Jessica: Taroko!

This is my favorite place in Taiwan- Taroko National Park! I've been looking forward to getting to Taroko since.. forever because it's so unique to have a U-shaped gorge so it's amazing to finally get to see it *_*

We started off at Shakadang Trail which follows a shallower valley area of Taroko. It's so shallow that at some places you can swim in the river.. although that's technically illegal shhh~

On the trail, we saw a dead mountain goat (looks like a deer to me). I think it fell down because there's no other sign of possible causes of death?

This was the part of the gorge we were walking along for the Shakadang Trail! It's not as deep as other areas of the gorge but you can see how pretty it is! Can you imagine such a small river could've carved such a huge gorge? Wonders of nature.

At the water with Andria! Jack said that the water is normally clearer but I think it's gorgeous all the same. Spent some time at this spot playing about in the water :) so lovely having the clear river running beneath our feet and the cliffs of the gorge in the background.

Picture of all the visitors exploring the gorge. I don't think anyone could ever get sick of this.

Group mates! exploring the Shakadang Trail together. We saw a waterfall but couldn't get to it because it was on the other side of the river and the currents were too strong.

End of the Shakadang Trail where there was a small dam. Ben says this crooked angle works, I'll listen to my photographer heh. I took the same crooked angle for him.

Next trail, the Swallow Grotto Trail where we had to wear helmets as there was danger of falling rocks. Can you see the Minion resemblance?

The Swallow Grotto Trail goes through the faster parts of the river i.e. the deeper parts of the gorge. Even though it was raining, the view was breathtaking. Professor Zhong mentioned that there's a Taroko Marathon every year through this area in November. Must be one of the best places to have a marathon, if only I could run....

自拍 with the bottom of the gorge hehe ;)

Baiyang Waterfall Trail also at Taroko. It's an easy trail leading to a water curtain cave at the end i.e. a waterfall through a cave/tunnel sorta thing so it looks like a curtain of water.

The whole bunch of us walking through the caves and looking for bats! Weren't as many as I expected considering how long the tunnel is. Maybe because it's manmade and not natural?

Exited the tunnel to see this! Love the cliffs, it's so breathtaking.

A scenic spot along the way to the water curtain cave! This bridge is only meant to hold 10 people at once but everyone just walked across without looking at the sign. I was paranoid and waited for a space in the 10 before I crossed. Still time to stop and take a picture with the waterfall at the back though!

At the water curtain cave! It's a bad picture but the only picture I have! I ventured in with my shoes on and only realized I would get completely soaked so I took out my handy dandy raincoat. It was so fun to play in the water curtain cave but I hated that my shoes got so wet. It's a horrible feeling hiking with wet socks.

That's all from Taroko! Best place in Taiwan for sure~~

Stopped by this sacred tree which is apparently 2000 years old and used to be one of the tallest trees in Taiwan. We also tried some peach honey which was AMAZING but it was too expensive for a poor student on a budget.