Southern Cross-Island Highway 20 before Typhoon

Last Visited: 21st Jun 2009

Before it was destroyed, this used to be a very beautiful area, We visited these places so many time. Too bad is all gone but just these photos. 

I enjoyed driving down Southern Cross-Island Highway 20. This route will take you all the across the island to Taitung. There are many things to see and do from camping, hiking, mountain climbing or visit the aborigial village. My plan was to go across the island to view the sea of cloud but there were few landslide at 140K mark.

惠蓀溫泉 HuiSun Hot Spring by MTB

Last visited 10 Apr 2013

Google Map 

Last camping trips, we been camping around Puli, Nantou area so decided to make a detour and explore HuiSun Hot Spring by bike. The distance to the hot spring is around 15km, thought we could bike there and spend a night. However before we can cut across the river, we were stopped right at it's path. The river was too swell to cross and decided to camp just before the river. 

惠蓀林場 Hui Sun Forest Park

Last visited 8~10 Apr 2013
Google Map

The forest area is well maintained, some of the trail path we could either bike or hike. The trail paths are good and there are many different things to view at. From our understand this forest was named after a school headmaster loss his life during duty in this forest and hence they had renamed it.

江山樂活露營 Jiang Shan Happy Life Camp

Nantou, Puli
0928-196895
Fee: NT250 per person
Features: Mountain, DIY, Restaurant
Google Map
Last visited: 5 Apr 2013

AROUND THE CAMP AREA
This camp area is huge and has many different camping zones. There are facilities for you to bake or make a pizza. You can even hands on using the Hobo Burner Hot Water if you need to take a hot shower. Due to heavy rain on the night we camp, we were not able to do much. 

On a good day, sea of clouds can be viewed from the viewing platform. Come early and pick a good camping spot. Between April and May there will be fireflies in the night. Around the camp there is a duck pond and goats. 

If you prefer, they do have rooms available. There are tents for rental, sleeping bag, mattress, tables and chairs. Click this link for more.

北港溪溫泉山莊 Bei Guang River Hot Spring Villa

No. 34-1, Běiyuán Road, Guoxing Township
Nantou County, Taiwan 544
04-9246-1776
Fee: NT400 per person / NT100 per tent
Features: Hot Spring Spa, BBQ
Google Map
Last visited: 6~8 Apr 2013

Pulau Ubin Memory Lane

Pulau Ubin, Singapore was my play ground, almost every other month we would come here for camping. It's only 10mins boat trip from Singapore. Recently I had recommended my Taiwanese friend to visit this island when he was in Singapore and he loved it, this is his Blog Post. He actually toured around Singapore with his bike when he had to stop over from Europe back to Taiwan. 

This island brought back many memories, it was also a place I started my family. Back in 1990, I knew my ex-wife previously from Brunei Armed Forces when we were training 9 days in Outward Bound School on this island. Before that I was there for 5 days training when I was 13 years old back in 1985. My survival skills all started from this island. 

印月農莊 Yin Yue Farm

Last visit 29 Dec 2012

Located in Taian, Nanhua area. This is a small lovely camp site with a beautiful garden. Recently a group of us decided to gather and spent 3 days camping. Cost per camp ground was NT500 for 4 person, additional add NT100. 

Google Map
Facebook

汶山露天溫泉露營區 Wen Shan Hot Spring Camp

台中市和平區東關路一段溫泉巷16號
Google Map
Feature: Hot Spring
Fee: NT200
Use of electricity: NT50

After a serious mountain hike 阿冷山 Ah Leng Shan, we needed to find a hot spring camp to soak our aching legs and wash our clothings. Just after Guguan, there is this big camp area and they have hot spring both private and public however the public hot spring will have to pay for NT100 entrance fee. The private hot spring is in a toilet using a bath tub. We were not able to use the public hot spring as they were cleaning up the area after a long holiday break. 

We arrived the camp ground in the evening and did not set up any camp, first thing we did was to wash ourselves and clothes. Finally a good dip in the hot spring tub. 

The camp area looks well maintained, we would rather setup camp under the pine trees but we only notice it in the morning. We like this camp ground, it is better to come on weekdays with lesser crowds and no need to squeeze in the hot spring. 

賽得克公主營區 Saideke Princess Camp

Google Map
Website

Located 5km away from Guguan hot spring area, we decided with our new found Facebook friends to camp in this area for 3 days 2 nights. The camp area is rather spacious and is located beside the 大甲溪 Dajia River. 

馬陵溫泉 Maling Wild Hot Spring

Last visited 19 Feb 2013
Google Map

After 4 days camping around Guguan, one of our planned was to search for a wild hot spring around Guguan. We headed into the Dajia River 大甲溪 in search for an unknown hot spring who had previously been explored by other hikers. 

Guess it was my mistake, I did not search further as I took the information back in 2010 and when we arrived at the hot spring the whole river bed was different. I could not find the hot spring according to  the information. It seems the hot spring had been covered by landslide however I did find traces of hot spring but was not good and safe enough to have fun but only a warm feet dip. 

