Taiwan: Road Trip - Taiwan

[Acewin]

Glad to know that there are readers who enjoy the pics I'm sharing.

Appreciate ur feedback & question.

I pumped Ron 95 twice - topped up in the mountains (still > 1/2 tank but did it just to be safe, as didn't know where the next station would be) & 2nd time off the freeway to airport return.

 

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Hi Bro,

 

Actually I have been to Taiwan countless time and my last self drive was May15. From your receipt seem Ron 95 is Twn23 per liter which is about $1.00.

Looks like we are being ripped off by Botak.

[TameDriver]

very nice post., is hehuanshan showing? did u prepare snowchain?

i will be there in late Jan next yr

 

my route is opposite from urs.

 

i gg from cinjing to taroko to hualian

 

car booked liao toyota altis, hope enough power to climb

 

No snow yet but ran into thin clouds.

Once, the cloud was so dense, it appeared like a solid white wall in front. Couldn't see other vehicles ahead or behind.

[TameDriver]

 

Clouds cleared after we left the 3158m point, enabling a clear view of Wuling:

 

 

Reached hotel in Cingjing just before darkness:

 

 

 

[TameDriver]

 

Woke up to clearer views of surroundings:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TameDriver]

Drove out to explore after a vegetarian breakfast (provided by hotel; many kinds of pickled vegetables, braised gluten, mantou, plain porridge. Scrambled eggs, bread, butter, jam for 'western appetite'.

 

Stall selling local produce.

 

Shops located in 7 eleven complex:

 

 

 

Went on walking trail. Scenes along the way:

 

 

 

 

[TameDriver]

 

More pics from my full day in Cingjing:

 

 

 

 

Farmer's house

 

Farmer's storage shed

 

 

The weather took a turn for the worse by late afternoon.

 

It rained all night & totally engulfed in the clouds. Visibility very poor even along veranda outside our rooms.

[yosemi]

No snow yet but ran into thin clouds.

Once, the cloud was so dense, it appeared like a solid white wall in front. Couldn't see other vehicles ahead or behind.

[TameDriver]

what will be the avg speed of those road?

those corning need to horn for opposite to hear ?

 

My car will have 4 ppl and some luggage basically full load i guess.

if dec haven snow means jan high chance snow liao ?.

 

Speed limits on the mountain roads vary, from 40 kph down to 25 kph.

No need to horn before bends, although I don't see the harm in doing so. It's good to be cautious.

 

I find that When I gave way too much at corners for traffic from opposite direction, they tend not to slow down & instead, take over middle of the road!

 

Always drive with FULL headlights on, even day time.

 

Please aquaint yourself with the various road signages, eg, max speed & min speed:

 

 

 

As for snow chains, some members here mentioned in earlier posts about the cost differences when u buy it yourself & those bought in the mountains when the need arises.

 

Most people would shop along the way when on holiday. By then, your car boot capacity would become an issue. Rent a bigger car perhaps.

 

Recount a conversation with another group of 3 adults travellers I met in Cingjing.

Find it very useful info to share with those who choose not to drive.

They booked accommodations online by themselves. Then booked a car that came with a driver for their 8 days there. Airport- Puli- Cingjing-Hualien-Taipei.

Cost them NT34, 000 ( including NT1,000 per night for driver to stay overnight) for this transport arrangement in a Nissan Sentra. Big spacious interior, plenty of leg room & big boot.

[yosemi]

Speed limits on the mountain roads vary, from 40 kph down to 25 kph.

No need to horn before bends, although I don't see the harm in doing so. It's good to be cautious.

 

I find that When I gave way too much at corners for traffic from opposite direction, they tend not to slow down & instead, take over middle of the road!

 

Always drive with FULL headlights on, even day time.

 

Please aquaint yourself with the various road signages, eg, max speed & min speed:

 

image.jpg

 

 

As for snow chains, some members here mentioned in earlier posts about the cost differences when u buy it yourself & those bought in the mountains when the need arises.

