Night Markets in Hualien

We have visited 2 of the famous night markets in Hualien which are ZhiQiang night market (自强夜市) and NanBin night market (南濱夜市). ZhiQiang is smaller and more crowded comparing NanBin and NanBin is the largest night market in Hualien thus far. Each has its own unique characteristic. ZhiQiang emphasizes more on snacks food or called xiaochi (小吃）in Mandarin while NanBin emphasizes more on folklore games or carnival games and seafood.

Here is the entrance to ZhiQiang not specific and there are about 60 vendors stand out from the crowd selling different kinda things mainly foods though it is fairly small.

The food which attracted me most is Dongshan Duck’s Head (东山鸭头). It included the whole duck braised products ranging from duck’s carcass, duck’s tongue, duck’s feet, duck’s intestine and duck’s neck but I don't dare to taste them.

Variety of skewers.

The highly recommended food in ZhiQiang, i.e. coffin sandwich (棺材板). It has been famous all through the TV shows in Taiwan.

Made-up of coffin-like-thick-fried-toast with gravy ingredients containment. Both thumbs up once tasted and I can still remember the well-structured bite touched on my palate, slurps!!

Tako or called golden squid (黄金乌贼) is well known in TaiChung, FengJia night market but we couldn't find it during our visit as the market is too crowded and complicated. Very fortunately we managed to discover its branches over here in ZhiQiang. :)) It has been well introduced in TV shows hosted by Jacky Wu and 小S.

Big grilled squid is stuffed with golden sticky rice and the outer skin is further flavored with either Wasabi, honey, Japanese style curry sauce, Thai sauce, Thousand Island or mixed-up. I personally like squid so much and this is most creative squid snacks I ever tried.

Shanghai fried steamed bun or fried xiaolongbao (小笼包). They were beautified with black sesame but the taste is just so~so~.

Another legendary stall is this fruit juices stall called 妙不可言果汁店 literally means 'Too Wonderful for Words Juice Stall'. The vendor is selling more than hundred types of fruit juices and inventively mixing various fruits or even vegetables together.

The last but not least which I must strongly highlight is this springy rolls. The rolls are totally different from what u have tasted in Malaysia. It is a non-fried style with saturated-wrapped ingredients generally flavored with stir-fried and topped with a finely ground peanut powder. The bite is springy, bulky and luscious.

The more common snacks which can be found in most of the night market in Taiwan. Oyster is a local product of Taiwan and they have diversified its eating style. Not only oyster omelet is seen but many more like porridge and noodles too. The oyster is bigger, juicier and cheaper!!!

Now I will take u to walk around NanBin night market. Here is the entrance. The market is operated on big road and more chaotic in contrast with ZhiQiang.

First thing done was recalled back our childhood memory, i.e. playing fire crackers. Fire crackers are selling cheap and the game is legally available in Taiwan.

The next is shooting gallery. I was the marksman among them all to shoot down all the balloons and win a soft dice toy v(^.^)V.

The funniest and hardest game ever, marble jackpot. No one strike the game but was given a sweet as consolation.

This game is unknown to me but those cartoons look cute and cool. I love Spongy-Bob and Doraemon so much. Pikachu is also one of my favorite until today!

Baseball time - indoor.

End of our childhood memory.

Back to our hostel at Chihsingtan Beach in Hualien county. The hostel is named Chihsintan (七星潭) as well. The owner is our driver's friend. P/S: This building is the brand new one and surprisingly we are the 1st guest!

Nite view from our room. We can hear the echo of surf as the hostel is just few km from the beach. Will show u our hostel outlook in the morning. Good nite :))

Taroko National Park (Part 1)

The next stop is Hualian City but before this we have to cut cross the central mountain (中央山脈) or backbone of Taiwan which include Taroko National Park (太魯閣国家公园) and the journey is quite an adventurous one. Taroko is located where the Central Cross-Island Highway (东西橫貫公路) and the Suhua Highway (蘇花公路) meet and these highways penetrate mountains through winding stone caves and tunnels . Gorges, mountainous valleys, rapid rivers and waterfalls characterize the topography of Taroko. Photos below will tell you how spectacular the scenery of this national park and the sights which may capture in your memory, forever. 

Here is the entrance gate to Suhua Highway and we were travelling from Cingjing. Taroko is one of the seven national parks in Taiwan and named after the Taroko gorge.

The temperature was declining moving up the mountains. With the freezing fog behind gave the temperature of about 13 dC at this point. 

Stop at public washrooms to mind our own 'business'. Took a photo dangerously behind the yellow line with huge trucks passed by at the narrow highway road. Worth it though if u look at our behind, green mountains, tall pine trees, deep valley, beautiful sky with fresh cooling air.

A close-up!

Floras on the mountain side.

