10 Mar 2012 ~ Shakadang Trail

Listening to : Emily Wells ~ Passenger/Kid Koala Remix (Mama)

The true destination for my trip to Taiwan was to go to the Taroko Gorge. So I signed up for a full day trip. I got picked up at the hotel at 6am to go to the domestic airport. Here is the plane we had for the 40 minute flight.

The group was met by the tour guide for a short drive to the gorge. My tour group consisted of 13 total: an Indian couple, a mainland Chinese family, a French couple, an Irish guy, another American woman, and a Korean couple.

Here is the park entrance.

The drive is quite beautiful, with picture-perfect scenery and winding roads and tunnels.

Along the way we were able to take a short hike on the Shakadang Trail.

The Shakadang Trail passes through the traditional lands of the Taroko Aborigines. In the past they lived by growing crops such as corn and sweet potatoes and raising animals such as chickens and ducks. After the Taroko National Park was established, pre-existing modes of land use was maintained and the residents continue to live in their settlements and practice small-scale farming.

Here is a view from the bridge leading down to the path.

Here is the bridge from below.

Come along with me for a short trip along the Trail. My group split out enough so that I virtually had the trail to myself.

http://youtu.be/bi8Ahcu2xVs

Sat and enjoyed the color of the pool for a while.

Before returning to the tour bus, got some fresh fruit.