Taiwan
On the 14th of October I arrive in the Keelung on Taiwan, by boat from Okinawa. I spend the night in Keelung, before going to Taipei the next day. Taiwan is a new start: new language, new country, new people, after having spend over two months in Japan. Traffic consists of 50% cars, 50% motorbikes and some lost cyclists. Especially the motorbikes behave like there are no rules, so I have to be very alert when riding my bike. When riding through Taipei, the capital of Taiwan, I am approached by Kang, who works for BIKE - Sports Magazine. We have an interesting talk about bikes and I follow him to a nearby bikeshop. Finally I can buy a new saddle, because my old one was giving me a sore butt for some time now.
In Taipei I can stay with family of Rex Wang, another friend of mine from my work at AMS. His father shows me some interesting sights of Taipei. Later that evening I meet up with Kang, his wife Jier and some more people from the magazine for a nice dinner. Together we plan a bicycle trip to the Taroko gorge. The day I leave, I am accompanied by Kang and two other cyclists. A third person on his motorbike takes some pictures along the way. Together we climb the first mountain on route number 9 to the south. It is great to ride with more people and it is almost as if I am being escorted. At the top they return and I continue to I-Lan, where I can stay with family of Jier. Ben, Jier's nephew takes me out for dinner and I pick up my first words of Chinese. The next day I continue along route number nine towards Hua-Lien. The road is now very busy with trucks and it goes through the mountains, making it a very difficult but beautiful ride. It is like a hellish road through a heavenly landscape. People are very supportive though and honk their horns a lot or give me the "thumbs up" sign.
The next day I explore the gorge. The river has eroded the rock to form a U-shape. The mountain rises almost vertical from the river, making it very impressive. The road is carved out of the mountain. This very beautiful landscape can also be very dangerous. On my way back I encounter a close bicycle/pedestrian road, that was still open in the morning. The road is blocked because rock has fallen down, smashing the railing and devastating one car.
That night it starts to rain heavily and enormous amounts of water fall out of the sky. They make my tent collapse, and water is almost flowing into my tent. With a quick rescue action, I get all of my stuff to the public toilet and put up my tent in there as well. By the time I have everything inside, there is about 5 cm of water on the ground.
The rain also had an impact on the road condition. At some points rock had fallen down and at one place the road was obstructed by a mudslide. A bulldozer was removing the mud. Totally black from dust and mud I arrive in I-Lan that evening. After a good shower and shave I feel ten years younger. The local food tastes good and it is nice to stay in a nice house again with a very friendly family.
My last days in Taipei I visit some museums, send about 10 kg of camping stuff home and pack my bicycle with a very helpful bikeshop owner. Jier and a friend even bring me to the airport. Jier, Kang and other people from BIKE Sports Magazine have been a great help for me in Taiwan.