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Weekend at the islands

Taking advantage of a 3-day weekend, we escaped to a semi-local tourist destination: Penghu. Penghu is a group of ~90 islands (and small islands) less than one hour away from Taipei. It is like going to Menorca (Balear Islands) from Barcelona.

With less than 100.000 inhabitants in total, the offer for western food is almost limited to a McDonald’s in Magong. Someone decided that he wanted Pizza Hut and he took two pizzas as hand luggage into the plane…

Pizza Hut as hand luggage on flight to Penghu. Quite cool :)

Indeed, the original name given by the Portuguese to this archipelago was “Pescadores”, a perfect match still today as the main activity is still fishing (including tourism and water sports).

It is still low season and there are not many people around, tourist shops are mostly closed and not all restaurants are running. The beaches still empty. Apart from the capital, Magong, the rest of the towns are like small neighbors (specially when compared to Taipei) but it is mandatory to have a big temple (or various of them) and the 7-11 shop (convenience store chain omnipresent all around Taiwan).

We stayed at Siyu island, in a beach front resort recommended by some friend from Taichung. The place is really great: km 23.5. It is located next to the largest bridge in the archipelago (2,5Km length), which is one of the landmarks in Penghu.

Taiwanese, as business oriented people, have everything arranged and defined a lot of tourist highlights: beaches, water sports, special geological formations with unusual shapes (if you have a good imagination) and a large turtle conservation center… but the best indeed is the silence and the good weather that is so difficult to enjoy in Taipei :)

As tourists are expected to do, we rented a small scooter to move around the islands and visit the various spots. To reach the more meridional islands you must take a boat and then take the tourist bus on the island (or just rent another scooter). Albert had a lot of fun riding the scooter and I enjoyed being the passenger.

Apart from relaxing and check-in in most of the tourists attractions, we also tasted local food (fresh fish), cactus fruit and the famous brown sugar cake.

During our stay at Penghu we did not cross with any other non-Asian tourist (outside Magong). It is important to speak some Chinese or have a good conversation guide as few people speak English there.

Dormiem a la caseta verda (i sense veins)
We slept at the green house (without neighbors)

Dormiem a la caseta verda (i sense veins)
We slept at the green house (without neighbors)27-Feb-2011 18:37, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.0, 22.0mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 1600

25-Feb-2011 19:55, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 3.5, 18.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 800

Internet mòbil + netbook
Mobile internet + netbook

Internet mòbil + netbook
Mobile internet + netbook26-Feb-2011 21:42, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 3.5, 18.0mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 1600

28-Feb-2011 09:53, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 20.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

28-Feb-2011 09:54, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.6, 18.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 360

Edifici principal
Main building

Edifici principal
Main building28-Feb-2011 09:53, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 29.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

01-Jan-2009 00:02, PowerShovel Digital Harinezumi 2, 3.0, ISO 100

01-Jan-2009 00:05, PowerShovel Digital Harinezumi 2, 3.0, ISO 100

 

26-Feb-2011 10:29, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 22.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

Podeu veure al Pulpito?
Can you see Pulpito?

Podeu veure al Pulpito?
Can you see Pulpito?26-Feb-2011 10:57, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 8.0, 18.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200

26-Feb-2011 11:11, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 9.0, 20.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

Fan les parets amb corall
Coral is used to build the walls

Fan les parets amb corall
Coral is used to build the walls26-Feb-2011 11:12, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 8.0, 24.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 200

West Fort

West Fort26-Feb-2011 11:49, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 18.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

26-Feb-2011 12:34, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 10.0, 28.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

Restaurant recomenat
Recommended restaurant

Restaurant recomenat
Recommended restaurant26-Feb-2011 13:38, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 9.0, 20.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 200

La cuina / entrada
Kitchen / entry

La cuina / entrada
Kitchen / entry26-Feb-2011 13:37, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.0, 20.0mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 400

 

26-Feb-2011 12:56, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 4.5, 28.0mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800

26-Feb-2011 13:06, NIKON CORPORATION NIKON D5000, 5.3, 46.0mm, 0.04 sec, ISO 1600

 

4 Comments

    Oh jo vull anar-hi!!! Més enllà de la Costa Brava.

  • Me gustan las fotos fuisteis en la motocicleta.
    ¡Como taiwaneses! jajaja!!!

    ¡Anna mama!¡Bienvenido a Taiwan!:)

  • Hi Albert and Anna, I am Ray, a Taiwanese guy who is working in the Taiwan branch company of an European company. I accidently found your blog when I was searching a Spanish restaurant in Taipei, El Patio De Mi Casa. After reading your articles, I must tell you how much I love them. Since I ever lived and worked in both Europe and the US for a period of time and also love travelling around the world, I totally understand feelings of living in a new place of different culture and adventures in interesting places. Guess what! I also have been to Spain once. I backpacked there for almost 20 days and enjoyed delicious Spainish food and beautiful scenery so much. Having a lot of friends from different countries, I also love to know how my foreign friends see my hometown and those things which I might have already taken into granted for long time. I enjoy making friends and talking to them. Glad to know that you enjoy your stay in Taiwan. Hope someday we can also meet up and hang out together. Take good care and have fun.

  • Veiem que continueu passant-vos-ho bé. Albert: després d’uns quants anys de treure’t el carnet de moto, has pogut fer unes pràctiques turístiques!

    Abili i Carme