Xiaoliuqiu (小琉球)

This day we went to an island off the coast of Kaohsiung called 小琉球, Xiao Liu Qiu. We drove to Dong gang 東港, but were not quite sure which boat to take to get there. Parking was cheap, only 30 NT per day. We ended up taking the public ferryboat over. While buying tickets, a lady asked us if we wanted to rent scooters, and set us up with her friend who rents scooters on the island. We paid her right then, which seemed shady but it worked out. 

​The boat ride was crowded and somewhat slow, but we made it to the island safe and sound. Right when we got off the boat, the scooter rental people found us and took us to our scooters. It was 300 NT per scooter, which is very cheap for scooter rental. We rode around the island on our scooters and saw everything from the shops to the beaches to more beaches and some restaurants. The weather was great. There were a few private beaches that you had to pay to get into which was lame. Also everything seemed to be a little more expensive than one would expect in Kaohsiung. One place that stuck out to me was a mango ice place that served their ice in sea shells, as well as providing sea shell spoons (海の家貝殼海藻冰 address: No. 61, Minsheng Rd, Liuqiu Township, Pingtung County, 929). There was the usual street markets that you would expect to find in Taiwan. I think the most fun part about that island was us just randomly driving all around on those scooters, and going full throttle down the streets. 

There was a nice lighthouse at the top of the island but not much of a view. All in all we had a fun time. We almost got lost trying to find the port home; there are three different harbors on the island, and it took us a while to find the third one. The scooter people didn’t even look at our licenses, and they said themselves that helmets were not required. Matt’s military discount ended up being only 50 NT cheaper for the boat ride. We made it safely back and tried to eat at 仁武烤鸭, (renwu roasted duck address: No. 95之21, Fengren Rd, Renwu District, Kaohsiung City, 814), but they close early, 8:00, so we had duck noodles instead, which were fine. 

​3/27/17 Update: Xiaoliuqiu has some of the best snorkeling in Taiwan. There are snorkeling rental shops and tours all over the island, the usual price being 300 NT for an hour tour per person.