When I first heard about Klook’s Northeast Coast Instagram tour, I wasn’t sure whether to sign up. I envisioned being surrounded by 20-somethings holding up their selfie sticks, taking photos of themselves in every pose possible, blocking all the good scenes, and I thought maybe it was just hype. I considered canceling my booking and replacing it with something else. But then I thought, “Why don’t I go find out what it really is?”  And as so often happens when I challenge myself beyond my own prejudgments, I have a very different experience than the one I imagined. 

Northeast Coast Instagram Tour

I am delighted to have Vincent as my guide again on this tour. Oh, in sad news, he didn’t find my hat. I was really bummed because it’s super hard to find those hats. Vincent said he and the bus driver had searched the bus thoroughly. He reminded me that at the rest stop on the way back to Taipei, I took my hat off to take a silly picture at that cutout gizmo near Sun Moon Lake, and maybe I had left the hat on the ground. Shit. That’s probably what happened. I imagine someone else finding my hat, and wonder if they kept it.

When we set out for our Instagramable day tour, I have to admit, I was not expecting to see some of the most beautiful scenery I’ve ever seen in my life. But that’s exactly what happened. And luck was with me again, because if my tour to Sun Moon Lake yesterday had gorgeous weather, this was spectacular in comparison. Perfect sunshine, blue sky, clouds in the right place, everything you could ask for, adding to the effectiveness of the Instagramable tour. And, bonus, no crazy Instagram fanatics, it’s an all-ages tour with some really nice people.

Bitoujiao Park

We start in a small fishing village and Vincent walks us up a side road and, ultimately, up a mountain. Actually, it’s a bit steep at certain points (steep enough that if you have breathing or body issues, some areas might be too steep. If you do go, prepare to be winded!). If you don’t lose your breath from the walking, you will from the views.

A short ways up the first section, the sea comes into view, and it’s so beautiful to see the coast. Add to it, an hour ago I was in Taipei with it’s tall buildings, and now here I am in the middle of scenery I never would have expected to be so close to a major city.

At one point, I end up taking a bunch of photos, assuming we’re now heading down. Then I notice that I can’t find anyone from my group. I panic, momentarily. Vincent gave all of us his cell number, so I text him asking where they are. Then I look up, and see there’s a path UP that I missed. You guessed it, more uphill walking!

So I walk up and lose some more of my breath, but then I encounter the most beautiful view I’ve seen in a while. It’s like I’m walking towards an end of the world, with the sea ahead, and around me in every direction are undulating hills covered in green. My hand is on my phone snapping photos of it’s own accord. Eventually I put it down and just stare. 

Even the walk to get down to the fishing village is stunning because I get all of these different perspectives of the land and the sea and the hills all around me.

Bitou Fishing Port

When we arrive in the fishing village, it’s time for lunch. Vincent recommends a place…it’s a tent with seating in the back. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m hungry. He helps us translate the menu, and I see they have fresh squid. The owner/chef is a lovely woman and she lets me take some photos of her cooking.

I order my squid and head to a table in the back, joining some other members of my tour. Turns out they’re fellow Americans, and we have a nice conversation until my squid arrives. It’s delicious. Better than whatever I had hoped for. It’s so good I use Google translate to go thank the chef. She seems very happy.

Before departing this wonderful experience, I get some photos of the squid boats, and then we’re off to the next stop.

Zhengbin Fishing Harbor

We make a short stop here to photograph the colorful houses in the photos. This is definitely a touristy stop, and, if I understand correctly, the houses were painted in the hopes of attracting tourists. I guess it worked! Definitely Instagrammable though of all the stops, this is my least favorite in terms of views and authenticity. Nonetheless, I enjoy taking some photos!

Heping Island Park

While my day started with those rolling green hills, this stop is like going to the moon. I’m still baffled at how, in such a short distance from Taipei, there is such a variety of landscapes. I love it. Certainly can’t do anything this different in New York!

I start my time here with a badly needed cup of coffee. I’m still having jet lag moments and feel a lull. I go to the visitor center, head upstairs, get a perfect iced coffee and enjoy the view. At this point, it looks a bit industrial to my left, and like a nice waterfront to my right. I have no idea what I’m about to see.

After finishing my coffee, I head back downstairs and over to the main park entrance. I’m underwhelmed. There’s a small sort of lake that looks manmade, and just not that interesting. I’m still not sure what the allure of this place is. Then I see it.

Emerging from the water is the oddest and most interesting formation I could imagine. The way the yellowed earth juts out from a tiny island, with greenery at the top, it’s as if I’m seeing earth-trees. Like the entire trunk of the trees is made of earth, not bark. I’m perplexed that so much greenery can exist atop what looks so dry.

I follow the winding path to a lookout point, and, to get to it, it’s like the sea receded and left us with this gorgeous view of yellow and green carved facades, and at times, you can see shapes like faces and hands in them. I continue on to an area that’s like hundreds of naturally made heads emerging from the earth. I imagine, if mother nature were an artist, this would be her canvas.

Keelung Night Market

Our last stop for the day is the Keelung Night Market. I haven’t been to a market yet, so it’s a great introduction. There are a lot of people around, and as the early evening approaches, stalls are heating up, though the lines aren’t too bad. I try a red bean cake which is delicious, and wander around the market before we head back to Taipei. Vincent gives us several recommendations for other markets to try. He says the Raohe market is his favorite, so I plan on going there at some point.

Taipei Christmas Market

Once back in Taipei, I decide to check out one of the Christmas markets. Someone in the Taiwan Travel Tips Facebook group (the one I mentioned in my last post about Ximending) had asked if any of us were in Taipei to share some photos of Christmasland so they could see. The group has been so helpful to me that I felt like it was something I could give back to the group.

For a non-Catholic country they go all out on this one. I mean, the shops are covered in Christmas decorations, and the Christmas markets are more intense than anything I’ve seen in the USA. All this is for the expat community in Taiwan. When I think about what’s happening in America right now, I’m even more grateful to Taiwan for showing us what it’s like to make foreigners feel welcome.

I head to the Banqiao District to get the photos. I take the MRT to Banqiao Station, and somehow end up getting stuck in a huge mall. This may sound like it would be fun, but it wasn’t. When you don’t want to shop, and you can’t find the exit from the shopping mall….let’s just say I had to take a lot of deep breaths before I found my way outside.

It’s wall-to-wall people. I pick a direction, cross the street, and end up seeing a cute show where the cover of a bell opens up, cute gnomes appear inside, and it ends with snow blasting out the top of the bell. Yes, a bit strange, but certainly attention-grabbing! I then head over to the other big area where there’s food, souvenirs, and it’s got a carnival theme. I believe they update the theme every year. All-in-all, it was too crowded for my comfort, but I’m glad I saw it, and could share some photos in the Facebook group. With my mission accomplished, that’s a wrap for the night, and I head back to my hotel since I have another tour tomorrow, which inclues Jiufen and Shifen. I can’t wait!