On the way to Wuling Farm

I was invited to go to Wuling Farm (武陵農場) on Friday. http://www.wuling-farm.com.tw/english/index.php As it was a public holiday for some it turned the weekend into a loooooong one. The idea was to meet the rest of our party just outside Taipei on Freeway 5 and it was clear as we got closer that everyone had the same idea. Not only was the traffic moving at a snail’s pace, the gas station that served as our meeting point was as busy as a night market. Because of the congested traffic, everyone was late and we got on our way hours later than planned. The gas station was just off the freeway but it took an hour to get back on Freeway 5 and the road was not any better until we got to Luódōng (羅東). Taiwan has proved itself to be an excellent tunnel constructor as it is so mountainous and I experienced a drive through a 13km tunnel.

It was a bright and sunny day and I felt a pang of regret to have to spend the day in a car. In Yuanshan (員山鄉) we headed for a famous restaurant. In Taiwan restaurants can become instantaneously famous by being featured on TV. A long line of people waited to be seated. Next door the same dish was sold so we went there. The restaurant which was nothing more than a hall with tables served fish balls in a soup. Not something we would call up market back home. As I am not a big fish fan, I declined eating the dish and instead had a vegetarian lunch box.

We drove for hours along a valley that looked more like a dry riverbed at times. I am told that during a typhoon the valley can turn into a river flooding farms and destroying crops. Crops mainly consisted of watermelon which were sold everywhere next to the road.

Higher into the mountains we encountered crops of cabbage. The cabbage patches made a pretty sight but often the smell of fertilizer was overwhelming.

We stopped in a village to buy some vegetables and use the bathroom. Some locals came out to introduce their children to me and as Caucasians are obviously not frequently seen I had my five minutes of fame.

The village seems to be of aboriginal or Atayal origin as seen in the art crafted to beautify the village. A church as opposed to a temple was also evident.