Visiting Pingtung & Kaohsiung - Waterfalls of Maolin Scenic Area

Travel date: 2021/08/20

It feels great to be able to travel again. Although we still have to wear masks and some shops don't allow dining in, life feels almost normal compared to the past few months. Fortunately, the weather has improved after a period of heavy rain, which makes it the perfect time to visit waterfalls in the mountains.

We visited two waterfalls in Kaohsiung and Pingtung, they were only 10 minutes away from each other.

Dajin Waterfall (大津瀑布)

Dajin Waterfall is located in Xinfeng Village, Gaoshu Township. It's about 2 kilometers from the Dajin Scenic Area along County Road 185. There is a parking lot near the temple where the trail starts. On the entrance, we even saw a family of monkeys. The trail is about 1 kilometer long. Due to heavy rainfall, part of the trail was blocked by stones, but we managed to pass through. There is a lookout point where you can enjoy the view of the green fields and the waterfall. 

If you go a few steps down, you can get closer to the water. During our visit, the water was quite shallow. There were some people, especially older individuals, enjoying the place. It felt good to experience a sense of normalcy, and no one was wearing masks here, haha. The waterfall is approximately 20 meters high and has five levels. The first and second levels are more accessible and popular, while the third, fourth, and fifth levels are deep in the forest and harder to reach. They are also prone to snakes and insects, so if you plan to visit those levels, it's best to be well-prepared.

Lover's Valley Waterfall (情人谷瀑布)

Lover's Valley Waterfall is located in Maolin District. The area is mainly inhabited by the Rukai tribe, with a few members from other tribes such as Bunun and Pingdi. The presence of the Rukai people adds to the cultural richness of the Maolin Scenic Area. Lover Valley is situated on a tributary of the Zhuokou River on the south side of Maolin District. It is known for its natural landscapes, including canyons and streams.

To reach the first level of the waterfall, you need to cross the Lover Valley Suspension Bridge, which spans the stream. From there, it takes about 10 minutes to reach the second level of the waterfall by climbing the steep slope to the left. Unfortunately, during our visit, the area was closed due to Covid-19, and we were unable to see the waterfall or cross the suspension bridge. There was nobody around in this area, and even the nearby town felt quite empty. We had hoped to find some food, but as soon as we left the waterfall, it started raining again. We waited in the car for a while until the rain subsided a bit, and then decided to drive back home.

Despite the challenges and closures, it was still a refreshing experience to be out in nature and enjoy the beauty of these waterfalls.

Address:

1. Dajin Waterfall: 901屏東縣三地門鄉大津瀑布
2. Lover's Valley Waterfall: 851高雄市茂林區情人谷瀑布

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Travel Tainan: Hulupi Natural Park

Travel Date: 2021/08/15

Hulupi Natural Park (葫蘆埤自然公園)

We live so close by, but we had never really stopped at this place before, only passing by several times. The weather was absolutely beautiful, and the view of the lake was stunning. The surrounding area is filled with water chestnut fields and rice fields, giving it a picturesque charm. One thing that caught my attention were the willow trees planted along the lake. It reminded me of Poland, as it was my first time seeing willow trees in Taiwan.

There is a parking lot available, as well as plenty of space to park along the road. Many people came here for fishing, and some even had picnics by the lake. There are small and big slides for kids to play on, adding to the family-friendly atmosphere.

Unlike water reservoirs, this place is free of charge to visit. Additionally, there are some shops around the area where you can find refreshments or other items.

The Hulupi Natural Park holds historical significance, as it was excavated in 1770 for irrigation and water storage purposes. In ancient times, it was known as Fanzitianpi. Due to the road passing through the area, it resembles a gourd tied with a belt, hence the name Hulupi. It's not uncommon to see farmers rowing small boats here, creating a picturesque scene known as the "Lingxiang Boat Shadow," which is one of the eight scenic spots in New Nanying.

Address:

720台南市官田區中山路二段207號

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Travel Yunlin: Erlun Story House & Lunbei Fengtian Temple

Travel Date: 2021/08/14

In Tainan, it was still raining, but the weather in Yunlin was quite nice. We drove from Huwei to Erlun, a small town where, aside from the Story House, there isn't much to see.

Erlun Story House (二崙故事屋)

Erlun Story House is located in the old Erlun Police Station, which was built in 1899. It is the oldest police station in Yunlin County and holds great historical value. It played a crucial role in the policing history of Yunlin County and the development of Erlun Township. The preservation of the Erlun branch station not only showcases the development of the police system during the Japanese Occupation period but also its long-term contribution to maintaining public order in Erlun and the surrounding villages. In 2005, it was registered as a county historic building. Since January 2014, the site has been revitalized and transformed into the Erlun Story House, serving as a community cultural base for sharing, recording, organizing, and creating local stories.

