160316 to 17 Taiwan Trip 2/3
Day 4: 16 March 2016 (Wednesday)
We had breakfast in the Ranch again at 8.20am and checked-out at 9.00am.
The driver took us to a neighbouring strawberry farm where we picked our own strawberries which were very sweet.
After a long drive, we reached ShiTiPing at 10.40am.
We climbed the rocks and enjoyed the natural rock formations, beaten regularly by the ocean waves.
The children were able to climb the ‘steps’ rather easily.
And this is the peak of the highest rock.
As we left the place, Grace’s boots opened, and YowCH had to make repairs at the roadside with rubber glue and strings.
After ShiTiPing, we went over to the nearby YueDong at 12.20pm where we had a short boat ride inside the cave.
Another view of ShiTiPing from YueDong.
The driver then drove north, where we stopped for a snack of honey dates and grilled flying fish.
We stopped over at ShiMen at 1.25pm.
Shortly later, we reached Shinshe for lunch at 1.55pm.
Esther, David and Samuel went out to the paddy fields, while Joseph rested (flu starting).
By 2.55pm, we left Shinshe and headed to QingSiuYuan, a restored Japanese Temple at 3.55pm.
We had ice-cream again, and some Taiwan sausages, and left for Hualien at 4.55pm, stopping in the city for a takeaway bubble tea.
At 5.25pm, we reached King 13 B&B and checked-into a huge room with 4 queen-sized beds (small mix-up by the hotel, supposed to get a room with 3 queen-sized beds)!
After unpacking, we met the driver at 6.00pm and walked to the Hualien Night Market for food.
There were businesses of Yow 游 family here.
Joseph was quite down, suffering from flu.
We each had some Taiwanese sweet and sour rice mash wine (the children only a sip, of course).
We returned to the room by 8.10pm, and did some home-work before sleeping at 10.30pm. YowCH also repaired Samuel’s boots.
Day 5: 17 March 2016 (Thursday)
We woke at about 7.30am, and walked to a nearby café (linked to hotel) for breakfast at 8.15am.
Then we packed, checked-out and got everything onto the car at 9.00am to proceed to QiXingTan reaching at 9.35am. Joseph rested in the car. After half an hour, we proceeded on to Taroko Park.
We entered Taroko National Park at 10.25am and took photos at the entrance signs.
We then drove a little further inwards and started hiking the Shakadang Trail at 10.40am.
By 11.10am, we reached the 1.0km mark, and Grace stayed behind with the rather sickly Joseph and Samuel. YowCH walked with Esther and David to the 1.5km area, reaching at 11.35am.
After some snacks from the stalls at this location, we returned and found Joseph taking a necessary nap to fight the flu.
But Joseph was very strong, and continued to walk out of the park, and we reached the car back through the same route, and left the trail at 12.35pm.
Next stop, YanZhiKou, where we borrowed (free) helmets to protect against rock-fall. We reached at 1.00pm and saw the grottos carved by water, giving shelter to swifts.
We completed the short hike at 1.25pm.
Then the car got stuck in a long wait due to repairs to the road after some rock-falls earlier.
A short stop-over at ChangChunCi at 2.05pm.
We exited Taroko Park at 2.15pm, and had lunch at a nearby restaurant, followed by eating of fresh muachi at ZhengSiFu further down the road.
We continued to Jiufen from 3.35pm, but was delayed by 30 minutes due to road closure for repairs following some rock-fall damage.
Another train crossing, this time, trains from both directions!
At 5.15pm, we stopped for a while to view the Elephant Rock while the driver had a smoking break.
The drive was then rather uneventful.
In the long 13km tunnel, there were annoucements and signs to tell drivers not to slow down!
Then we stopped at Shiding at 8.35pm for a toilet break, and Samuel tumbled down some steps, and we had to use first-aid to patch him up.
We finally reached Jiufen and checked into Yingmu B&B at 7.30pm, after which we sent the driver home. The hotel is deep inside the Old Street of Jiufen, we had to push our luggage along the streets and up some stairs for 5 minutes.
After settling down, we had dinner at the nearby XiaoShangHai at 8.00pm, and roamed the streets a little from 9.00pm until 9.20pm, as most of the shops have closed by then. 
We showered and rested, and slept at about 11.00pm.
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