Day 74: From Dajia to Tongxiao, Miaoli. (March 2014)

Dajia Matsu Temple

 This was yet another day of stomp stomp stomp, except that it got nicer and nicer - both in terms of the weather and also the scenery - as the day progressed.

This Matsu temple is considered to be the holiest in Taiwan, with massive celebrations every year.

Early morning worshipers

The divine lady

Temple art

Morning in Dajia

 Soon, I was out of the small town on onto the road. The coastline was crossed by endless rivers with no bridge for walkers, so I had to stay inland.

Rural roadside

Taro ahoy!

Selling with a smile!

Flower field temple

When I got into Miaoli, things became greener and more rural. Then, I came across a fascinating temple by the side of the road.

Tusker

Quite light on his feet

Nice eyebrows, dude!

Hmmmm ....

Monkey King on lookout

Everything tastes better with tofu bacon!

Into Tongxiao, Miaoli

Tongxiao Train Station

Soon I was in tiny but scenic little Tongxiao. I found a cheap hotel, in fact so cheap that the wall between my bathroom and the next room's sleeping area was incomplete. I could actually hear people talking see some light from their room shining over the top of the wall! Well, better that then being too close to their bathroom!
After noodles, soup and the obligatory beer, I went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day on the road!

Day 73: From Taizhong Fishing Harbor to Dajia (March 2014)

Back at the fishy place

 Back in Taizhong for a bit of a walk. It was a slow start, as I was quite hung over from carousing at PJ's Pub the night before with my friend Paul. But I made it to the coast in the end. The weather was very nice, except for the wind: it was a fierce, gusting, nagging wind that kept at it for most of the day. In fall, winter and early spring, the wind whips down the Taiwan Strait, dragging at the coastline. As I was walking north, it was almost equivalent to walking uphill.

 

Harbor control building

 Just behind the fishing harbor was a lot of land that was not being used very much. There were however lots of giant wind turbines taking advantage of the seasonal gusts.

Big wide road straight into the wind

Sand catching barriers behind fence bars

Another alluring siren of the road

A fierce wind whipped up the waves

The turbines were going like hell

The nets added a splash of color

Looming shadow of a turbine

Blocks of industry

 After an hour or so along the sea, I took  a road to a bridge that would get me across to Dajia. It was a boring section, so I have included no pictures of it.

Back to the main road bridge

Colorful graffiti

Into Dajia

Finally I stomped into Dajia with weary feet, and found a cheap hotel and a large meal. But not before I availed myself of a few beers, of course! ; )

Day 72: From Taizhong Passenger Harbor (Wuqi) to Taizhong Fish Harbor

Grassy overflow

 This was a fairly blah day of stomping about. I found it all but impossible to get public transport to the exact spot where I had finished last time. (In fact, I had found it impossible to get public transport from where I had finished last time, and had had to walk for hours before finally calling a taxi from a 7-11.) But I got a bus to Taizhong Harbor in Wuqi, a few km down the road. I made sure I backtracked to cover much of the missed difference.

Taizhong Harbor - International Passengers

 There was a lot of boring stuff in the area, like big warehouses and vacant lots, but the day was sunny and neither too warm nor cold. There were a few things worthy of photographing.

Canal to the port

Fishin'

Old style factory

Buddhist pagoda

Self-evident

Seafood restaurant decoration

Duty free shops

???

Park with monument near the fishing harbor

Taizhong Fishing Harbor

 And so, into the fishing harbor. It was the usual touristy place, with loads of families and couples. Cheap food aplenty, but great views of boats and the sea as well.

Beyond the sea wall on the northern side of the harbor

Silos near the harbor. The working harbor was very close to the touristy one.

After having a snack at the harbor, I couldn't find a functioning bus stop, not any taxis, so I decided to walk back toward where I had come in. Two hours of stomping in the dark and I caught a bus, the same number as the one that I had come in on. Crammed in with a zillion cheery university students, I made my way back to central Taizhong, and thence to the high speed rail back to Taipei. But not - of course! without grabbing a few cold ones at the HSR 7-11. Ahh!