FREE GREEN GUIDE - TAIWAN PDF Gwen Cannon,Florent Bonnefoy,Mark Caltonhill,Rick Charette,Brent Hannon,Linda Lee | 387 pages | 16 Apr 2011 | Michelin Apa Publications Ltd | 9781907099267 | English | London, United Kingdom Travel Guide Taipei - The Michelin Green Guide I have just returned to the United States, sadly, after spending a wonderful 6. During my time home, I was able to expand my Taiwanese horizons and visit many new places. One such place is Green Island. And that Green Guide - Taiwan indeed a fact. But as I soon learned, it is quite a feat to organize trips to both outlying islands off the coast of Taitung, Green and Orchid Islands. That is primarily what I am here to write about. But it is worth Green Guide - Taiwan stress and fight for transportation tickets and accommodations. The tiny island is beautiful and very laid back. Diving here is definitely world-class and pristine. It does not matter where you stand politically, I think this is such an important and integral part of the formation of modern Taiwan Green Guide - Taiwan it is a rare example of a place that so openly talks about it. And whats more, its free admission! There are a few ways to get to Green Island, all involve getting to Taitung first, each come with pros and cons and varying travel times, it is completely up to you how to get there. Mainly for air and train. Ferries tend to be more lax, you just call or Line message and book, no credit card of ID just name is needed, and if you no-show you no-show but its a Green Guide - Taiwan nonetheless to call and cancel. Flight time is around 1 hour. Both Mandarin Air and Uni Air operate the route. Domestic flights in Taiwan are very efficient, safe and comfortable. Train from Taipei Green Guide - Taiwan Station : Depends on which train to take but for comfort and speed of travel down the East Coast there is no high speed rail on this side I recommend taking the Puyuma or Taroko Expresstravel time is just under 4 hours, although these tickets are extremely hard to get. Tickets for express trains open for sale around weeks prior to date of travel at midnight Taipei time, and usually get sold out in seconds, but because people have 24 hours to pay, many tickets open up the next day, there are also always tickets blocked by travel agencies that can become available too. There is also the local train that takes anywhere from hours. Then from Taitung to Green Island:. Journey takes about 50 minutes, departing every 2 hours from Taitung starting at AM, ending at PM. Will depart in any weather except typhoons or extremely rough seas. It is notoriously a rough crossing, though when I took it, it was not too bad despite everyone around me screaming and vomiting. Vomit bags included. Preferable to book roundtrip and retrieve your tickets in Taitung. Tickets must be picked up in person, there are no e-tickets. Unfortunately the ferry companies do not have English websites and if Green Guide - Taiwan recall correctly the phone service also does not. If not, you can always go through a travel agency in Taiwan or have a local friend assist! By plane from Taitung Airport on Daily Air : journey time is around 15 minutes on a seater Twin Otter turbo-prop plane and only operated 3 times a day. It is heavily weather and wind dependent and flights often get cancelled or delayed. Daily Air also wont fly unless there is in fact a local resident on board. Tickets go for sale 60 days out at 8AM local time, and are once again sold out in seconds online. If not, like I said the shops are literally along and across the street from the harbor, I dont believe any shops exist by the airport, so if you fly, make sure Green Guide - Taiwan arrange ahead of time. The island is tiny, it takes about an hour or even slightly less to go around the whole island. Downtown area is doable on foot. You will read and be told that it is not recommended to rent a car in Green Island, this is not true. The roads may be a tad on the narrower side downtown, but otherwise they are perfectly fine to drive on and mostly well paved. Parking may be an issue but its island life and you can basically park anywhere you can find a spot, just dont infringe on private property, and if you are in a group of 4 or more it almost makes more economic sense to get a car. Finally, unless you have a Taiwanese license to ride a motorbike you will be Green Guide - Taiwan to renting either a car or the electric motorbikes, even if you know how to ride a gas motorbike. But would not recommend the bus unless absolutely left with no other choice. There are no luxury hotels or chain hotels on Green Island. Almost all of them will be able to assist in booking island transportation as well as your daily activities. Places are bookable direct, on AirBnB, or sites like booking. Less so Tripadvisor I found. Within BnBs there are a wide variety and price range as well. Some places actually do come with the breakfast part, others dont. Many dont provide towels or toiletries so dont forget those items at home. But also remember that some rooms at that cost can fit up to 4 people with 1 shared ensuite bathroom. NOTE: on my trip, a family friend arranged for the accommodation as he knew some locals. I did however do my own research out of general curiosity. And observed as we drove along the island. There really is an abundance and wide range of choices on the island. It is the reality. That being said, the food is not like terrible, it is just nothing to rave about either. A few novelty items for sure. I already mentioned that if you have time to do only one thing, then it has to be the White Green Guide - Taiwan Museum and Memorial. Trust me, you wont regret it and it wont dampen your island getaway. Nonetheless you really should spend time doing a few other things as well. Mainly getting in touch with nature. Green Island is world famous for its pristine diving. And to be honest before I knew about the White Terror Museum, I knew about diving and that was my main reason to visit the Green Guide - Taiwan. Much of the reefs here are protected and Green Guide - Taiwan are biological reserves. There is a really famous boat dive Green Guide - Taiwan for open water dives with hammer head sharks, but the requirements to be taken on this dive are fairly Green Guide - Taiwan and the season window is very short. Nonetheless just a simple shore dive on Green Island is already amazing. The coral here truly is healthy and rivals that of the Great Barrier Reef. If you dont dive, even snorkeling offers you a brilliant view of the wonders below the surface. There are also many sites throughout and around the island. We did a total of 6 tanks, 4 shore dives and 2 boat dives. All island guides maps and signs will tell you the names of them. Many of the inlets and beaches have naturally formed rock pools too, like Youzi Hu. It is highly recommended that you go with a guide, ask your BnB or dive shop. Also wear proper shoes, either wear Green Guide - Taiwan toed, really sturdy sandals or water shoes as it goes from rocky sand to pure sharp volcanic rock. It takes about a 20 or so minute walk from the parking area to Blue Cave. Some guides will take you to the ledge on the left side of the opening for some jumping. This place is absolutely worth visiting and spending some time at, so pretty. On the way to or from, there is a small waterfall that you have to climb up a few rocks to get to, and its so refreshing and clean to bathe in the small pools between falls. There is also Green Guide - Taiwan natural seaside hot spring, only one of two in the world like it. Although nowadays ZhaoRi Hot Springs have become over Green Guide - Taiwan and are no longer truly natural pools in the rocks. The locality built it Green Guide - Taiwan for safety precautions and its now small pools along paved pathways. But still, many say its still worth a visit for a sunrise hot spring bath, oh and it is Taiwanese public pool, so swim cap is required! Green Island Lighthouse is seemingly quite popular as well. I personally didnt have time to go. But from the pictures, it looks quite nice! Gazebosthey dot the island along the main road and seawalls. At dusk and into the night locals tend to hang out here, have a beer or whole carton of beer and chat over some small snacks. Occasionally you might find live music coming out of one. Pop on in, say hello, strike a conversation, have a beer, or dunkenly join in the song and dance. I hope these tips and suggestions help somewhat. And I hope you do make it out to Green Island. It is definitely worth visiting for both the nature and the Taiwanese history. But like dont expect much from the food. Remember, you dont have to be a certified diver to enjoy the wonders below, the snorkeling here is just as fantastic.