Fourth part: Shifen Waterfall
After looking again at the Klook app to re-verify our planned itinerary, the penultimate stop to our tour day was coming: Shifen Waterfall.
Our tour guide told us that in about 30 minutes we were to be at the Shifen Waterfall place. But before that, before we left the carpark at Jiufen and a bit before we reached the water thing, she did a roll call of people who were either paid for the sky lantern experience or were interested in paying right then for the same. They had the whole ride to Shifen to decide anyway. I declined, as I had zero interest. But I kind of regretted how I said “no thanks”.
See, I still have unfavorable quirks. I sometimes catch myself a few moments after I did something that I didn’t really like, can call it post-absentminded clarity. I’m also a bit curt when I’m engaged/busy with something, or when I’m so tired and don’t want to give two shits. I don’t really want to be disturbed at those rare times when I want to concentrate or be left alone for a bit. So earlier at Jiufen at the bus, she asked me if I was interested in paying up to fly sky lanterns at Shifen later. But I was exhausted from the midday heat outside earlier, and the aircon of the bus was so soothing that I just sank on to my seat, and all I wanted was a bit more “me time”. I deftly said “no thanks”, and she moved on with the other early people in the bus. A few seconds later when I cooled down more a bit, I regretted a bit how I said it. I did think of apologizing, but I’m also not good with short apologies, as I tend to apologize too much. I don’t know how to convey I was a bit curt earlier in a simpler way that she’d easily understand, and I’m aware there might be a culture barrier. Moving on, then. I’d try to find a good spot to say sorry later.
So 30 minutes or so into the ride, the bus made a turn to a nondescript parking lot at the right side of the road. It looked a bit like the “where are we” kind of place.
But on the other side of the road, we had to cross, and go down a set of stairs. Surprisingly, this is where most tourists have to pass in order to get to the Shifen Waterfalls. Like, the tour guide crossed the road and beckoned us all into going where she was pointing to, and we were all thinking, what is in there? It looks like the hick woods over there. I don’t see any “waterfall”. But using Google Translate on the sign, I briefly saw “waterfall”, and yeah, we going down.
So we went down the stairs, into a few areas with streams and small fish ponds…
…and right at the end, there was this big suspension bridge. I heard the tour guide call it as the “Jingan Bridge”.
I only took photos at the start of the bridge, because man, this thing sways a bit. You can hear the creaks of the bridge ropes and the groans of the wooden boards. Taking selfies while walking on there sure felt like a gamble and a half, so no thanks. I put my phone in my pocket and crossed the bridge with my tour group.
Once on the other side, we walked on a paved riverside pathway until we were greeted with little statues/figures of horses and dragons. They were oddly cute. I didn’t know why there were red ropes and decorations around, but oh well, I just assumed there was a holiday/event or something around there. Also, the place kind of made sense as a “spot”. It’s slightly peaceful with all the trees and benches. Probably the locals love being next to a very good morning walk spot too.
Beside that spot, there were housed stalls and souvenir shops. And those stalls serve food and drink. Lots of barbeque, lots of grills, some coconut juice stalls, and there’s definitely beer. Cold beer. And there’s some tables and chairs nearby those stalls. Some covered, some open-air. I quickly got the hint that this place isn’t only a good park place, it’s also a hangout place. Must be banger business drinking here at night.
At the end of the stalls (also after the map), the actual waterfall, as well as the optimal spot for viewing the waterfall, was there. And it was indeed, a very nice waterfall. Shots below:
It’s definitely the highlight of the park. Our tour guide let us loose on that area, but with the warning we had to be back on the bus in 30 minutes. Reasonable enough. 20 minutes to gaggle, and 10 minutes to skedaddle out. So we dispersed, and started to get our shots.
Once I got my fill, I was ready to go back. I bought a local sports drink (Pocari really made an impact huh) and took sips as I walked back to the bus. Yes, there was a souvenir shop. I looked at the wares, but since most of them had the Shifen wording on it, I’d rather buy my souvenirs later on the last stop.
Also, just while walking back on the bridge, I looked down at the river/stream below, I saw some colored things below with writings on them, and I immediately thought, are those paper lanterns? I did research Shifen, and I knew what their paper lanterns are. Funny that some of the lanterns that flew ended up here.
By the time I got back to the parking lot, I spotted the bus was actually on the side of the road, so I walked over and got in. Whew, cool aircon. This time, I didn’t realize I was a bit too early. Like, 10 minutes early. I was the first one back on the bus. Carol the tour guide came second, and as the bus was on a nondescript roadside, she stayed on the roadside spot where the stairs were, and waited for the others so she can point them to where the bus was.
And yeah, foot. So far, it held up. The kinesio tape might’ve helped. Conpared to a similar high-walking activity I had in Bangkok, surprisingly I found my foot to be still OK. In Bangkok, by 4pm I was ready to tap out of walking, the only juice I had left then was the desire to see stuff. On this one, yeah, I can feel it a teeny bit now, but one more tour spot to go is still OK.
Once all the tour people got back in, the driver revved up and we were then headed towards the last spot of our tour.
Briathrail // Albert 2MNG 
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