Syue Shan 雪山 Guide

April Fool 2012 Adventure

Our recent 3 days 2 nights trip to Syue Shan Summit has been well rewarded. Syue Shan trail is indeed beautiful especially the Black Forest but the ascend can be tedious and painful for many who climb too fast, use the wrong backpack or packed too much. These were some the observations on some climbers I found on this trip.

Below are few tips I have prepared myself and hope to guide amateur on this climb and things to prepare. Do note this is ideal only for non-snowing season.

美綠生態園 Meilu Ecological Garden

Friend's invitation to join them camping at this garden camp area.  Located in Meinong, Kaohsiung, the camp area is very well shaded with trees and ample space for big group camping. The camp site has power outlet and a common washing area. The feature of this camp area is their in-house garden which is very well laid out and taken care. 

高雄市美濃區獅山里竹門14-2號
07-6851111
Fee: NT500 per tent
Website
Google Map
Last Visit 24 Mar 2012

浸水營古道 JinShuiYing by MTB

This is the first stage of our 3 days 2 night cross-island coastal ride with my dog, Siboy. We supposed to cover 90km in 3 days. You can view the planning HERE. When we arrived at the trail head, I was surprised they have put up a sign NO BIKES allowed. Few months ago, we were hiking this trail and there was no such sign. Well, nothing is going to stop me now, after 2 yrs of desire and weeks of planning and waiting, I just have do it. 

阿郎壹古道 ALangYi Trail By MTB

NOTE: Trail update Apr 2012

Alangyi Trail 阿郎壹古道 needs to apply Permit and there is a quota for each day. (300pax). You also need a guide NT3000 a day.

Application can be found HERE (Chinese)

Also informed by Kenting National Park  阿郎壹古道最後階段(出風鼻)禁止入境. (Prohibit Entry)

You can call 088811618 to verifiy

Day 2, at 7am we broke camp at Dawu Beach Park and traveled down Provincial highway 26 which is around 12.6km before arriving 阿郎壹古道 AlangYi trail head. Just around 200 to 300mtrs away from the Beach Park, we made a pit stop to replenished our water, there is a 7-11 and some breakfast shops beside it. 

巨石咖啡露營區 Jushi Coffee and Bar Camp

屏東縣恆春鎮山海里萬里路34-5號
Contact: 08-8869192
Fee: Adult NT200, Kid NT100, Tentage NT200
website link
Google Map
Features: Sun, sand 'n' sea
last visited: 5 Jun 2011

石洞溫泉營地 Shidong Hot Spring Campsite

Update 20 Mar 2011

Shidong Campsite took a renovation back in Nov 2010 and reopened in Feb 2011. The new fee for  camping is NT300 per person including usage of hot spring. I must say the renovation is a success and the spa pool with 4 integrated pools offers different water temperature does have a 5 star feeling. Little changes is done to the camp ground except the relocation of the toilet and shower area which is nearer to the camp ground.

內獅溫泉 Neishi Hot Spring

Last Visited 1 March 2011

Another wild hot spring exploration and this time it was much easier. Located in Neishi township, Pingtung County, this hot spring can be accessed by any means of transportation. From Provincial Expressway No. 1 to Fangshan Township 枋山鄉 take the easterly road towards Neishi Waterfall, around 8Km to the hot spring. You can't miss the hot spring as it is located beside the road. Morning you will find local aboriginal going for the hot spring and come later afternoon the local Han resident will be there. Best time to soak is in the evening when nobody is gone however we encountered one local resident coming to the hot spring at 1am.

哈尤溪溫泉 Hayou River Hot Spring

Two days one night journey on our mountain bikes in search of a hot spring on a river bed that has been raised 30mtr after the last Typhoon in 8 Aug 2009. No mountain to cross but countless of river crossing.

12 Feb 2011, total 11 bikers and our dog, Siboy undertook a journey that covered 16.4Km deep into the mountain valley and probably the only bikers that rode that deep inside.

A Day with 八大 Mass Camping

11 December 2010

We were invited by our friends to had an experience with 八大 (8Da) mass camping at 穎達生態休閒農場 YingDa Ecological Leisure Farm in Pingtung County. There were around 60 vehicles at location. 八大 is a group of Taiwanese who will get together over the weekend for camping trips. It was rather interesting to watch how the Taiwanese campers get together over the weekend and see the kind of equipment they would bring along for their camping trip.

Below are few pictures taken over the day. You can find their forum here but need to be registered and logged in. 

Winter Camping in Kenting Nov 2010

26 Nov~01 Dec 2010

Winter?? Well we just came back from 6 days camping in Kenting. While other parts of Taiwan is cold and hazy, Kenting is sunny and cooling in the night. Looks like the best time to visit. 

We have spent 4 days RV camping at DaYuanShan Campsite just to enjoy the sun and sea. In between we spent a night at Sheding Nature Park 社頂自然公園 to view morning sunrise. Our friends later joined us at DaYuanShan for an over night camping with family.