As Covid is still spreading around the world, domestic travel seems like the only sensible choice for people who still crave for traveling but don’t want to go through all the quarantine hassles. I used to travel aboard whenever I get a chance. This time, I decided to take the opportunity to explore more of my beautiful hometown. In July, I went to a small island in the very southern part of Taiwan-Lambai Island and I was so blown away by the beauty of it.
Stories about Lambai Island
A bit introduction about the Lambai Island: it’s more commonly called as “Little Liuqui” here in Taiwan. It’s a coral island off the southwestern coast of Taiwan. In 1622, a Dutch cruise crashed on the Island, two years before Dutch began to rule Taiwan, and almost all crew members were killed by the island’s natives. In revenge, the dutch took murderous actions. All indigenous men were either killed or enslaved in Indonesia or Taiwan, women and children were used as wives or domestics in Taiwan mainland. The whole tribe was thus exterminated.
Sad and heavy history aside, today Little Liuqui is known for clear tropical water, amazing reefs, laid-back vibes, delicious seafood, and the chance to see sea turtles up close! It’s only a short 20 minutes ferry ride from Taiwan mainland which makes it a perfect weekend gateway destination! The easiest way to explore the island is by scooters. You can usually reserve a scooter with your B&B host. Many people stay on the Island for a weekend only, but I think it’s best to spend at least 3 days there to better explore this beautiful island! Let’s see some of the highlights of our fun-filled three day trip!
Intertidal tour
The first day we arrived at around 2:30pm. just in time for the 3 o’clock intertidal tour our b&b host arranged for us. The tour guide first showed us around the island and some great spots on the island. There are so many secret spots where you can get a great view of the island. He also told us to avoid some places especially at night due to the island’s gloomy past. I will talk about it more later. Of all the amazing places he showed us, this is my favourite spot! Through a small lane behind a temple, you will get this amazing view of the coast.
Then we went to the intertidal zone to observe some sea animals. The water there was so clear that you could see through it! We saw lots of colourful tropical fishes, sea urchins, barnacles, crabs, sea stars, etc. We also got to see some hidden spots that we’d probably never see without someone taking us, like this heart-shaped hole below. The tour was really fun and educational, I highly recommend you to go. But before you get into the water, remember if you want to put on any sunscreen, please use ocean-friendly one to protect the nature.
Astronomy tour
After dinner we attended an astronomy tour. Little Liuqui is a great place for it with little light pollution at the beach.The sky was very clear we could see stars and galaxies easily. We learned a lot of interesting facts and myths. It was a great night activity for all ages!
Snorkelling
The next day we went snorkelling in the morning. Tropical weather there makes Little Liuqui one of the most popular places for snorkelling in Taiwan. The water is warm all year round. What makes Little Liuqui even more appealing is that the chances of you seeing sea turtles is very high. We saw three in one hour. It was really amazing to see sea turtles so up close in natural environment. They were much bigger than I thought. We also saw many beautiful tropical fishes and corals. It’s a must do in Little Liuqui!
In the afternoon we visited some of the popular spots on the island-Beauty Cave, Wild Boar Trench Trail, and Black Devil Cave. They all require a ticket to get in, but the ticket is quite cheap and so worth the price.
Beauty cave
There are several stories about how Beauty Cave got its name. Some said there was a beautiful girl who came to the island by accident after her dad’s boat sunk, she hid in the cave and eventually died from hunger there, so people named the cave Beauty Cave. Some said it’s because long time ago women showered in the cave after work, so they came out of the cave all clean and refreshed. Beauty Cave is separated into two parts by the round-the-island road. The 700-meter offers a great glimpse of the island’s unique geology. You will walk through coral reef section and see lots of strange-looking rocks along the trail. It’s also a great place to spot sea turtles. The water in Little Liuqui is clear that you can often see sea turtles from the pavilion at Beauty Cave!
The wild boar trench
The Wild Boar Trench Trail is a beautiful trail that takes you through a lush jungle filled with a variety of tropical plants. It’s also one of the few places on the island where you can enjoy a walk and escape the sun on a hot summer day. It’s an easy trail for all ages with a few benches for people to rest.
Black devil cave
Black Devil Cave has a looming past. Legend has it that a few of black slaves were left on the island by Dutch and massacred in the cave later, so many locals suggest not to go to this area at night. Despite its dark past, today Black Devil Cave is a popular spot in Little Liuqui. If you’re brave enough, you can crawl though a super narrow passage of a collapsed cave, then you can go directly to a path outside. There you will get a closer look at the limestone formations and great views of the ocean. You can even spot sea turtles there if you’re lucky!
Night ecology tour
At night our host took us on a ecology tour to see some of the common animals on the island. Some of the animals are not so easy to see on Taiwan mainland. Many animals hide during the day to stay away from the sun. They often crawl through the round-the-island road. It’s easy to miss them if you ride your scooter too fast. Remember to slow down and watch out for these animals at night!
Besides the above-mentioned spots, there are some other beautiful beaches where you can go snorkelling and enjoy a chilling afternoon. I really enjoyed my trip there. It’s such a small island with so much to explore. It also didn’t feel like anywhere else in Taiwan. It’s such a little hidden treasure to be explored!
Creative bites 