Taiwan Travelogue: O little Town of Wulai

From the spellbinding scenes of nature which welcomed us from the bus ride to the arrival to the glimpse of this petite little town bustling with the local scenes of everyday life among the town's long time dwellers.

Take a stroll through the town and enjoy the scenic view beckoning out from every part of the town; the town is easily explored on foot and there is no need for any transportation to get around this little town, which is just filled with interesting sights from the shops and stalls selling food in a marketplace on the Wulai Old Street.













Walk through the street in the compact town of Wulai, past the excited traders yelling out in courting tones to draw you to their products or shop and maybe along the way, fall to their sweet words and give in to a snack or two as you head to explore the rest of Wulai's treasures.
(You will pass by the town again as you head back out to catch your bus home anyway).

After the short stroll through the Old Street of Wulai, one should head to the famous waterfall of Wulai which is one of the main attraction here. One would definitely have heard of the mention (or many mentions) of this natural landmark the minute you descend from the bus as the overly helpful taxi drivers lurking at the bus station approaches you with the offer to bring you to the waterfall by claiming that it is too far to reach there on foot.

It is hardly true, as it is a pleasant journey from the bus stop through the town and to the waterfall.
One can even walk all the way to reach the waterfall, passing by the marketplace on the Old Street of Wulai, and the Lovers Bridge and take a short hike towards the location.

Lovers' Bridge

One can still pass by this bridge on the way down, if you were to walk down heading towards the town after the visit to the waterfall.

Alternatively, there is an adorable old-fashioned little train which could transport you on a short 5-10 minutes ride to the waterfalls for only NT$50 per trip, and is indeed a great experience.







A glimpse of the waterfall (or 'pu pu', as they call it in Chinese) from afar, as the train approaches the station at the top.




The slight elevation on where the waterfall is located provides a cooler temperature, though not to a freezing level and is just pleasant enough for one to enjoy a stroll and the view of the waterfall and the nature.

A row of shophouses line the streets but it was generally a rather quiet street leading to the waterfall with the area being more of a residential area (and street).




Locals dressed in the aboriginal costumes, perhaps for the cultural shows and performances available, or simply, as a way of promoting the Atayal's culture?




Stay tune for the next post, dedicated to the waterfall of Wulai...

Taiwan Travelogue: Wulai Hot Springs (烏來)

Jade green waters with bridges over them, flowing over the gray rocky river bed with a white overcast swimming with the shades of green amidst the lush mountainous backdrop is a picturesque definition of what many would imagine to appear in a typical Chinese art drawing. The reality is not that far from the ideal picture as the above is the exact description of a little aboriginal town tucked away in a remote part away from the buzz of the city of Taipei.

Known for the breathtaking scenery from the colors of the spring and the mountains, Wulai(烏來) is no strange land to many attracted to its well-preserved nature and the unique nativity of her aboriginal inhabitants' culture; the Atayals. The Atayals were the ones who named this place; with their phrase in their local language of kirofu ulai, which translates to the terms 'hot and poisonous'.
However, the terms do not rightly justify the beauty and wonders of the place where the breathtaking scenes just weasel their way into the minds and settle there, leaving one with the memories to last a lifetime.

The charming little town which requires a 40 minute to an hour's bus ride from the Xindian MRT station (Bus No.849) draws crowds to its natural hot water springs; which is more superior in its quality as it is cleaner and unlike Beitou, it is also free of the odor from the sulphuric waters, making it an ideal place to enjoy a soak or a bath. The Atayals' term 'ulai' which slowly translated to Wulai, is synonymous with hot springs, and it is no wonder the place is filled with hot spring resorts.
There is also the option of enjoying the hot springs for free, following a designated path after crossing the bridge and walking up a little further where to the right there is a stairway leading to the river. Swimming wear is mandatory as this is an open area.

