(And yes that is absolutely a place)

Day two in Hualien, and we decided we needed to get out as there was relatively little to do here, so after a nice leisurely start to the day, including a coffee at the massively offensive Black Bobby coffee shop (although it was the only coffee shop we could find anywhere near the station, so it had to do!), we bought our bus tickets in the station.

After a slightly nervous wait for the bus, eventually it arrived and despite arriving at the bus station 30 mins before the bus, we nearly missed it! The toad-like bus driver got off after pulling in to chew some betel nut and have a cigarette, and then when he got back on, with us waiting on the pavement, there was no announcement, the doors just closed and he started to pull away; at this point I sprinted and knocked on the door. We were fortunately allowed on (the next bus wasn’t for an hour) and for a while, were the only ones on the 1139 bus. We would be getting off at Rongshu (means banyan tree) 1 hour later, and found ourselves in rural surroundings, near the river and the mountains. There was a handy little map that showed us our options, so we set off!

We wandered through the town of Rongshu for what seemed like forever in the burning sun, but finally approached the river. First we went through the old cave, I was rather glad my phone has a torch on it as it was very dark. It is the main entrance to the trail up to the waterfalls, and it is much closer to our bus stop than the other trail, which is the other side of the river in a village called Tongmen.

We proceeded to hike up the trail, although it was a bit sketchy at points near the end of the mountain side, and I will admit I was very nervous when I noticed some ambulance workers I’m fluorescent jackets also hiking up ahead of us, in search of someone. Nevertheless we safely made it to the top of the waterfall, and what a view! Mountains all around us, the peaks hidden by cloud, crystal clear spring water that was so enticing…

So of course we got in! It was pretty damn cold but really awesome to be wild sort of swimming. Also weirdly freeing to be getting changed at the top of a waterfall with no one around to see you (me and my friend took turns changing) although it turned out there was an entire local family at the bottom of the waterfall… Ah they couldn’t see anything haha!

The rain started to fall once more so we made a move and continued over towards Tongmen village, crossing the bridge over the river. Bit of a ‘Spirited Away’ moment when after coming back through the tunnel, I turned around and there was no evidence of what I’d left behind, just a car standing by a cave…

Finally we stopped off for a quick ice lolly (a giant mini milk!) before getting the bus back to Hualien. We went for Thai food as there was more torrential rain when we got back. The curry was great, but this ‘Northern mixed salad’ wasn’t great. As for what was in it… Answers on a postcard please!