The weather today is not as good as yesterday. Strong wind (i mean really strong) and dark cloud covering part of the hill side area but not sea area (south). Quickly ride straight down to Kenting before rain or more cloud roll in. First stop arrive at Nan wan beach 南灣.
The wind is so strong that there isn't much people, no one swimming nor water sports/activities going on.
See the water ripple and all the banana boat and inflatable seat flip over at middle of sea.... not obvious?
.... even my scooter is not spared by the wind
Some of the sea creature that i saw....
brain coral sea urchin
sea bird some weird creature
After Nan Wan plan to go Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園... my intention is not to show my cute scooter or the stone signboard.... but look at the windsock... it flew more than 90degree!! how strong the wind is.
On the way up, ride pass the Château Beach Resort 墾丁夏都沙灘酒店 where Cape no. 7 海角七號 (kaikaku nana gō) is filmed... if you don't know, go download and watch its a good movie. http://www.ktchateau.com.tw/
Facilities provided by the resort but no people at sea nor beach... the red flag is up indicating too dangerous for any water sports to take place.
No wonder no people... The wind is near gale... After checking out online on Beaufort Scale, near gale wind speed is around 62–74 km/h (17.2-20.6 m/s). Sea condition with moderately high waves with breaking crests forming spindrift. Well-marked streaks of foam are blown along wind direction. Considerable airborne spray. While on land condition, some twigs broken from trees. Cars veer on road. Progress on foot is seriously impeded.
The road up to Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 are so winding and uphill ride. The air up there is much fresher and cooler. http://www.ktnp.gov.tw/
The park is actually very big and have well guided map which have 2 route. Signboard is located at every junction and indicate distance and estimate walking time to next checkpoint.
I walked the longest path (combination of both route) which take more than 2hours.
There is a watch tower in the middle of the park which operate by lift so don't have to worry about climbing more that 100 stairs to reach the top. At the top there is a cafe where visitor can buy some foods, drinks and souvenirs or just hang out and look at the lush green forest.
Actually i was disappointed that there isn't much thing in the park except trees and plants. No fruits, no flowers, no monkey or bird or other animal... but very surprisingly i saw crab!! How on earth crab able to climb up the hill?
According to research, this area is supposed to be under sea level ten millions years ago. This crab has evolved and they are transparent in color and not sensitive to any light as they use to stay in the cave. Since then their eye lost its function of seeing things.
Next stop is Shenting Natural Park 社頂自然公園 which i basically ride pass.
Many people gathering and having fun at the large green park...
After Shenting Natural Park is all downhill ride... by the time i reach foothill i had already bypass Kenting town. Then i arrive at Chuanfanshih 船帆石.
The next must see list is Eluanbi park 鵝鑾鼻公園... which basically has a very huge park but the main attraction is just the light house
The park also has well guided walking path... One interesting attraction is Kissing Rock 親吻石.
And further in i can see the whole mountain range in silhouette.
Eluanbi Lighthouse 鵝鑾鼻燈塔. This is the only armed lighthouse in the world, with a trench surrounding it and many gun holes on the wall. The extra fortifications were required at the time it was built because of frequent raids by local aboriginal tribes.
By the time i leave Eluanbi the wind is getting much much stronger. I insist riding on toward the east coast even though my scooter keep veer to the left. I have to hold the handle so hard to bring it straight.
Nothing at the southern tip most of Taiwan 台灣最南點... Its a waste of time and energy walking for 1km into the forest walkway... with only small platform that is crowded with people.
Arrive at Longpan Park 龍磐公園. Longpan Park is composed of slumping cliffs formed by the collapsed coral reef limestone that were eroded by wave, wind and gravity.
The route that will take to Fongchueisha 風吹砂...
Another long and suffering journey to Fongchueisha. The wind is so strong that it start blowing up sand as the name suggest. Hit by few sand wont feel anything but billion of sand hitting is like being pierce by billion of needle into my bare skin. Sand are entering into my ear, eye, nose, mouth and its so painful. so i decide to pull over at the road side and take out my sweater and wear on to cover my hand and hood up to cover my ear and mouth leaving my eye protected by my glasses.
Leaving my leg bare as i don't have any long pants so continue being hit by sand. The sand and dust keep distracting my vision till once i though of pulling over again and wear on my goggle or just ride back to Kenting... not joking seriously its very painful.
But finally manage to arrive at Fongchueisha...
It has a unique view like Longpan Park... with all the cliff being eroded bit by bit forming coastal terraces and of course beautiful view.
Riding toward Gangkou Suspension Bridge(港口吊橋) stop by at some small beaches...
Look at the high waves with breaking crests forming spindrift. Forming streaks of foam and blown along wind direction.
Arrive at Gangkou Suspension Bridge
...and continue ride on to the last stop of the day... Jialeshuei 佳樂水
look at the colorful and cute mural... maybe draw by small kids :)
Sun is setting low by the time i ride out from Jialeshuei heading back to Hengchun...
another long and dark ride way back Hengchun and will pass by Chuhuo 出火 as i had visited yesterday...
so plan to stop by again... see people cooking something on the fire but the wind is strong...
Finally back to Hengchun and had my dinner of handmade beef noodle (90NT$)
Finally took 2000 bus back to Kaohsiung... that is my 2 days trip the southern tip of Taiwan... Total travel distance on day 2 is around 60km
Overall route :
HengChun 恆春 (A) - Nan wan beach 南灣 (B) - Château Beach Resort 墾丁夏都沙灘酒店 (C) - Kenting National Park 墾丁國家公園 - Shenting Natural Park 社頂自然公園 (D) - Chuanfanshih 船帆石 (E) - Sadoa 砂島 (F) - Eluanbi park 鵝鑾鼻公園 (G) - southern tip most of Taiwan 台灣最南點 (H) - Longpan Park 龍磐公園 (I) - Fongchueisha 風吹砂 (J) - Gangkou Suspension Bridge 港口吊橋 (K) - Jialeshuei 佳樂水(L) - Chuhuo 出火 (M) - Kaohsiung 高雄
