März 2024 – Seite 2 – rene bauer photography

Taiwan: Baiyang Trail And Shuilian Cave

It was already late afternoon, when i had another stop on my route trough the famous Taroko Gorge. Here i noticed a start of an hiking trail. Spontaneously i grabbed my camera and went on the path. It’s an easy going hike for approximately 3km each way. A broad path followed a river and was quite leveled. Even some tunnels were made to avoid steep bypasses. The only danger was the fallen rocks, which is not uncommon, as one can see along the way.

Just before reaching the waterfall of Baiyang, a suspension bridge has to be pass over an impressive gorge. Unfortunately the waterfall is rather a trickle, despite the rain from day before. I did expect more to be frankly. At least i had a nice chat with a doctor from Taipei, who offered me to take a picture from in front of that waterfall. Instead i asked her to join me on the selfie.

A signpost pointed to a tunnel, which lead to a stormy sound in the dark. To my surprise water streams from the ceiling of the tunnel, created a curtain of water falling to ground and flows in a stream towards the light on the end of tunnel. What an amazing spectacle. This hike was really paying off, latest with this final. Taroko Gorge will stay in good remembering for sure.

März 10, 2024März 9, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, landscape, roadtrip, travel, waterTags: Asia, baiyang, baiyangtrail, baiyangwaterfall, bridge, cave, friend, gorge, hike, hiking, hualien, landscape, mountain, path, renebauerphotography, reportage, shuilian, shuiliancave, suspensionbridge, taiwan, taroko, tarokogorge, trail, Travel, tunnel, water, watercurtain, waterfall Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Road Trip To Taroko Gorge

One of the most beautiful place on Taiwan, is Taroko Gorge at the East Coast, i read.

So, i took a direct train to Hualien, rented a car, grabbed a coffee early next morning and went off to see the landscape. And what a landscape i saw. Deep in the gorge, the walls went high on my sides when i drove in the narrow gaps of the mountains. Started at sea level, the road went higher and higher, got almost 2500 m.a.s.l. before i turned back. Many stops for photos or just taking a deep breath or resting on a quite place while was stunned about the old trees, the forest covering the high mountains and the river cutting its way down to the sea.

A fairly long hiking trail goes all the way up, but was closed due a typhoon earlier. Unfortunately i didn’t get to the hot springs there neither. At least another shorter, but still nice trail was open, as i found out on my way back. But this is another story for my next post. Stay tuned!

März 8, 2024März 8, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: Asia, forest, gorge, hiking, hualien, landscape, mountains, nature, renebauerphotography, river, taiwan, taroko, tarokogorge, Travel, trees, tunnel, valley, view Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Hot Springs And Night Market

Not far from Taipei is a hot spring area in the town of Beitou. It’s easy and fast reachable from Taipei by metro train. In a few steps, a green park invites for a stroll, or to play mahjong, or skating.

I found the public bathing places. There’s an open air one, but i decided to go to the more authentic bathing house. At entrance i got informed, that female and male visitors have separate zones and use to bath naked. I acknowledged and entered, after changing room, a room packed with men sitting in and around two pools. The temperature of the water was between 42-44°C, while the second pool had a thermometer showing constant 45.9°C. The hottest bath i ever had.

Back in Shilin, i went another time to the nearby night market, enjoying some food and the lively atmosphere.

März 6, 2024März 6, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, gastronomy, history, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, beitou, city, food, hotspring, mahjong, nightlife, nightmarket, park, people, portrait, renebauerphotography, reportage, shilin, taipei, taiwan, temple, Travel, urbanlife, waterfall Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Nights out in Taoyuan and Taipei

Many years back i met a beautiful couple on travel. Somehow we stayed in touch, but i postponed my trip to Taiwan year for year. Meanwhile they got two wonderful kids. After my first days in Taiwan and the great experience of the Lantern Festival in Shifen, my friends invited me for dinner in a ‚hot pot‘-restaurant in Taoyuan. The food was delivered to the table by a robotic trolley and was really delicious. But there was more entertainment by a ‚changing mask‘- dancer, which was great amusement (but not only) for the kids. I’m so thankful for my friends, who gave me this great evening, i would rarely experienced on my own.

The next evening i was just strolling around my neighborhood in Taipei. Surprised of the lively street around it. The famous tower building Taipei 101 was mostly in clouds. That’s why i postponed the viewpoint up there. Just having a walk on the streets was amazingly interesting already.

März 3, 2024März 1, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, food, gastronomy, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlifeTags: Asia, city, citylife, cityvibes, citywalk, dance, dinner, entertainment, food, friends, maskdance, night, nightout, people, portraits, renebauerphotography, spicy, taipei, taipei101, taiwan, taoyuan, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Start Into New Asia Trip: Jomtien, Pattaya, Bangkok

Just before i checked in my flight to Bangkok i decided not to see the hustling city but go to the nearest beach from the airport first. Since there was a direct bus link from the airport to Jomtien Beach, just next to Pattaya, it was a good decicion.

A few days on relaxing beaches, nice walks trough forest hills nearby, visiting temples and lookouts, eating at local night markets and having a beer in the street of bustling nightlife.

Bangkok with its skyscrapers, the green lush parks, but busy, noisy traffic, is a whole different story. I ended up in the famous-infamous Khao San Road, a backpacker area even long since my first visit here 30 years ago. When i went for a stroll there among the nightly, crazy party folks i thought literally: ‚New generation, same shit!‘, but enjoyed it.