Going to the Gaomei Wetlands was not the original plan for this weekend. We had originally tossed around the idea of heading up to Taipei, but then reality struck. We get paid on Tuesday, and until the moment that check comes in, all of us are scraping to get by. So Taipei went out the window and we began to search for something a little closer to home.
Emily, on the recommendation of a coworker, suggested the Gaomei Wetlands. Just outside of Taichung, the Gaomei Wetlands look out on the Pacific Ocean and are a boon for nature photographers. Many are drawn here to photograph the sun setting behind a whimsical line of wind turbines. On the coast, a classic red and white stripped lighthouse keeps watch over the tourists pouring across the boardwalk and spilling into the sand.
Knowing that sunset is the time to go, we met for lunch in Changhua, then hopped on the 2:15 train. Getting there requires two trains and a bus, but the time passes quickly when you have friends to chat with and the stunning countryside of Taiwan flowing by. It being the weekend, when we finally did arrive, the place was already packed. We traipsed along the boardwalk, snapping photos and marveling at the brilliant blue sky, abundance of tiny crabs burrowing in the sand, and the string of windmills churning lazily.
The rest of the afternoon was pretty much one continuous photoshoot. With the golden hour upon us, we took portraits and silhouettes, trekking through the ankle deep tidal waters that slipped past the sandbar. We were heading for the ocean, but before we could make it, we were forced to turn back. The tide was coming in. And in it came, rushing forward. The masses of people who had once been spread across a large swathe of dark sand were now being pushed back to the sole entry point.
We snapped a couple more pictures, but with the beach getting crowded, and worried about catching the buses and trains necessary to get home, we left before the sun had actually set. A small regret, but it paid off because we were home in time to grab dinner together and get some rest before starting work again on Monday.
I would not recommend this trip if you are visiting Taiwan for a short amount of time. While it is very beautiful, you can find beaches like this anywhere (the Oregon coast comes to mind, for one) and often with far fewer people. However if you're in the area and looking for a day trip, I would definitely recommend. But maybe try to sneak out there on the weekday to avoid the crowds.
If you enjoyed this blog and want to see more of the adventure, check out a video of the trip here.
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