Working full time in a small town often leaves much to be desired. You're working full days and by the time the weekend rolls around, you're so bloody tired that all you want to do is sleep for a week.

At least that's how I felt when I first got here. I didn't get to see what Taiwan has to offer in terms of sights. The only thing I knew of is, work, pollution, starless nights, more pollution and more work. That's why I decided when I took my week vacation that was due to me, I would make a point of seeing a bit Taiwan. I mean...how hard could that be. I have a scooter and the island is not that big.

So the plans were drawn and set. I would travel round the coast of Taiwan by scooter. When I told my boss my plans for my vacation, it was met with ...near horror I think, since I have a 50cc scooter.

Monday morning arrived, the first day of the vac, over chinese New Year. My bags packed ready to go. All I had was some cash, a tent, a sleeping bad, a rain jacket and two road maps (not that I could read it since they were in Chinese).

I started out in a town called Yuan-Lin and made my way to the first rest point ...Sun Moon Lake. My god ...I never knew that Taiwan was so green and so lush. So peaceful and beautiful. The blue silence of the lake greeting me warmly, calling me to rest along its shores. I acceded and spent the night the there. From there I made my way over the mountain and down to Taroko Gorge on the highest highway in Taiwan, and the sights literally took my breath away. Rolling mountains in the distance, peaks hiding behind the mist, peaking out occasionally to tease you a glimpse and the open road. Never before had I felt so free, so in control of my destiny. The winding mountain road took up all my concentration as I traveled, stopping frequently to admire the view.

Coming down the mountain was certainly the highlight of my trip. From there, I made my way down to Kenting, then up through Kaohsiung, Tainan and back to Yuan-Lin.

Now when the Taiwanese people show dislike for the country they live in, I have a point to argue. It took me five days to get around it all on a 50 cc....but it was five days of beauty and something I will never ever forget. Taiwan is really a beautiful if you take the time to see it all.