│台灣│小小小環島│熟悉又陌生的行程，我們的第一次SUP

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After returning from Australia, there was a period when I traveled abroad alone, and my trips in Taiwan were accompanied by just myself and my dog. Looking back now, I'm very grateful that I started creating memories with these small journeys. Just as one of my initial motivations for suddenly deciding to set up this website, recording the memories I shared with my Xiaoxiao is something I wanted to do. I deeply regret making so many excuses in the past for not documenting these moments properly. Although I was very attentive to each other during those times and took many videos and photos for the sake of recording, it seems that without organizing them, they slowly fade away from memory. This article recounts some of the more sad(?) moments from my trips around Taiwan, partly because it was my first post on Pixnet, and also the last one about my travels with Xiaoxiao for that particular year. On the other hand, I was going through a low point in life back then, and realizing that I didn't have much content recorded, I guess this will be my way of turning things around (huh?).

Itinerary summary

During my solo island-hopping journey with my dog, I mainly relied on trains as my primary mode of transportation. When I needed to explore different counties and cities, I would complement my travels by renting a scooter or using Taiwan Tourist Shuttle system. For this particular trip, my primary mode of transportation was renting scooters as I moved around various counties and cities.

This trip began in Taipei and followed a clockwise route, stopping in Hualien, Taitung, Kaohsiung, Tainan, Nantou, Taichung, Hsinchu, and then returning to Taipei.
One of the highlights for me personally was the first time I took my little companion SUP (Stand-Up Paddleboarding). Even after several years, looking back at the photos still brings me so much joy. Below I will introduce the itinerary for 2018. Additionally, because all my accommodations were pet-friendly, I hope to share these places with everyone, drawing from my experiences over the past few years.

Hualien: Ji'an Chishingtan Temple, Hualien Helios Spring, Hualien Sugar Factory (Guangfu Sugar Factory)

On the first day of the journey, after departing from Taipei, I traveled to Hualien and met up with friends to visit Qixingtan Beach. I didn't share this part of the trip. We stayed at the Hu-Xi B&B that day, which was my third time staying there. I wonder if Xiaoxiao felt familiar with the place?

The pet-friendly Hu-Xi B&B served a breakfast made from local ingredients, and every year I come here to eat, it gives me a sense of familiarity.
My personal favorites are the grilled toast with jam and the boiled eggs. Every year, they have a little something different to offer, and I enjoy trying the variations.

Having breakfast together in the morning can sometimes be a bit nerve-wracking because I might run into other kids.

There's also a group of free-roaming cats in the neighborhood, Xiaoxiao always get nervous when I pass by them.

Chi-An Chinghisu Temple

After leaving Hu-xI, we went to Chi-An Chinghisu Temple which is close to the B&B.

I feel regretful for those words that I wrote to myself. When I went to hang them up, Xiaoxiao was waiting for me inside her cage on the right upper side of this photo, haha!
Just realized that this cage retired on the next trip because it's been in service for so many years.

When I left Ji'an, it was already lunchtime, so I had a train bento to go with the occasion.

Helios Spring

I followed a recommendation to visit Helios Spring ,the six tears of the Ami Tribe's sacred bird. It turned out to be quite different from what I had expected, and it's definitely worth sharing, haha!

We were extremely tired and didn't know for what, bit funny.

On the way back, we passed by the Yellow Trumpet Tree. However, since we were already past the flowering season in March, it turned out to be a funny photo.

Hualien Sugar Factory (Guangfu Sugar Factory)

After it was over, since we happened to be in Guanfu, we decided to take a stroll at the Hualien Sugar Factory for some sightseeing.

The weather was scorching hot, so I remember only briefly stopping to take some photos and explore a bit. After returning the scooter, we continued our journey by taking the train to Taitung.

Taitung: Blue Dragonfly, a nighttime visit to the Taitung International Landmark (Seashore Park), Taitung Tie Hua Village

On the second night, we stayed at the Taitung Old Dormitory, which is a place I always visit during my island-hopping trips.

Been here many time, this time self check in haha. After a break, i took Xiaoxiao for dinner.
It's confirmed that they had closed on 2023 Sept. really sad!!

Blue dragonfly

Surprisingly, on my previous visits, I never tried the local fast food.This time, I made sure to finally give it a try!

For some reason I felt a bit out of place while waiting in line, perhaps because being alone with a dog might have seemed a bit unusual?

Personally, I didn't quite get it, so I waited for the foodies to explain and enlighten me about what I was missing out on.

Nighttime visit to the Taitung International Landmark (Seashore Park)

Standing at Taitung's Seashore Park, this international landmark seamlessly blends into the landscape and public art, representing Taitung's unique culture, history, and natural beauty. Its distinctive thatched roof design is truly eye-catching. The landmark stands quietly by the coast, welcoming the first rays of dawn in the morning, and at night, it shines brightly under the soft yellow lights, as if eagerly anticipating the world's gaze. (取自台東觀光旅遊網)

Visiting at night adds a unique charm to the experience due to the changing lights. However, on the way there, the road was a bit dark, and passing through completely unlit residential areas made me question my choice for a moment.

Tie Hua Village

It seems like every time I come to Taitung, I always pass through Tiehua Village in the evening. Fortunately, it's always during the night market, so strolling under the lanterns with music and market vibes feels very pleasant.

I ran into a younger schoolmate who was learning Henna from a master! So, I got a Henna tattoo done right there on my collarbone, absolutely loved it!

The dogs I encountered in the eastern part of Taiwan were all very friendly, and Xiaoxiao got along with them too. Their friendliness created a positive cycle of interactions.

Taitung: Our first time trying SUP

The third day was one of the highlights of this island-hopping adventure – I was going to take Xiaoxiao for some SUP !
It was my first time trying SUP, so I couldn't take photos during the practice session. However, Xiaoxiao's instructor, Xiao An, provided detailed and reassuring guidance, allowing us to relax on the lake. Although Xiaoxiao was extremely nervous at first and kept urging me to get ashore, she eventually gave up and started a series of Instagram-worthy poses, gazing up at the sky.

Of course, I also have to thank An for taking photos for me. Precious pictures!

Experiencing my first SUP session with good weather and smooth sailing has opened the door for future island-hopping adventures, where I'll continue to create records of Xiaoxiao enjoying SUP.

Is An still continuing with SUP? Even though Xiaoxiao is no longer with us, I'll definitely look for you to go SUP when I visit Taitung in the future! 🙂

Before moving on to the next destination, I made a genuine leather passport cover for Chester, who was about to go to Australia. This was because our old dormitory was located at a secret spot with many workshops.

Waiting patiently inside the shop.

│高雄、台南

After lunch, we went directly from Taitung to Kaohsiung to have dinner with friends. Except for one year when I was determined to stop in Chaozhou during my island-hopping trip, the clockwise route often sacrifices this middle part. It seems like there's just not enough time in a day when spending most of it in the southern region.

This trip had a bit of a quirky moment because I bought too much Fresh Deer Milk that I couldn't finish. In the end, I had to bring a can of fresh milk in the car and had a good laugh about it.