.
In the afternoon, Craig went with his Dad and Uncle Jim to a school not far from their hotel. He had a great time playing on the school's jungle gym.
It was really good for him to be able to play on something a bit familiar and not have to follow the adults around.
Craig fell asleep on the train home. He had been very good for the whole trip but there was just too much walking for such a little bloke.
