Taiwan Travel Stories (

Motorcycles and Madness in Taiwan - Taiwan - Taiwan Travel Stories :: BootsnAll Travel Network Visit other BootsnAll sites: BootBlog | Bali | London | Australia | Written Road | Travel News Daily Home | Ask an Insider | Members Forum Plane Tickets | Youth Hostels | RTW Guide About Us | Advertising | Contact | RSS | Staff First Time Visitor? By John Matthews Motorcycles and Madness in Taiwan Taiwan It was a beautiful clear morning, and the path to adventure lay before us. The plan was simple. Travel down the west coast of Taiwan, cut across a small mountain range up the east coast, across another mountain range, and home again. Our trusty steed In the area of equipment, economy was important. I had the biggest and most powerful motorbike the average person in Taiwan could buy - 150cc. To this was strapped a tent, sleeping mats, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, food and girlfriend. At a top speed of about 80 - 90 km per hour, we were not going to break any land speed records. Taiwan is best known for computers, but a little known wonder is the natural beauty of the place. Running up the middle of the island is a majestic mountain range. The range is truly spectacular. Leaving the east coast, and the majority of people and factories, also means leaving the thick smog filled air. When first arriving on the east coast, the scenery is spectacular. Mountains reach right down to the sea. The sea is an aqua blue, clean and clear. Without doubt one of the most beautiful sights in the world. Camping is no problem in Taiwan, especially if you have some trouble with the local language. First stop on the plan was Jrben (zurben). This area is famous for hot springs. A lot of people camp in Taiwan, but few of them venture far from the amenities. Once you find a river, not in flood, you are virtually left on your own to the tranquil sounds of the water and the wildlife. Jrben hot spring Taiwan is also well known for its earthquakes. Effects of this instability are the hot springs. There is nothing more soothing after a days ride on a motorbike, then to sit in the heavily mineralised waters of the hot springs. You can choose from the very commercial bathing areas or the natural settings, where the water bubbles up from the source itself. It's the perfect treat for the weary traveller. Part two of the journey saw us travel up the coast to meet the mountain range, and start the long journey home. Travelling anywhere in the region of China and some parts of Asia during the Chinese New Year is not a good idea. In Taiwan most of the country is on the move. Stopping for supplies on the way into the mountains, we spoke to the local shop owner. All he could say in his broken English was "careful, be careful". What could he mean? It wasn't long before we found out. In the centre of the mountain pass was a famous gorge, a nice place to set up and camp for the night and split the journey. Or so we thought. The road snaked its way up heading towards this gorge we had heard about. Arriving, we found just that, a gorge that you could see from a large bridge, but nowhere to camp. On the map it looked like we were about halfway through the mountains. The road continued to make its way up the mountains Two hours later there was still no end to the climb. The road conditions had taken a turn for the worse just in time for the traffic to increase. Being earthquake country, at times half the road was missing. This part of Taiwan was also famous for landslides and in some places the road had been devastated. This seemed of no consequence to the Taiwanese. They came in large numbers, and at great speeds, and on any part of the road that seemed to feel most comfortable. In Taiwan there is an unwritten hierarchy for traffic. It goes in size. Trucks and buses first, cars, and then of course the lowly motorcycles, scooters and bicycles. The consequences of this were that an approaching car would never move over for a motorcycle. Given that the road clings to the side of the mountain, it was a very dangerous dance. On one side was a two-foot wall with at least a drop of a kilometre and the other was the grand prix circuit for Taiwan. Stopping outside a roadside restaurant, searching the skyline and the impossible height of the mountains, we looked for the pass that would take us through to the other side. Upon leaving, the road climbed and climbed. There was no pass. We were going straight over the top. Mountain view Just when you thought that things could get no worse, they did. The temperature dropped about ten degrees. At the top the view was spectacular, not quite risking your life for, but very spectacular. Legend had it that many people died making the road. Local people said that before the weeklong holiday was finished there would be a few more. Riding for three hours and covering less than a hundred kilometres, all that lay ahead was a damp dark tunnel and the other side of the mountain. The road stayed in its normal condition, narrow and falling off the mountain. The traffic however increased significantly. On at least five occasions, a head on collision with a car or truck was only seconds away. If the tinge of fear had not set up camp in the pit of my stomach, then the smell of leaking brake fluid made the tent look like a house. Luck being on our side - it rained. The journey down the other side of the mountain range took another three to four hours. Dismounting at the first town, lips caressed the ground in heart-felt thanks. Chinese New Year brought out the celebrations in people. That meant firecrackers, and lots of them. There goes the restful nights sleep. Waking found us lying in the salted pools again, before making our way home in the driving rain. What could be the moral of the story? My recommendation is this. If you want to enjoy the beauty of Taiwan's mountains, run a bath throw in some salts and connect to the net. This article was added to BootsnAll on March 01, 2001 | Permanent Link Got an opinion? Share your thoughts on this article . More BootsnAll articles like this: Asia ( tag ) Asia Travel Stories ( tag ) China ( tag ) China Travel Stories ( tag ) John Matthews ( tag ) NE Asia ( tag ) NE Asia Travel Stories ( tag ) Taiwan ( tag ) Taiwan Travel Stories ( tag ) Book It! RTW Air Tickets (round-the-world) Plane Tickets (round-trip and one-way) Search for Hotels Rental Cars Youth Hostels Eurail Passes Travel Insurance Adventure Travel & Tours Travel Bookstore TEFL Courses Airport Parking GSM Phone Rental Travel Visas Newsletter Sign up for any or all of BootsnAll's newsletters. Why should you sign-up? Newsletter Sign-Up (enter your e-mail) Research It! 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ski vacation at Solitude.

