Day 445: Hualien

Jun 21 - This morning is dedicated to getting the washing done. Walking down the streets, I am reminded of storefronts we saw in the old districts of Seoul, that have a Japanese style. It is a subtle change from what we’ve seen in other cities in Taiwan, but enough to notice. It is a reminder of the long association to Japan, now culturally embedded here.

Some storefronts in downtown Hualien.

In the afternoon, discover how slow the bus system really is, as it takes a long time to find our way out to the Hualien Pine Garden. This site used to be Hualien Harbor Military Command during the Japanese occupation, constructed in 1942. It was taken over by the KMT government after WWII, and later served as a MAAG (Military Assistance Advisory Group) hostel until the termination of ROC-US relations.

One of the old buildings on the Pine Gardens site.

View from the Pine Gardens.

A dolphin statue in the pines. These trees are now protected, though diseases have slowly eliminated much of the original forest that was planted here.

The bus connections are very slow out here, so end up walking back to the hotel.

A woman picking up a coffee shop order along with her cat. Later they rode off on a scooter, the cat just sitting on the floorboard by her feet.

A commonly seen manhole design in Hualien.

Taiwan (ROC)