The opening hours are as follows:

Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays, and national holidays: 09:00-17:00

Saturdays: 13:00-21:00

From Erlun, we continued driving to Lunbei. I wanted to stop by Chan Chau Ku Happy Moo Ranch, but it was crowded with people. The car park was full, and there were even two tour buses filled with visitors. Instead, we decided to drive around the town and then head to Mailiao to see my husband's grandparents' house. I remember visiting there once. The house was quite old and traditional, although it has since been demolished.

Lunbei Fengtian Temple (崙背奉天宮)

In Lunbei, there is the Fengtian Temple, which was founded in 1797. The main deity enshrined in the temple is Mazu, accompanied by Shennong the Great, Zhusheng Empress, and Fude Zhengshen. It is the oldest temple in Lunbei Township.

During a period of drought and poor harvests, coupled with a widespread plague in the local area, the villagers suffered from hunger and disease, and fear gripped the community. Mr. Liao Qingxin, a wise individual in the village, suggested inviting Mazu from Meizhou to drive away evil spirits and pray for relief. Mazu's extraordinary power was evident as the epidemic disappeared three days later. A temple made of bamboo was constructed at this site to commemorate the event.

Address:

1. Erlun Story House: 649雲林縣二崙鄉中山路102號二崙故事屋
2. Lunbei Fengtian Temple: 637雲林縣崙背鄉中山路280號崙背奉天宮

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Tainan Travel: Mashagou 3D Paintings

It has been three months without any travel. I've grown accustomed to staying at home and have become a bit lazy. The weather has improved slightly, at least it hasn't been raining non-stop. We decided to drive to Jiangjun, which I believe is our first time visiting this district, or at least this town. We usually just pass through it when driving from Qigu to Beimen. There is a small village called Mashagou with 3D paintings. The houses there are really old, and there were hardly any people around. Only a few elderly individuals gathered in front of their houses, and hardly anyone was wearing masks. It's a small fishing village, so you can see people dealing with fish, oysters, and other seafood everywhere.

If you get hungry, there are a few food stalls nearby the Linshen Temple.

Mashagou 3D Painted Village has paintings spread across four different alleys. Unfortunately, we didn't get to see all of the paintings because it started raining and we had left our umbrella in the car.

One of the most amazing and unique paintings is called "Tian Ma Xin Kong (Unstoppable)" and it is located in front of Lishen Temple. This painting is magnificent, spanning two floors in height. Mashagou is also the hometown of Mr. Wu Qing-You, the founder of Eslite. Therefore, there is a painting known as "Kai Juan You Yi (It is beneficial to read)" which depicts books stacked into a wall with a writing brush as a bridge, showcasing the Eslite culture. The creator of these paintings, Master Ceng Jing Chen, has even thoughtfully indicated the best spot for taking photographs.

Address:

725台南市將軍區長沙里51號

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AMWF Couple: How is current life in Taiwan?

There have been some recent changes in our lives. My husband is still working partially from home, but his working hours have shifted. He used to work from 9 am to 6 pm, but now he has a 12-hour shift (including lunch break and travel time to and from work, it amounts to 14 hours). It's no wonder why people keep leaving this company. You sign a contract that clearly states your working hours, but after three years of working there, it seems like the schedule is constantly changing. Moreover, there aren't enough people, so there's only one person working during the shift. It's not a Taiwanese company, to be clear, but the rules seem very typical of Asian companies. Many people are complaining, not just about the constantly changing schedule, but also about the low salary (especially when newly hired employees are earning more than those who have been working there for three years). But enough about that...

Things are getting better now, as there aren't many COVID-19 cases currently. Hopefully, life will return to normal soon. I want to go back to selling cakes, but I don't think there will be many people interested in buying. People are being very cautious lately, and I feel that some are panicking a bit too much.

It has been raining a lot in recent days. Not only Taiwan, but also Poland (and many other countries around the world) are experiencing flooding. When we drove from Tainan to Yunlin, we could see many farms that were flooded. Since the government has relaxed some rules, some shops now allow dining in. Yesterday was Father's Day, but my husband had to work, so he couldn't enjoy the day. We brought some cake for my parents-in-law, left our son with them, and went out to eat. We chose an "all you can eat" BBQ and HotPot restaurant. I feel quite disappointed today because the quality has significantly declined. I understand that they didn't earn much money in the past two months when everything was closed, but still... it was not worth the 1000NT.

Today, I made a stupid mistake. I went out to buy a drink and completely forgot to wear a mask. Luckily, nobody said anything. I suddenly realized my mistake when I was almost at the drink shop. I hid my face by covering it with my hair and a drink holder, and quickly went back home. Some places are quite strict about wearing masks (at least they were a few weeks ago), although I always see people who don't care about wearing masks at all, especially when they are in the park, and nobody says anything to them. It's different for foreigners here, it's easy to be noticed...

Most of the day was rainy, but at least in the evening, the sky cleared up. On our way home, we stopped at a random field in Chiayi, and the view was really beautiful.

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