Accommodations | Salt Lake City, Utah Ski Resort | Solitude -- Mountain Summer Home Summer Report Scenic Lift Rides Mountain Biking Mountain Scooters Hiking Disc Golf Fishing Sunday Brunch Essentials Spa Dining Home Creekside St. Bernard's The Yurt The Thirsty Squirrel Stone Haus On-Mountain Dining Last Chance Mining Camp Sunshine Grill Moonbeam Snacks Accomodations Home The Inn at Solitude Eagle Springs Lodges Creekside Powder Horn Lodge The Crossings Club Solitude Essentials Spa Meetings Home Weddings & Special Events Meetings & Retreats Facilities Real Estate Media Home Media Kits / Releases Media Images Mountain Winter Home Snow Report Mountain Statistics Lift Tickets Snowsports Academy Nordic Center Rental and Repair Trail Map Back Tracks NEW! Terrain Park Ice Skating Ski Patrol Calendar of Events Axess Ticket System Ride Tickets Day Tickets Preseason Kids School Group/Private Devo Team Accommodations Home The Inn at Solitude Eagle Springs Lodges Creekside Powderhorn Lodge The Crossings Club Solitude Essentials Spa Snow Report Solitude eNews Solitude Savers Request Brochure Enter to Win Stuff Eye Candy Solitude Blog European Ambiance in a quaint mountain village Solitude Mountain Resort's Only Official Lodging Company -- The long awaited village is now complete, and the unmistakable ambiance of the European Alps beckons you to lose yourself down quaint pathways. The Village at Solitude is a retreat that pampers you with every modern convenience. It is a village large enough to accommodate your individual needs, yet small enough to cater to them. --Its cozy shops, fine dining and comfortable sitting areas echo an era of a simpler time, while state-of-the-art telecommunications systems accommodate the latest in technologies. In fact, it is one of the country's first mountain villages to integrate a high-speed wireless network, allowing you to check email or surf the web anywhere in The Village. From the grand mountain lodge experience of the Inn at Solitude to the intimate atmosphere of our fully-furnished condo hideaways, the village feels like a home away from home and has something for everyone. Each offers their own unique amenities and services, while still capturing the true spirit of Solitude and giving you all the room your family needs to make vacation dreams a reality. -- To make a reservation in the Village please call 1-800-748-4754 © Solitude Mountain Resort. All Rights Reserved. Location | Eye Candy | Employment | History | Contact Information If you only knew... Solitude Mountain Resort is a Utah ski resort located only forty minutes from Salt Lake International Airport. Known for its 500" of annual Utah snow and non-existent lift lines, this Utah ski resort is ranked nationally by Ski Magazine for weather, value, snow quality and accessibility. When you Ski Utah, bring your family and friends for a first-class ski vacation at Solitude. Far from the crowds at other Utah resorts, you'll find yourself skiing or riding on "the greatest snow on earth," staying slopeside in our European Village and dining at one of our restaurants.

Family Vacation

Bitter End Yacht Club Wreck Dive Week 19th Annual Pro Am Regatta Week 2nd Annual Caribbean Hobie Wave Fun Week 10th Flotilla Sailing Week Thanksgiving Sail Caribbean Week 4th Annual Thanksgiving Game Fish Challenge Longshore’s Caribbean Sailing Weeks CaribKiteboarding Clinic Week West Marine presents Bitter End’s Women on the Water Week 2006 Bitter End in the News! Bitter End is always abuzz with activity. From upcoming regattas at the resort to the biggest fish recently caught, to special offers on rates or packages, select one of the links below to find out more about up to the minute news at Bitter End. Special Deals Press Releases Bitter End on a TV Near You Outside Magazine Selects Bitter End Again! Current Contests Megayacht Race of the Season at Bitter End Hobie Fun Week -- Join the Waves! BEYC Events Pro Am Regatta 2005: Seriously Fun Sailing Join Us for BVI Boating Week 2006 Gordo's News BVI Spring Regatta and Sailing Festival: Cosmic Warlord Does It Again! Sail Aboard Cosmic Warlord in this Watersports Adventure KIDS CAMP SAMPLE SCHEDULE ENHANCE YOUR VACATION EXPERIENCE: JOIN THE ADVENTURE CLUB AT BTTER END! THE MATCH RACE OF THE YEAR AT BITTER END! MORE FALL SAILING FESTIVAL EVENTS 30TH PARTY PICTURES Recommended Reading Whether you're interested in travel guides, learning more about sailing, or finding a good book, we have some suggestions for you. Travel Guides Sailing Fiction related to the region Jason's Recommendations Music and Movies too! North Soundings Check out the latest issue of the North Soundings to stay in touch with what's new at BEYC and Virgin Gorda. Featured Testimonial "Thank you again, to the Bitter End, for another great vacation. We stayed two weeks at the end of July with our three kids and loved every minute of it!" CL, 8/04 There's more from this guest! home | about us | things to do | the resort at a glance | packages, amenities and rates | marina | trip planner contact us | the buzz | free stuff | sitemap | search email: binfo@beyc.com | phone: 800.872.2392 | © 2005 Bitter End Yacht Club International, LLC