To be truthful when asked about the "beauty" and "magnificence" of Taiwan from someone local who clearly sees it as such, as a South African expat I can only try my best to change the subject because how does one measure this "beauty" and "magnificence" by comparison to previous experience. The breath taking Drakensberg mountain range spanning the eastern flank of South Africa. The magnificence of the Great St. Lucia wetland situated on the Northern Kwa Zulu Natal coast. Taiwan has it's own beauty that stretches from North to South, East to West but all this seems to be tarnished by over development and lack of aesthetical value.
Traveling North along the No.1 from Hsinchu to Taoyuan, one cannot miss the beauty of the dense indigenous tropical bush that hugs each mountain slope. One can only begin to imagine the biodiversity, animal and insect life that are endemic to Taiwan and this region. But all what you can imagine is lost as you become bombarded by billboard advertisements that mean absolutely nothing especially to me as a foreigner unable to read Chinese. It seems that the years of industrialization and capitalization has been only to serve one purpose - to provide employment for Taiwan's population, to create a wealthy middle class and a super rich aristocracy. This has been done at the expense of the environment and the people themselves.
For those who do value the beauty and splendor of any natural environment, Taiwan certainly does offer a rich diversity of options to choose from. From the magnificent mountain peaks towering high above the clouds at an elevation of almost 4000m, to the sandy white beaches of Kenting harboring a diverse subtropical vegetation including palm and banana trees and even sugar cane that can be juiced for you on the roadside. Diving off Kenting or Green Island offers a plethora of aquatic and undersea life not to mention an interesting seabed made up from thousands of years of earth movement and volcanic activity. The Tunnel of Nine Turns offers you a spectacular example how mother nature sculpts her landscape with finesse and precision using water to express herself with passion making Toroko Gorge a true wonder of the world.
As the world becomes over populated, so does Taiwan. With consumerism spiraling out of control, Taiwan with all its advances and technologies helps to perpetuate this worldwide phenomenon. We need to reestablish our value systems and decide what is more important to us. Having those fascinating little 21st century gadgets being manufactured from a factory nestled in amongst beautiful trees or being able to drive along the freeways with unobstructed visions of the beauty and splendor of what the natural environment offers us, is a freedom of choice we are losing fast. We all have to hold ourselves accountable to our grand children, being able to offer them a plausible reason why they cannot drive from Hsinchu to Taipei without being harassed by big, ugly billboard advertising. Maybe we should just be submissive and just accept what "big corporates" throw at us and just be thankful we have a job?
Isn't this the feudal system in disguise? Do we have a choice?
Take a ride south of Taitung, going south to just past the point where you turn west to cross the island. That drive is a pure example of how this island got it's name. In fact, to drive the complete East coast is a thing of beauty, but from Su-ao to Hualien does get a bit hairy with the trucks double passing on a blind corner.
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Been there, done that and got the t-shirt!
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