19 Mar 2012 ~ Swallow Grotto (Taroko Gorge)

Listening to: Tony Dekker ~ Song Sung Blue (Neil Diamond)
We have a lucky winner! I was getting worried that no one was reading my blog. Baretta's cockatoo's name was "Fred". Thanks to Uncle Google for providing the answer. Stay tuned for more trivia opportunities and you too could be a lucky winner!

Nearing the entrance to Taroko National Park Headquarters, took the time to soak in the vastness of nature, but also took the time to notice the small things.

Our first stop in the park was at Swallow Grotto.

This is the tour guide, Josephine.

Because the area is being repaired due to damage from an earthquake, we were required to wear hard hats, which is what she is picking up in the bags. Here's an example of the tunnel we needed to walk through.

Nice, huh?

I did not make it across this bridge as a special government permit is needed, but I did have an opportunity to cross one later in the day and I have video! [To be posted soon.]

The lower marble sections are pockmarked with hundreds of small grottoes, etched out of the rock by underground streams, where thousands of swallows once made their nests.