 

Most people would shop along the way when on holiday. By then, your car boot capacity would become an issue. Rent a bigger car perhaps.

 

Recount a conversation with another group of 3 adults travellers I met in Cingjing.

Find it very useful info to share with those who choose not to drive.

They booked accommodations online by themselves. Then booked a car that came with a driver for their 8 days there. Airport- Puli- Cingjing-Hualien-Taipei.

Cost them NT34, 000 ( including NT1,000 per night for driver to stay overnight) for this transport arrangement in a Nissan Sentra. Big spacious interior, plenty of leg room & big boot.

at first i rented a honda wish, but we are inexperience in diving a big car. been driving a normal sedan in SG and MY .

Driving up genting and camaron highland with fog i experience b4. So i guess should be ok ba.

[TameDriver]

at first i rented a honda wish, but we are inexperience in diving a big car. been driving a normal sedan in SG and MY .

Driving up genting and camaron highland with fog i experience b4. So i guess should be ok ba.

Please Don't use High Beam when driving in fog as most drivers tend to do so.

Reason being; the density is such that it would be akin to shining on a wall that reflects the intense beam back to you & you won't be able to see any tiny glimpse of lights from other vehicles!

I learnt this from my UK drives.

[TameDriver]

We skipped the vegetarian breakfast, checked out early & took breakfast at a small eatery in Ren'ai Township. Left for Sun Moon Lake after breakfast, walked around, lunched there & drove one 1x around the entire lake.

 

Rural version of Siao Long Pau

 

 

Sun Moon Lake shrouded in mist:

 

 

 

Visibility improved after lunch

 

Edited December 17, 2015 by TameDriver

[TameDriver]

 

Headed for our last stop in Taiwan; Puli Township. Chosen because of it's convenience & proximity to the freeway to Taoyuan Airport.

Located among agricultural flat terrain, 'Water Water Minshu' was completely a very pleasant surprise to us all. Set amidst padi & water bamboo fields, the building itself was surrounded by a Koi/Tilapia pond & a duck pond on either side, fringed by lush landscaped plants. Wooden deck laid out over the fish pond was furnished with deck tables & chairs. I'm sounding like a publicity advert for this place

[TameDriver]

 

Our room was furnished with 2 Queen sized beds, standing fan, aircon, fridge. Mean for 4 pax.

Spacious & well lit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset

 

Sunset over the duck pond.

 

As seen from our parked car

[yosemi]

Please Don't use High Beam when driving in fog as most drivers tend to do so.

Reason being; the density is such that it would be akin to shining on a wall that reflects the intense beam back to you & you won't be able to see any tiny glimpse of lights from other vehicles!

I learnt this from my UK drives.

[Acewin]

Our room was furnished with 2 Queen sized beds, standing fan, aircon, fridge. Mean for 4 pax.

Spacious & well lit.

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Sunset

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Sunset over the duck pond.

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As seen from our parked car

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Hi TameDriver,

 

Thanks for sharing those beautiful pictures.

[TameDriver]

Hi TameDriver,

 

Thanks for sharing those beautiful pictures.

My pleasure to share.

Glad u find them nice too but some scenery are even better when viewed thru own eyes.

I'm hoping that my photos & narration of trip would help others who are planning a trip there; learn to avoid any mistakes I made or benefit from the recommendations (esp hotel).

[TameDriver]

Drove out to town after sundown. The farm roads runs one way each side, parallel under route 6 flyover. Very well lit at night by huge flood lights mean to stimulate growth (in Winter) of the water bamboo shoots

.

 

 

 

Dinner in Puli town. Lady's finger was served by courtesy of the chef.

Edited December 17, 2015 by TameDriver

[TameDriver]

 

Checked out 6.30am to head for my 1.30pm flight. Had to factor in extra time needed for heavy traffic flow & rental car return. Was informed that we can take a shuttle bus to departure terminal after car return but since Avis Co. had extra staff that morning, we were driven to the terminal instead.