The last day in Hualien was really half a day in Hualien. We spent it bike riding and visiting a community garden.
It was an interesting garden, divided into sections: one for flowers, one for herbs, one for medicinal plants, one for water plants, a green house full of orchids, and a section for science (where they research different species of plants).
Warning: a lot of plant pictures coming up.
To be honest, the herb garden was more of a mint garden. Check out all these different kinds of mints!
I love mint! Especially mint tea!
Here are some facts about mints:
- Mints prefer moist, cool environment, and partial shade. Although, they are fairly tolerant.
- Mints are invasive plants. Some species more than others.
- Mints make good companion plants – repel pest insects, attract beneficial insects.
- Mints can be harvest at anytime; as with most herbs use immediately or store it (dry it).
- Mints can be used to repel mosquitoes (I didn’t know this! Must try it!).
Source: Wikipedia
After visiting the gardens, we biked along the Chuyin bikeway to Chuyin Riverbank Ecology Park (初英親水生態公園). It was a nice bike ride! The farm fields, mountains on one side, ocean on the other – this is why Hualien is our favourite place in Taiwan!
Link to Chuyin Bikeway (初英自行車步道).
Of course, the perfect way to end our trip to Hualien was: yummy lunch box!
It was 100% better than the lunch box we got on the train.
Where we got our lunch boxes:
麗池
Telephone: 03-8342777
Address: 970 花蓮縣花蓮市中山路422之2號
dancing in the rain 