Taiwan: Taroko and Taipei

After bidding adieu to the bicycles, we had a handful of days remaining in Taiwan before our flight home. We decided to cram in a day visit to Taroko before heading back to Taipei. It was a good call.

Shakadang trail. First impressions: this is very nice but if kinda looks like... Lynn Canyon?

The vegetation was definitely NOT like Lynn Canyon.

Inspecting the Giant Elephant Ear (&lt;i&gt;colocasia gigantea&lt;/i&gt;).

The mountains towering over, disappearing into the clouds. That

The rain started as we headed back. It was kind of appropriate, and we didn

This beast was huge!

Swallow Grotto (Yanzikou). Another &quot;wow!&quot; as we stare at steep cliffs above, below, and opposite. The photo really doesn

The next day, one last look at the East Coast before the train departs for Taipei.

We

Annona is the local specialty, it

Cow innards. Can

Well hello there!

The tiles cycle colours when stepped on. This was a big hit.

Noodle-cutting robot

Songshan Ciyou Temple, just outside the night market

Late evening in Xinyi district, near the Taipei 101 tower. The area is choke-full of nightclubs and FOMO. I was severely underdressed.

Xinyi District

Found some more Giant Elephant Ears on our way to Elephant Mountain

At the playground. Taipei kids (or more likely their parents) take their water bottles very seriously.

Trekking up to Elephant Mountain. It

Whew!

Liquid-like Taipei sprawl, held back by the hills.

The rooftop pool looks seriously tempting. But whoever uses it better be on their best behaviour, because there

Taipei 101 was the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 2004. These days it

Snack break

Rest stop by the papaya tree... Rudely interrupted by a wasp.

&quot;Who

At the Land Bank Exhibition Hall. &lt;br/&gt; &quot;What

To the airport on the Disney train... Goodbye Taiwan and xièxiè!