Taiwan: Hike on Lü Dao

There’s a hike on Lü Dao which leads to the highest point of Green Island. And there was the most beautiful weather to do that. So, hiking boots on and up the hills.

The path is wide, well maintained and not to miss. But on its side is dense forest with rich flora and fauna. Most obvious are the many butterflies fluttering in the air, buzzing insects and the calls of different birds. Also obvious became these big spiders and their sticky webs, especially when you run into it. They use the space on the path and once i missed it, i was busy for quite awhile to get rid of the gluey threads all over my face and head.

A nice surprise was but the sights of these little deers. Even twice they crossed my path, had a look at me and jumped back into the bush, before i could grab my camera for it. And there was more. Small lizards and even a pretty big snake, which flee from me too. I could just take picture from its tail, before disappearing.

At the summit i was rewarded with a splendid view almost over the entire Island. From here, once more you can imagine how it came to its name Lü Dao, the Green Island. This day surrounded with the deep blues, not only by the sea but also from the sky. And look closely, the air is clear enough to see even the town of Tauting on mainland Taiwan.

Another beautiful day on this remarkable island. Only to finish with a local speciality, an omelette with local seaweed and of course a coffee in my favorite cafe @coffeestray

(sorry for the many butterflies, but they were too many too nice ;-))

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!

Norway – Trondheim With Olavsfest

I was expecting a crowd in Trondheim, but little knew about the Olavsfest, what was held on that particular weekend. The famous Nidaros Cathedral was overrun by spectators and entry tickets were sold out for the day. But there was still a lively market place to visit.

Not far from the cathedral flows the river Nidelva, which divides the city in two parts. The old city bridge ‚Gamle Bybro‘ connects them and leads to the neighborhood Bakklandet, what’s certainly worth a visit.

After a long day strolling around, enjoying street life and drinking coffee with sweets, i was longing for a calm place again. Luckily i found a nice hike in the hilly forest just outside of the city. The gentle rain that started to fall didn’t even bother me, but it also gave me a beautiful rainbow.

Norway – Camping At Arctic Circle

Another calm night drive with the chance to see wildlife along the road, or even crossing it.

Early in the morning I crossed the Arctic Circle again. This time southbound.

Short time later the barren landscape changed to forest. I decided to look out for a quite place to camp. A small forest road brought me to an old path in the wood. This wonderful lonely spot next to a small stream was just perfect to rest for awhile.

Finland – Lapland – Rovaniemi

Long way up north. The weather wasn’t really welcoming, but this way I just cruised across Finland from south up to Rovaniemi.

The Arktikum in Rovaniemi is a museum which explains life and culture on the arctic circle in a interesting and wonderful way. One shouldn’t miss it when up here.

I wasn’t sure what to expect from the Santa Claus Village just bit north of the town. It’s a tourist trap, no question about that. Next to restaurants, hotel and souvenir shop, there’s also to meet Santa Claus himself. ‚Free Entrance!‘ a sign told me. I found it ridiculous to queue up for a photo with the white bearded, old man in red dress. So I skipped the line and went straight to the souvenir shop, located just after the room where Santa Claus awaited his visitors. There, the young cashier explained me, I wouldn’t be allowed to make a selfie with him anyway, but could buy a photo from the shop, starting prices from €30.

I stepped out from Santa Claus house, passed the famous Santa Claus Post Office and just stepped over the line of the Arctic Circle. Finally i made it to the ‚real north‘!

And with this i made it definitely also to Lapland, the land of reindeers. Along the way i spotted some of these majestic, but shy animals. Still mid-summer, the long daylight allowed me to drive till late, stopping for observing some reindeers and to cook a midnight meal before finally get some rest.

Finland – Lahti And Kangasniemi

It’s a short ferry ride from Tallinn to Helsinki. Just after i was experiences the vast land of Finland with its endless forests. Also the dusk seemed already endless, but i found a quite spot next to an idyllic lake for a short sleep.

Next day i stood under the mighty pillars of the ski jump of Lahti. To my surprise it was possible to get up to the top. The view over the lakes and forests was stunning.

My first real stop was in Kangasniemi, a small town surrounded by even more forests and lakes. I planned a few quite days resting on the campsite here. The arrival of roughly ninety (!) students from Helsinki on their holiday seemed to threaten my plans. After all, they behaved surprisingly calm, I even got into some nice chats sometimes. I decided to like Finland 😉

Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Settled in a big forest just outside of Riga is the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum.

It supposed to be one of the oldest and biggest in the world and held typically buildings and cultural goods from all part of the country.

Beside gathering knowledge and many interesting facts about Latvia and its culture, it’s also a beautiful walk in the woods, what was very welcome after the days in the hustling city.

Autumn – mystic moods

The day hides behind clouds.

The landscape disappears in the mist.

The colors vanish slowly between shadows.

Autumn in its late days brings up mystic moods in nature.

I embrace the dark times with its smells, its sounds, its secrets.

Where the eyesight comes to its boundaries, there’s more space for fantasy and dreams.

Autumn – the colorful

There was this occasion of a family reunion in a small valley. As a boy i used to spend our family holidays in these mountains in Northern Italy.

Blue sky invites for a hike in nature. From the top of the mountains shines the first snow of the season, and the colors of autumn burst from the forest.

A good opportunity to grab my Nikon and take some shots of this colorful world in autumn…

OST-EUROPA-MOTORRADTOUR #59: Plitvicka Seen, wo bereits Winnetou schwamm

Einem Tipp folgend fuhr ich ins Landesinnern. Und wieder folgte mir die Sonne zu einem bezaubernden Ort, dem Plitvicka Nationalpark. Die Wälder und Seen der Gegend bildeten in den 1960er Jahren die Kulissen von Winnetou Filmen. Der Reiz der Landschaft zeigte sich im Herbstkleid der Natur und im strahlenden Sonnenschein noch stärker als erwartet. Klares Wasser fliesst in mehreren Kaskaden in saubere, dunkelblaue Seen, umrahmt von goldenen Wälder. Mehrere Stunden wanderte ich auf gut ausgebauten Pfaden von See zu See und von Flüssen zu Wasserfällen.