December 25, 2023 – Liuqiu Island – Checheng – Hotel with Chinese Name – 65 kms

December 26, 2023 – Checheng – Eluanbi – Kenting Sands Hostel – 47 kms

December 27, 2023 – Eluanbi – Kenting Sands Hostel – Day ride to Kenting Forest Recreation Area – 19 kms

Gordon:  We are spending a couple of nights in Kenting National Park, less than two kilometres from the southernmost point in Taiwan.  We are less than 100 miles from the closest islands in the Philippines.

This is the tropical south of Taiwan, where the mountains run into the sea and monkeys are frequently seen.  It is mostly uncultivated and sparsely populated, except for the strip along the sea where people come to play.  There are a number of beaches and in the summer it is reputedly heaving with people.  The number of hotels bears this out, as there are thousands of rooms available, the largest number in Kenting town.  During the last week of December, however, it is quiet and pleasant.  The over abundance of hotel rooms means that excellent deals can be had.

Today we cycled up to the Kenting Forest Recreation Area, a beautiful swath of tropical forest a few hundred vertical metres above Kenting.  (The entry pricing was delightful: $6 for adults, $4 for adults that arrive by bus or bike, and 40 cents for seniors.)  This region is largely comprised of ancient coral reef that was then lifted by plate tectonics.  The result is a karst type landscape with the coral still obvious.  Throw some tropical trees such as various ficus on top and the result is quite unusual and visually dramatic.  There were several caves, some impressive narrow passages, and everywhere roots writhing over the rock.  We saw several troops of monkeys and a wild pig.

The predominant wind throughout Taiwan at this time of year is a northerly.  We have been surfing it to various degrees since we left Taipei.  Having reached the southern extremity of the country, we are now going to have to cycle against it for the next few weeks.  We are a little concerned, as it has been blowing more than 30 km/h in recent days, but l am hopeful that it won’t be too much work.  We head north tomorrow.