Day4 - Taitung to Green Island.
We had a slight change in plan, which really worked out to make the trip a bit more interesting. The hostel in Taitung messed up our booking a bit, and we didn't really have a place to stay for the second night we planned to be in Taitung. So after the lady in the hostel assured us there was only one boat a day going to Green Island, we decided to try any way and headed out on the open sea!
The ferry ride to green island is fairly notorious around these parts, and to explain it best a quote follows from an eloquent Lonely Planet Travel guide writer:
"The Green Island Vomit Barge.
Green Island is among Taiwan's loveliest offerings, and as a traveller and writer I recommend a visit highly. However, a word on the boat: I am an islander, of sorts ( Staten Island, New York, where the ferry to and from Manhattan, though hardly a strenuous voyage, was a daily routine for a decade). I've travelled extensively by ship and ferry around Taiwan, by riverboat through China's Pearl Delta and Southeast Asia, and by a host of seagoing vessels large and small around Maritime Canada and in the Pacific Northwest.
Only twice in my extensive travels have I found myself, face pressed against a rolling floor, stinking of my own vomit, begging for the sweet, sweet release of death.
The first time was on the boat to Green Island while researching the chapter you're currently reading. The second was on the way back. Consider youselves warned."
Unfortunately...the boat ride did its work adequately, and I was well incapacitated for most of the ride. Watch the video Cliff made on the boat if you want anymore explanation...because you won't be getting it from me!
It was all worth it in the end, as Green Island is really a special place. (surprise surprise) this little Island off the coast was originally a prison, and was even called Fire Island. I think because they used to light fires here to warn fishing ships not to smash into it.
After 3 solid days of scootering, both Cliff and I were both "full on" for a change from scootering. "Full on" is an Australian expression which I am not sure I have got the gist of. But I am trying. So we hired two bikes, as the Islands one and only road which goes around the Island is 17km long.
The weather wasn't the greatest, being windy and rainy but it wasn't that cold. So it was great. Green Island is a good place to snorkel and Scuba dive. But even to snorkel you need to have a guide, so we just jumped in the sea off one of their platform things.
Lunch at a friendly local jaunt:
There are only 3 saltwater springs in the world: one in Japan, one in Italy and the third is here on Green Island. Water from the sea goes down cracks in the rocks and returns to the surface at about 42degrees. And it is not even smelly. We spent a good few hours here, enjoying sitting in the tiled outside pools. As darkness fell we snuck down to the closed off rough pools in the rocks right on the shore line. And that was awesome - partly because we were breaking the rules but more because it was totally unprotected and rough, with waves crashing meters away!
As we enjoyed the pools we slowly realised a slight miscalculation we had made. That being that night had fallen, and that our transportation had a distinct lack of lighting equipment. It had also got a lot more windy and more "treacherous". But not to worry. Slow and easy does it!
We stopped off at a little village along the way and ate some lamb/cabbage/vege type soup dish thing, with the assistance of a guy who spoke chinese. The restaurant felt like a small warehouse, but the drying washing, tv sets, lounge furniture, children etc made us think it just might be the families living, eating and entertaining room. It is always hard to feel offended, or to offend really, if you can't speak much of the language. So we ate our meal in blissful ignorance, not really knowing what the situation was.
Day 5 awaits!
