Taiwan Day 3: Completing the Loop

As planned, I finished my circumnavigation of the island and headed back home today.

One last morning view from my hotel over the city of Kaohsiung:

Grand Hi-Lai Hotel, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Taiwanese infrastructure, especially on the west coast, is stunningly elaborate. Elevated freeways and train lines for miles and miles, tunnels to avoid even the slightest of climbs or curves, and a matching rail system.

These freeways could have taken me all the way back to Taipei, but I chose to explore some back roads instead.

Zhushan Township, Nantou County, Taiwan

A few (okay, more than a few) windy turns and switchbacks later, I was well into the lakes-and-mountain region.

Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan

Hear That Thunder? · Sun Moon Lake, Yuchi Township, Nantou County, Taiwan

I got caught for a little while in a crazy heavy rainstorm.

Puli Township, Nantou County, Taiwan

Dajia District, Taichung City, Taiwan

This sign offered the sales pitch: “17 kilometers (11 miles) of splendid coastline.”

North District, Hsinchu District, Taiwan

The reality was a concrete and industrial dystopia.

Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan

Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan

Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan

Tongxiao Township, Miaoli County, Taiwan

I went back to the expressways for a while to clear my head. Decided on one last coastal back-road adventure before I got to the airport.

Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan

Xiangshan District, Hsinchu City, Taiwan

Yongan Fishing Harbor, Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Yongan Fishing Harbor, Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Yongan Fishing Harbor, Xinwu District, Taoyuan City, Taiwan