A Fantastic Train Tour to HuaLien 台鐵遊輪列車花蓮遊

Right after our hiking on YMS yesterday, we went on a train trip to Hualien Toroko and TienSiang today. Overall speaking, the trip was as perfect as we expected. Only if the bus connection had been well controlled according to the schedule, it would have been an impeccable one. Appreciating through the glasses the breathtaking seashores, cliffs and rocky mountains passing by while the train and bus were moving, strolling along the road, walking stairs, enjoying plum and cherry blossoms/Sakura, and other flowers, witnessing a virtual operation of fishery, chatting, teasing, taking photos, etc, kept us busy head over heels all the way.

It’s Virginia’s contribution again to get all of us on the train with her 1st hand information, and quick and proficient action. It was another warm and sunny day. I felt quite hot wrapped in layer-after-layer clothes. Except Virginia and her friends, Lydia, Pamela and I all wore too many. We simply misinterpreted Virginia’s reminding – layer after layer, and put on a sweatshirt, a sweater or heavy clothes, and a jacket or an overcoat. She meant a short sleeve shirt, water repellent clothes plus a windproof jacket.

Worrying that I couldn’t get enough sleep like the night before, I went to bed earlier around 12:00 am. Luckily this time I fell asleep soon. Five hours sleep is pretty enough for me to restore the energy I need for the whole day fun. Virginia wanted us to gather at the Taipei Train Station at 6:30 am. To play safe and because of parking concern, I decided to board in CiTu and meet them on the train. The downside was that I’d lose the excitement of crazily mutual greetings and suffer from one-hour-less chat with them. Don’t know how the train worked, it took 40 min. to get to CiTu from Taipei. I waited for about half an hour on the platform alone. I even made a call to Virginia being bored of waiting. Their laughter on the other side almost killed me thinking that they were having fun whilst I was standing alone in the open air and under strong winds.

Actually while waiting for the train, a student-like young man kept talking to me after seeing me walking to a station master for a double check. I am not used to talking to strangers, still tried to be patient and polite to comment a few words when necessary. He was alone because his friend overslept. He had been taking this kind of train tour many times because it was so cost-effective, fascinating and enlightening. When the train finally pulled in, I had a sudden whim to take a photo with him to keep track of the moment. Surprisingly he fled away throwing words with a raised voice that he didn’t like to take photos. What a disappointment!

I hurried on the train looking for my pals. What a relief seeing them! The greeting was same crazy and exciting as I pictured. How comforting to find that everything went very smoothly. I was the only one who wore a skirt, a little bit embarrassed. Well, what can I say? I just can’t stand to wear jeans or pants all the time.

I started eating while quacking with them, had to consume some fruit and snacks to reduce the
weight of bags after all I hadn't eaten anything solid after getting up. Of course I caught their disapproving eyes. I was so full of spirit that wouldn’t want to give anyone the peace of mind. If I had driven them crazy, they must have hid it very well.

The rest was more or less like I described at the beginning. What’s more to add was the final climax taking place at the small fishing port – 佳豐定置漁場. Picking beautiful stones, watching the waves while waiting for the raft to be tided over to shore was completely a brand new experience to me. After the fish were hauled to the stand, visitors crowded in front of it to take a good look of all the different kinds of fish, how they were processed and decided what to buy. I must say it’s a good strategy to attract tourists to bring better business and prosperity to the place. While visitors were still lingering at the stand/market, we headed to the woods of coconut trees nearby and took turns to pose or model for hilarious photo effect. Another crazy scene we created.

We didn’t try the food made of the fish because we ordered a dinner box on the train in the morning. How could we miss the dinner box supplied by Taiwan Railways? After having enough pictures, we boarded the train. Time to go home. On the way back, I was rather quiet
as it was dark, passengers must be very tired. Also I chose to be a good listener listening to the sharing given by Pamela. Virginia felt weird about my silence and found it boring without my high-pitch voice. How comforting!

The train pulled in Taipei Train Station. We looked tired and waved goodbye to each other. Lydia went home. Pamela went to her office for a short stay to see if there were urgent matters to tend to. What a responsible and capable professional woman! Owing to this pleasant and exciting experience, I will definitely join this kind of trip again as long as I can put my work aside.

My day hadn’t finished yet. Virginia and her friend took me to a department store to buy some hiking wear. She couldn’t stand to see me dressing so ridiculous for hiking or mountain climbing because we have another hiking activity on Monday, Feb. the 2nd. My shopping frenzy was aroused. I walked out the store with two more big bags in my hands.
This time Virginia didn’t laugh at me, because I was getting prepared for our next hike led by her. Apparently I will never lack material to enrich this goldies’ blog.

Trini