Taiwan - Arrival in Hualien

Greeted by the Man Himself
Just outside the train station was a statue of Chiang Kai-Sheck, staring out to sea with a hand in his pocket.  This was the first time I saw his likeness in Taiwan and I wasn't sure what it meant.  Was Hualien more forgiving?  More patriotoic?  Jennifer told me that he was either a hero or a villain depending upon whom you asked.  She didn't give me an indication of her personal feelings and I didn't push.  One thing I'm learning about Asia is people will tell you what they want you to know and it's not much.

Jennifer rented a car and the four of us (Jennifer brought along a colleague named Rebecca) drove north along the coast to the eastern edge of Taroko National Park.  This photo doesn't do the place justice.  What doesn't come through is the sharpness of the mountains.  They rise from the sea almost vertically 2,000 feet.  We were standing at the edge of a geological plate that pushed these marble cliffs straight into the sky.

The beach was littered with marbled rocks smoothed by millons of waves.

I watched the surf repeatedly slam itself against the beach and shivered at the thought of swimming or boating in this ocean.  It was violent.  How could ancient people look at this and have any desire to build a boat and take it on?

Since it was a Monday, we had the place to ourselves.

Jennifer on the left, Rebecca on the right.