15 March 2017
Lost in the swamp at night
Roaming around the parks of Taitung at night
This afternoon I was back a bit earlier than normal from my Museum run, so I decided to head out earlier for dinner, via a tour of the swamp near the beach.
This turned into a bit of an adventure, there was a bike path running through it, but there were no lights, and it got really dark really quickly. I decided all I could do was push on, it had to end back at civilization at some point, about 45 minutes later in darkness via a long unlit tunnel.
There were also bugs in the air, so I may have malaria now, time will tell. It was very spooky, but the spookiest part was when a guy came past on a bicycle at high speed, with no lights of any kind. I dont know how he could see where he was going.
To combat the possible malaria infection from night swamp, once I found the way out I headed to where I wanted to go to last night, the best beef noodle restaurant in Taitung, and it was awesome! Dungdong is its name in case you ever find yourself in Taitung, more on that below.
Tomorrow I go to KaohSiung, a real city! I have actually been there before, the first time I came to Taiwan. You may remember it from a recent gas main explosion that destroyed an entire city block! Its doubful anyone remembers that at all, just me, I am talking to myself, as always.
I have noticed in Taiwan that the beach is rarely prime real estate. The city never really extends to the beach. Perhaps its the inevitable typhoon damage.
This is what beachside housing generally looks like, people hoarding rubbish.
The beach itself here is quite nice. Black sand again, but clean enough, I cant see any rubbish, no fishing nets, minimal scooters parked on the beach.
This is a very strange rusted lookout that exists for no reason.
This is a more interesting rusted lookout, but its fenced off, no entry. Rusted through I guess.
Now I entered the swamp region, looks cool.
I went deep into the swamp and it got dark and I decided surely I must be closer to the exit than the entrance I came in from. I was wrong, very wrong. It was properly dark by the time I emerged.
Getting out was a bit tricky too. PROMOTE FOR WALK.
I took a photo of this same temple in the day time. Its better at night. One guy was walking laps backwards, in a furious manner, as if he was being punished. Chinese people love to walk backwards.
And here it is. Easily the best meal of my trip so far. Delicious beef noodle soup, probably Taiwans national dish, although less popular in the areas I have been in.
I added enough chilli to cause the waitress to gasp, then proceeded to cry into my own soup from happiness.
I think you pay a price for the popularity of this place, as the soup cost about $5, but well worth it.
Nearby is a very flash looking sushi place. If I was here tomorrow night, I might have given it a try, oh well.
For dessert, hot ovaltine, in a can. They heat the cans up in the convenience store just like in Japan. You need both hands to drink this, its too hot to hold in one hand for long. I enjoyed its malty deliciousness.