AboutKuo-syn Liao Expertise I live in Taiwan. I like to travel around, at least 5 times around the whole island, many times to some good places..
Experience Rode a motorbike to make a round-island trip for 22 days,over 10 times to yu-shan(jade mountain) and alishan, ho-huan shan,toroko,kenting,east taiwan,guan-u(see fog),lala shan,northern-middle-southern cross-island highways,thousand times to yanmin shan u-lai...
Expert: Kuo-syn Liao Date: 10/18/2007 Subject: help needed with quick peek at some highlights
Question Dear Kuo-syn Liao,
at the end of this year I will go and travel for 8 weeks. From the 31st of December till the 7th of January I will be in Taiwan for a short visit. I will arrive in Taipei and will end in Kaohsiung for my outbound flight. In between I will be shortly in Hualien for a quick visit to Taroko National Park. Can You supply me with any information about an organized daytrip to that park, or would it be better/possible to do it on my own using the park's train?
Also, any information about a daytrip for the Alishan area somewhere near Chiayi City is welcome. Transport between locations will be either by air, train or bus. I am in the midst of figuring that out.
Thanks for Your time and I am looking forward to Your reply, helpful or not.... Marco
Answer hi, welcome to Taiwan
8 weeks or 8 days? if you travel on holidays, maybe crowded or traffic jam(especially 12/31-1/2)
a day's trip: 0725 fly to hualien,0805 arrive in hualien ,50 minutes to taroko,,---1940 fly back to Taipei( cant fly to chiayi)
u can also take train(about0600-0640,arrive 0930-0950,,u can catch 1030 tourbus),,if u need, I will search for u..
in hualien : u can hire a tour guide with car ( 30usd per person, but maybe at least 2 or 3 people, so 60 to 90 usd; if u need , I will check more info, ),, or u can take this tourbus: http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/english/tour_detail.php?uid=61
if 2 or 3 days, Catholic church dorm=about300 or 800(room with bathroom)/night or 5 star hotel =100-150 usd http://www.tsa.gov.tw/2005tax/english/e-index.htm
http://www.hulairport.gov.tw/eng/introduction.htm http://gohl.org.tw/modules/tinyd0/index.php?id=8
2: From Taipei to chiayi (no flight)
train 3.5 – 4 hours ( cant catch the alisan holiday train 0900,,but can catch daily train on 1330)
high speed rail(NT1800)(90 minutes)(0730-0856) ( cant catch the alisan holiday train 0900)(but you have to go to railstation from high speed railstation,
so ….maybe it is better to take train, or you wanna experience high speed rail)
most tourers will stay overnight at alishan to see the sunrise, but few chance we can see the sunrise because of clouds, maybe 1/3 or 1/5)
The Alishan Forest Railway is designed by many particular railway technique to adapt the special environment of the forest railway.Sometimes if rainy or landslide , they will stop the train service. http://railway.forest.gov.tw/
package:(English not available now) http://www.taiwantourbus.com.tw/ch/tour_detail.php?uid=314
but we have to check around 12/20 to confirm if enough people or not)
3: From chiayi to Kaohsiung (113km)for your outbound flight:
you can take train or bus , but maybe train is more convenient for you if you take alishan train..
4: From Kaohsiung railstation to airport:(13km): by taxi or bus
Generally speaking, it is safe for tourers in Taiwan. But no one can guarantee 100% safety at any place.
In Taiwan, when we take a taxi( especially only a single woman), she will use cellphone to call her friends or family to tell them the plate number of the taxi. Or they will go to the police station to tell the police to call a taxi for them at night. Or call the radio taxi( they have records of call)
Wish you happy days in Taiwan.
If you have questions , you can ask me more…
