It was a visit to  this landscape formed by sea and wind – 02.21.16

My second day in Taipei was spent upnorth as I visited a park structured by nature. It was a walk around a place filled with interesting shapes – as I hold on tightly to my coat during that rather chilly and windy midday – one that almost did not happen should my wallet has not been lost and found.

While there is still more to see in the city itself, I dedicated that day for somewhere outside after having read of a convenient way for a solo traveler to see several spots using one pass.

To maximize, I started my day early but universe hands out surprises sometimes that I had to pause for a few minutes after that scare at the train station when I lost my wallet – and in effect, should I was unable to find it – my day. (I wrote about the experience as soon as I got home so the story remains fresh.)

Off to ‘panic’ station

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Oh thank goodness

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* Tour kick-off at KEELUNG

This place is one of two kick-off points (other is in Tamsui) of the shuttle that goes around the north coast of Taiwan. It was a quiet morning when I arrived and apparently I was still too early because the tourism office was still closed then. I killed time walking around the station, grabbed some cute tummy-fill I could take to the bus.

Jump-off for the tour bus

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It sure looks complicated but this was really helpful

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Mood here far from the busy from where I was earlier

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This place indeed has some cuteness, indeed

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... as in these steamed buns

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Another ‘I was here’ feet shot

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Just to remind me where the tourist office was 

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And this pig  just looks bitter

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Because I have this peculiar love for bus rides

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De facto

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There were only few passengers with me on the bus that I found a comfortable seat by the window with view of the sea.

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* Arriving in YEHLIU GEOPARK

Where we were dropped off

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From this signage this looks like a fun park

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And this is me in attempt to save some information for this entry

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My hands were dry from the cold and that flap an indication of the windy situation at the park itself

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In case I get lost

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I would see this iconic formation on latter part of visit but first, let me take thi###

A few minutes’ walk from the entrance to the park

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Even prior to searching for its known formations, geopark from afar in its entirety is already beautiful, especially in contrast with the sea – which to me felt oddly different from the calming effect I usually get when I go to beaches. The sea on this part of town to me felt rough, almost angry.

Below are some snaps of rocks – some popular ones and some just popular in my imagination.

An upside to it being a tourist destination are these helpful signs

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First section of the park I explored is this sea of mushrooms.

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Is it just me or does this look like a man with a giant nose?

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Those bunch of people far ahead as perspective

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People not allowed beyond that red line as a safety measure

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Light those candles

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This one of better view

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Can you spot that carp rock?

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Signs of honeycomb weathering

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Called “cuesta”, that rock is characterized by a steep slope and a gentle one on the other

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A part of me really wants to cross : p

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I love how those waves crash with the rocks

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Clubbin’

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A heart-shaped one

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More honeycomb ones

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I don’t know what this is called but this looks like an infant’s head

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Ginger rocks

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Looking at the other side

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These rocks look like girls with long necks facing a certain direction

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I like how those rocks look as if scraped 

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Just to show how windy

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This looks like a girl on ponytail

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I am not so sure but this could be the 24-filial piety hill

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Relieved to see some green

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Rocks versus people

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Stick figures

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And now I just couldn’t remember in which part of the park I was here

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Those other rock islands

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On the other side where rocks are less concentrated

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Like a giant fistbump

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Because I thought that tiny structure on the hill slope is the Queen’s Head

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Gap

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Marine bird rock

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These to me looked like two people kissing

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That rock in the middle  as if smiling

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Bridges

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Bridges in panorama

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Another lady 

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To me was Princess Leia of Star Wars

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Some sad otter in there

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Like a turtle’s back

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Ring

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Man or statue?

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Like preserved seashells

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Can you see a girl’s face?

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Moth

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Short-haired person

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While lining up for the Queen’s Head

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It was impossible to take a photo of the Queen without photobombs so I was lucky with this one!

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Like a floating hamster

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Cut in half

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At the center

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More waves

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Like a maze

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Those giant food signages made me miss Dotonbori

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How to get there and other practical details

By North Coast Shuttle Bus from Keelung, one may take the North Coast Shuttle bus NT200 all day unlimited rides from Tamsui and Keelung stations.

Yehliu Geopark is open daily from 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. However, the hours of operation may be extended to 6.00 pm during the month of May to August.

Read more about the park in this link.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Kristina Correa (or more known to almost all people in her life as Teng) is based on the city of Manila in the Philippines and whenever she can, cools off with routine and gets her doses of happy someplace else. She doesn’t mean to inform and help plan (as obvious with her laziness with details) but hopes her stories and photos can inspire you to create your own.