Anyway, our destination was Maolin and our mode of transport were our scooters. Getting there took around 6 hours and we really hadn't reacherd there yet, just a hotel to sleep at for the night. The road to there took us past ugly old concrete coloured towns and up and down tropical moutains.
The next day we finally reached Maolin Scenic area, but only after a very funny incident at the Maolin Tourism board (in which I broke up in laughter in front of the man's face after he was unable to tell me anything about the hotels in Maolin).
At Maolin, we arrived at Dona village and stayed at a really nice guest house which unfortunately also seemed to be allowing insects to stay, so it was accordingly nicknamed bug house. And that nickname was further strengthened when I was woken up in the middle of the night by a cockroach crawling up my leg.
Dona village is famous for being home to the Rukai aboriginals, and on the day we arrived all the local were dressed in their finest clothing as there was a wedding taking place. All the Rukai were really friendly and allowed us to take part in the festivities; shaking our hands and inviting us to dance.
Dona is also famous for its hot springs, and going by the description in the LP, it seemed like a welcomed respite from all the traveling. However, when we arrived there, we did not find a relaxing spring set amongst a tropical backdrop, but 5 or 6 concrete baths packed arm to arm, cheek to cheek with Taiwanese tourists. None of us really felt like squeezing in amongst them and then being stared and being pointed at for being a foreigner.
After a day of driving around fantastic mountain scenery and walking along suspensions bridges we made our way back home.
*A video will also be uploaded at a later day
Whilst finding our way there, we came across this huge temple
1. Turtle at the temple 2. The very un-asian Asia Hotel
Scenery from around Maolin
Dona suspension bridge
Old style homes at Dona village
Rukai dressed in their finest clothing
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