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| At Yidashao Wharf, Sun Moon Lake |
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| Leaving the Wharf |
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| Sun Moon Lake, Bikeway |
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| Misty at SML |
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| Right after Peacock Garden, we found quite a few mansions along the single lane, country road |
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| Rolling further downhill |
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| Midway stop |
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| Despite the rain, Sue needed to take a photo! |
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| Yippee! We are in Puli |
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| Landslides and roadworks along the way our to our hotel |
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| View of Xiang Ting Hotel from suspension bridge |
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| Pretty wobbly |
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| The whole length |
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| One group photo before we check in to our hotel |
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| It's 10 km downhill again for some sightseeing |
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| Midway to town |
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| Feeling 18 chocolate factory |
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| They distribute free choclates, but you end up paying for expensive coffee!!! |
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| Bike shopping in Puli. We visited Giant and another local shop where Sue bought her stand from a beetlenut chewing boss |
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| Tea break at the junction to Geographic Center of Taiwan |
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| Steep climbs to Geographic Center of Taiwan |
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| Steep climbs to Geographic Center of Taiwan |
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| Quite a walk up! |
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| The monument at Geography Center of Taiwan |
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| Great views from the hilltop |
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| It's back down again |
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| Dinner at the hotel lobby |
We woke up to a depressing morning. It was raining! It had started raining in the middle of the night, teetering to a drizzle by the time we got down for breakfast.
When the wind brought in more rain clouds, we reluctantly postponed our roll out time. Even German precision had to bend towards unpredictable weather conditions sometimes.
Sue, who was always the last one down, stuffing her face in the shortest time possible, was allowed a more leisurely breakfast this morning. Today, she was spared the hamster stuffed cheeks!!!
We knew we had overstayed our welcome when we finished all the soya bean in the pantry. Bored, we braved the rain and the cold for Yidashao wharf before heading out.
The climb from the wharf was almost immediate. By the time we returned to the door steps of Itathao Hotel, we had broke out in sweats.
The climb continued and so did the rain.
Thankfully, the rain clouds passed soon enough, allowing a short detour to the Sun Moon Lake bikeway. A beautiful ramp led all the downhill to the lakeside before going on for a distance.
Excitedly, we made it to the lake but soon regretted our decision. The wise ones volunteered to stay with the bikes instead!!!
Not far from the bikeway is the Peacock Garden. Through its carpark, we made our way through narrow, single lane road, all the way downhill. Along the way, we passed quite a few villas. Further downhill, paddy fields dotted the countryside.
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| Kind George helped the lady down the bus |
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| View from a farm shed during heavy downpour |
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| Wet road conditions to Puli |
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| Mists by the road |
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| Heaving towards another tunnel |
Going downhill was not a breeze. It was cold and soon, heavy rain caught up with us one more time! We had to take cover by a farm shed.
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Thankfully, our ordeal came to an end soon enough. Warm Vietnamese noodles and warm sunshine greeted us in Puli. Both of which were essential for our next embarkation…a 10 km uphill climb to our hotel just to drop our bags before heading downhill again for some sightseeing! Which explains our humble dinner of store bought 7 Eleven fare, taken together at our hotel lobby that very night!!!
Photo courtesy :
KC
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Xiang Ting Hotel, Puli
Photo courtesy :
KC
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Xiang Ting Hotel, Puli
