So you are seriously suggesting that someone on a two week tour of Taiwan spend two days in Hualian City?
I’d rather spend two days hiking the trails of Taroko. Especially the Baiyang Trail and the trail along Shakadang Stream are easy to walk and the scenery (river and rocks) is just amazing.
And Mucha Man, I totally agree with you that Fenqihu itself isn’t worth the visit. However, I wouldn’t completely avoid it, either. If someone does some hiking in the area, staying overnight at the catholic church hostel isn’t that bad of an idea.
I guess it would depend on what one wanted to do, wouldn’t it? Taiwan is full of interesting things to do and places to see. Personally, if it were my trip, I’d skip Taipei and most of the other major cities altogether if I could. I’d rather spend time in small communities and if I were a visitor to Taiwan I guess I would lean more to wanting to explore places that didn’t have huge buildings, expressways and vast numbers of people all rushing to get somewhere. Those things, I could see back home. Now walking the back alleys of small towns, watching a Taiwanese opera or puppet show on the street, exploring Taroko and eating at little stalls on the side of the road… those things I would find more interesting. Each to their own. 
Two weeks: hmmm… 4 days on the East Coast (Taroko, Hualien, Taitung), 2 days on Orchid Island and /or Green Island,2 days in Alishan, 2 days in Tainan, 3 days in the Jung Hua through Sun Moon Lake areas. That would just about cover it for me.
Everyone, thanks a lot for your help! You gave me lots to think about
Mucha Man, could you expand a bit on the topic of free cell phones - I am under 30, and it would surely make my stay easier. Where can I get them from?
And perhaps you’d know whether I can use Brastel phone cards to phone my family? (or any other prepaid phone cards)?
Once again many thanks
[quote=“kamome”]Everyone, thanks a lot for your help! You gave me lots to think about
Muzha Man, could you expand a bit on the topic of free cell phones - I am under 30, and it would surely make my stay easier. Where can I get them from?
And perhaps you’d know whether I can use Brastel phone cards to phone my family? (or any other prepaid phone cards)?
Once again many thanks[/quote]
This article is from last year, but I guess the info is still valid.
tit.com.tw/page_e/food1_1.ph … Activities
look under “Your Indispensable Portable Travel Companion”