Another stop in Taroko is Wu Ling (武嶺). With the heights of 3,275m above sea level make it the highest point among all the highways in South East Asia.

Did some memorable silly face at this awesome place.

On the date of 16/09/2011 and the time of 13:25pm, where am I ? Answer: Doing photo-shooting on He Huan Shan (合欢山) or called He Huan Mountain with my buddies. :D

Posers posing and we are loving it.

Again how high is He Huan Shan? The board says it is 3,158m above the sea level. We were actually on our way moving down the mountain. He Huan Shan is actually part of the Central Mountain Range (中央山脈) that makes up the backbone of Taiwan. The Hehuanshan Road is currently the only paved road leading across the Central Mountains from Taichung City to Hualian via the famous Taroko Gorge.

The huge tree behind named Bilyu Sacred Tree (碧绿神木) aged more than thousand years told by our driver and it is still greenish and healthy!

We were now declining to 2,150m above sea level and weather is getting hotter and hotter.

We reached Tian Xiang without realize how many hours it took. Not forget to be in the picture with Tiang Xiang Bridge.

The scenic spots of Tian Xiang include Xiang De Temple and Tian Feng Pagoda situated on top of one of the Taroko hills. Hearsay it is a peaceful place for meditation.

Another bridge to pass through but I've forgot the name.

Stop by at Taroko National Park Headquarters which is also surrounded by pretty scenic views. Spotted a 'pee' size waterfall. ;) It falls in a straight line into the river below.

As the river flows through the gorge, it forms valleys and precipitous cliffs, on which beautiful stone patterns can clearly be seen.

A short suspension footbridge.

Below us the river continue to make new gorge. 

Planking with my own style on this suspension bridge and looking cool. ^.^)/

Making all sorts of poses to show how narrow the bridge is. Knocking on each other butts. Obviously Aleng's ass is more appealing and shapely. Haha!

The Bridge of the Kind Mother (慈母桥).

Can you see this, shaped by the nature into a frog rock. The hut is sitting on top of it and make it resembles a prince froggy.

Another piece of art made by the nature. From my sight, this looks like a camel head. How about you?

And again nature's masterpiece which is indescribable. A very dramatic rock formations and the amazing marble effects.

Finally moving into this Tunnel of Nine Turns (九曲洞). It is a man-made wonder created by the builders of the highway.

The construction of this highways is not easy as one side of the road is a deep valley and on the other side are vertical stone cliffs.

5 2 2 1 5.......'kacha'! ;)

More and more photos. :))

See the green for your eyes and breath in the mountainous fresh air for your lungs. What a healthy spot. :D

The small tunnel is for Taiwan High Speed Rail while the bigger one is for normal vehicles travel on road.

Enjoying the beautiful scenery and got ourselves relax to the maximum. :)

Stretching our muscles and give a nice pose to the camera.

And not forget to plank for memory :D

The longest suspension footbridge I saw in Taroko National Park.

Spotted another old broken suspension bridge hanging between 2 walls of the gorges. Can u see it? Highlighted with 'Sin @ Taiwan'. :)

We did a quick visit to Swallow Grotto or called Yanzikou in Mandarin (雁子口) as we do not have safety helmets and rocks falling is often happen here. Moving in this Swallow Grotto trail, you can hear swallows chirping and be careful with their excrement if you are without helmet. hehe! 

U can read Swallow Grotto's history and its formation from this man carved stone. Many photos I've taken around this part and I've chosen the best and hope them tempted u to discover yourself more.

The last stop visited in Taroko National Park is Eternal Spring Shine (长春祠 - ChangChun Si in Mandarin). This temple is named against the ChangChun Falls that never stop running at the bottom of the shrine. It was built to commemorate the memory of 212 veterans who died while constructing Central Cross-Island Highway (东西橫貫公路).

A close-up!

People will walk through this tunnel to get to the temple.

U may pass by a dam before the shrine and the water is grayish blue in color.

Always not forget group picture for memory. Granted a kiss by mama. haha! :D

Another small temple located on top of the ChangChun mountain but I don't know the name.

After 7-8 hours, we made up to the end of Central Cross-Island Highway (东西橫貫公路) and met 2 new Taiwanese friends riding on scooter. They both were very happy meeting us all girls. ;)

Written on the big rock is Central Cross-Island Highway's Entrance and Taroko National Park in Mandarin.

Finally we finished our long visiting in Taroko National Park with full of adventurous experience. Of course we hope going back next time for different seasons with different scenery and different experience. Our driver told us it is best to come during winter as the whole Taroko Park will be covered by thick snow with really  really awesome heaven view. So, looking forward!

My dear team-lead had 'ordered' one of the Taiwanese friend to plank together with me at this entrance of Central Cross-Island Highway to 'close' our journey here. :)))