Hualien is a smaller city of 100,000+ people on the east coast of Taiwan. Sandwiched between the Pacific Ocean and Taroko National Park, it is a great base from which to explore some of the finest natural beauty Taiwan has to offer. That said, here are five things to do in Hualien! Drive Through Taroko …
hike
Riding a Scooter from Taipei to Taroko and Back Again
It’s been an adventure-less summer. Breaking my leg at the end of April meant that I spent most of the season getting to the point where I could walk again. While I’m still not 100%, I am finally able to be active, so I was eagerly awaiting my trip to Taiwan to meet up with …
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Temple Stay at Golgulsa
The monk’s bones appeared to melt, turning him into a rag doll instead of an actual person. He wrapped his legs into a pretzel and pushed himself onto his fingertips. The crowd hooted and hollered as they took photo after photo, enthralled by the spectacle. I was at Golgulsa (골굴사) for the weekend, and we were …
Eight of the Best Sights on the South Island of New Zealand
New Zealand is one of those places that take your breath away on a continual basis. Its two islands are vastly different, but both intriguing in their own ways. The North is a hive of geothermal activity: volcanoes, hot springs, and hot water beaches. The South is chock full of wilderness: epic mountains, beautiful fiords, …
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The Longji Rice Terraces: Along the Dragon’s Backbone
In the northernmost part of Guangxi province, up along a winding road more harrowing than most, are the fabled Longji Rice Terraces — also known as The Dragon’s Backbone. The name comes from their appearance: like scales on the flanks of a giant dragon lying coiled in the hills. There are actually several terraces connected by …
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Guide to Hiking in Yubeng
It started with Tinder. I know, I know, that sounds bad. But if it wasn’t for Tinder, I might never have heard of that place in an alpine valley mere kilometers from the Tibetan border. I might never have seen the photos of misting waterfalls, glacial lakes, and fluttering prayer flags which inspired me to alter …
Five Things to Do in Shangri-la
It’s a name which evokes a sense of wonderment: Shangri-la. In perhaps the most brazen ploy for tourism revenue in recorded history, the Chinese government renamed the town of Zhongdian in northern Yunnan to Shangri-la in 2001. While the name change was shameless and crass, Shangri-la isn’t entirely undeserving of the moniker. In fact, I’d …
Tiger Leaping Gorge: the Full Trek
My pack sat heavy on my shoulders as I set off along the road, squinting up against the sun to see the path snake up the hillside. It would be a tough hike, that first day at Tiger Leaping Gorge, but not an overly long one. I’d decided to spend two nights in the Gorge, so I …
The Hungry Ghost of Xingping
For a more complete experience, read the first in this series: The Haunting at Jangsa Beach. This story jumps the Yellow Sea from the Korean Peninsula to the karst-studded plains of Southern China. While the area now is beautiful and calm, dark secrets lie buried beneath its placid surface. That brings us to this story: …
Yangshuo: A River Runs Through It
After a week in big cities, I needed some solace. Xingping had been a welcome respite, but the town was still busy during the day and not nearly quiet enough for me. Yangshuo — the town itself — was even crazier. The main tourist drag, West Street, had a carnival atmosphere ill-suited to relaxation. So …