Breakfast was simply sumptuous this morning. I had expected another serving of toast and hot beverage, but it surprised me when breakfast took the form of a buffet, with a Chinese-style theme. I guess I had gone too used to the Western style breakfast of egg and ham, which explains why I was so taken aback.
Then came a bus journey to Taroko National Park. I had mixed feelings when Jack mentioned that we are about to leave the last trace of civilization. On one hand, I was excited because we are about to venture deep into the natural heritage of Taiwan, with many new discoveries to be made. On the other hand, it is expected that convenience stores will be almost impossible to come by once we embark on our expedition. Nevertheless, I couldn't wait anymore for the journey to Shakadang Trail. Over there, we hiked along one of the most popular trails (thank God it was a much easier route than the one at Yangmingshan). It was a truly mesmerizing river with boulders of various sizes. The speed and power of the current seemed to exude an intimidating effect. Of course, photo-taking has already become the default practice every time there's a scenic view, and this was no exception. Some of us couldn't resist the temptation to dive into the clear water and take a dip, partly due to the scorching weather. However, I did not join as I did not like the feeling of being wet and having no available change of clothes. As of before, Jessica and I embarked on our own swift-photo-snap act again. This time, we dragged Randy along with us. We persevered along the trail which culminated in a dam. On a side note, I am very sorry for the deer which died (for whatsoever reason which I do not know); may it rest in peace.
Dam
Dead deer
The highlight of lunch was this plate of frog stomach. I have eaten frog leg before, but never frog stomach. It's texture was smooth and chewy. Not my favourite dish but still, worth trying.
Frog stomach
After lunch, we had a spin around Swallow Grotto Trail and Nine Turns Trail. Here, I witnessed for myself the towering gorge in this national park. However, I didn't enjoy this segment as the rain took some joy of it. I had to hold an umbrella in one hand and it was a really bad feeling since I only had one hand free. Furthermore, I had to keep on making adjustments to protect my camera from the rainwater. The helmet didn't help matters, as it made my head feel 'trapped'. As a result, I didn't manage to get as many pretty shots as I wanted, and it was truly disappointing.
Nine Turns Trail
Nine Turns Trail
Now, we're at Tienhsiang Youth Activity Centre, our accommodation for the night. Finally, we have individual beds! Alright, now hungry and waiting for dinner! Hope everyone had fun today!
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