Three Days in Hualien — Trip Overview

August 2011 — Three Days in Hualien

Summer vacation is my least favorite time to arrange a trip. There is nowhere to hide from the heat, and people are everywhere ~.~'"

Lisa was about to start first grade, and we probably would not have many chances to take time off for an overseas trip together. So before school began, we caught the tail end of summer and planned three days in Hualien.

We wanted to take it easy and avoid driving the whole way. A Taroko Express could get us from Taipei to Hualien in about two hours, which sounded perfect for a leisurely rail-based trip.

There was just one problem: summer hotel bargains were impossible to find, and even weekday trains from Taipei to Hualien were fully booked. From the Taroko Express down to the Chu-Kuang Express—not a single seat >.<'"

What was going on? Was everyone heading to Hualien?!

Time to embrace the spirit of independent travel. If the mountain would not move, we would change roads—and if the road would not move, surely I could. Since driving from Taipei to Jiaoxi took about an hour, I tried booking the train only from Jiaoxi to Hualien.

Bingo!! We got tickets...

...on the Chu-Kuang Express ~.~'"

The ride from Jiaoxi still took two hours, but at least the trip was happening @.@'"

Taking the Train from Jiaoxi

Jiaoxi Station before the train journey to Hualien — The rail journey begins at Jiaoxi Station.

Lisa and Belle already looked as though they had the potential to travel the whole world ^.^

Lisa and Belle waiting at Jiaoxi Station — Two young travelers, ready to go.

The children waiting for their train at Jiaoxi Station — Even waiting for the train is part of the adventure.

Here comes the train~~~

A train arriving at the platform at Jiaoxi Station — Our train to Hualien pulls into the station.

The Chu-Kuang Express beside the platform at Jiaoxi Station — Time to board those hard-won Chu-Kuang Express seats.

Outside the window, the broad Lanyang Plain eventually gave way to views of the Pacific along Taiwan’s east coast.

A view of the Lanyang Plain from the train — The Lanyang Plain unfolds beyond the train window.

The Pacific Ocean seen from the train to Hualien — A distant view of the Pacific along the east coast.

At last, we reached Hualien ^.^

Day One: Mukumugi and Dinner at Château de Chine

We had originally planned to stay at the Parkview Hotel and join its half-day Mukumugi excursion, but the hotel was full too ~.~'". We booked Château de Chine instead, only to discover that it did not offer the tour package.

Swallowing my pride, I went back to ask Parkview whether non-guests could join the excursion (embarrassing). Their customer service team directed us to their partner, Happy Spring Travel Service, and just like that, our first afternoon was settled ^.^

Scenery along the half-day Mukumugi excursion in Hualien — Our first afternoon takes us into Mukumugi.

Natural scenery in the Mukumugi valley — Another view from our afternoon in the Mukumugi valley.

Without a car, and with the hotel some distance from downtown, we had dinner at the Chinese restaurant on the second floor. We ordered salted-fish-and-chicken fried rice, Cantonese fried noodles, shumai, chicken feet, and turnip cake. The food was tasty, the portions generous, and hotel guests were not charged a service fee.

Would all that cost NT$1,000? Nope!!

NT$800, then? Not even that!!

The total was only NT$540 ^.^

Fine...I admit I was not a very competent food blogger. I always remembered to take pictures only after everyone had eaten their fill ~.~'"

Lisa, how about a round of applause for encouragement? ^.^

Lisa clapping after dinner at Château de Chine — No dinner photos—so Lisa provides the applause instead.

Day Two: Pool Time and the Ocean Park

We slept until we woke naturally, had a substantial breakfast downstairs, and took Lisa and Belle to the outdoor pool to dry ourselves in the sun like strips of jerky ~.~'"

Lisa and Belle spending the morning at the hotel’s outdoor pool — A slow morning at the outdoor pool after breakfast.

The children playing in the hotel’s outdoor pool — Summer pool time—and a little sun-drying like jerky.

That afternoon, we took the hotel shuttle to Hualien Station, then transferred to the Farglory Hotel shuttle for the ride to the ocean park.

A family travel photo from the Hualien Ocean Park visit — Transferring shuttles for an afternoon at the ocean park.

A scene photographed during the afternoon at Hualien Ocean Park — The rest of day two belongs to the ocean park.

Day Three: A Sunrise That Wasn’t and an Impromptu Afternoon Tea

I headed out at five in the morning, hoping to photograph the sun bursting straight out of the Pacific. Typhoon Nanmadol had other ideas. Its outer cloud bands blocked my grand plan, leaving only the morning light peeking over the clouds ~.~'"

Pacific morning light above the outer cloud bands of Typhoon Nanmadol — Morning light appears above Typhoon Nanmadol’s outer clouds.

Lisa had fallen at the ocean park the day before and hurt her knee, so our morning swim was canceled T.T. We had also hoped to squeeze in a visit to Zhaofeng Farm that afternoon, but changed plans again and settled in for a leisurely afternoon tea at a five-star hotel ^.^

A relaxed hotel afternoon after canceling the farm visit — A change of plans turns into a leisurely hotel afternoon.

Afternoon tea at a five-star hotel — Afternoon tea gives everyone time to rest on day three.

Three-Day Itinerary at a Glance

Day One
We left Taipei at nine, drove to Jiaoxi, parked beside the station, and continued to Hualien by train. At 1:30 p.m., we joined Happy Spring Travel Service’s half-day Mukumugi tour and stayed overnight at Château de Chine.

Day Two
We swam at the hotel in the morning and spent the afternoon at the ocean park.

Day Three
The children played in the hotel playroom in the morning. We enjoyed a relaxed afternoon tea, then retraced our route to Taipei that evening with everyone in a happy mood ^.^

If you are interested, come along and revisit our easygoing three-day Hualien trip with me~~

2011.08.24 Part 1 — Mukumugi

2011.08.24 Part 2 — Château de Chine

2011.08.25 Part 3 — Hualien Ocean Park

2011.08.26 Part 4 — Farglory Hotel