The scenic view of the river and peeks of the town can be enjoyed from the bus ride; which takes one on a zig zagging ride into the remotest parts of Taipei and offering captivating glimpses into the nature. Be prepared to be spellbound by the sights along the ride, especially when one is about to approach the town of Wulai, which happens to be the last stop.
The hues from the river is mesmerizing and keeps one in suspense as one waits with bated breath for more revelation of the flow at the end of the journey.
(The river could be better viewed with seats on the right of the bus).

Scenes from the bus ride:









The unmistakable red bridge over the tempting jade green waters with a temple in the background is the first scene to greet the excited visitors as one alights from the bus at the last stop.
This picture perfect scene is enough to capture one's attention of what Wulai has to offer in its spectacular opening scene upon arrival at its entrance (the bus stops at the station).







The enchanting colors of the water flowing in the river is enough to send the adrenalines pumping for the adventures and surprises awaiting visitors to this little town, which has kept her secrets well-guarded from the hustle bustle of development and modernization and by the looks of it, unperturbed by the commotion in the big world out there.


One just can't wait to jump into the waters, literally, for me, at least, as the waters are just so calm and flawless that they looked like they have emerged from a fantasy land which only exists in the fairytales.





This is a place where the tale is as old as time, and the song is as old as rhyme, and the tales are about to continue with the revelation of Wulai's treasures....stay tune...

Taiwan Travelogue: Geothermal Valley Beitou

Geothermal Valley is the top attraction in the Beitou area; with its emerald jade sulphuric waters and the thick clouds of steam rising from the boiling waters from this volcanic crater tucked away as part of the town's pride.
The picture of thick mist enveloping the area as a result of the rising steam from the high temperature (at the boiling temperature of 100 degrees Celsius) may seem like a scene from a fantasy world; yet this is a truly amazing work of nature, leaving many awestruck following a visit to this magical place.
The place was also once, during the colonial rule of the Japanese, known as one of the top eight natural beauties in Taiwan.

The hot water flowing downstream and everywhere in the town






Even the drains outside the park is filled with boiling water






It was a surreal experience, and it was as though my vision has blurred with the thick mist engulfing the entire area. It seemed like I have stepped into a different dimension or world, where it seemed so magical yet mystical at the same time. While it was really breathtaking to witness the works of nature  in the form of the rising steam, it was also eerie at the same time to see so much that it almost seemed like the whole place was enveloped by the thick clouds rising from the heat of the emerald green or jaded waters of the spring below.


Jade Spring Valley, as the Geothermal Valley is also known is attributed to the mesmerizing tones of the waters from the high content of the sulphuric mineral-based in the spring. This rare phenomenon, or the mineral based of sulphuric content in the spring water can only be found in two places in the world; here in Beitou and the other in Akita, Japan.
While the colors and the misty scene can be alluring and hypnotizing, the pungent odor from the high sulphuric content acts like an agent to knock one to consciousness as fills the air with its unpleasant smell.






The thick misty state which can overcome the entire atmosphere and the high temperatures of the waters also earned the valley its other notorious nickname of the Hell Valley, or the Valley of Death. Perhaps it was the heat which brought it in close comparison to the underworld, or perhaps it was also due to the number of tragic and fatal incidents which have occurred in this area.
Yes, sadly, this may be a scenic and natural wonder but there have been deaths or unpleasant incidents which have occurred here.
According to the locals, there was a man who have reportedly fell into the water by accident and ended up being cooked/boiled to his death here.
This led to tighter security measures being implemented here; with the authorities putting up signs and fences to prevent anyone from being in too close proximity to the extremely hot waters flowing in the spring.

Scary stories aside, the Geothermal Valley still strikes me as a natural wonder and is indeed an eye-opening experience (yes, I could still keep my eyes open while wandering through the thick mist of steam).


Many are spotted with umbrellas and even rain ponchos; even mask wearing while enjoying the scenes unfolding in action in this valley.


This is indeed an amazing work of nature, and a must-visit for anyone who is in the town of Beitou.
The Geothermal Valley, is indeed, a natural depiction of nature at one of her best here.