There are 131 days till 2008. Like most people, we approach Taroko Gorge from Hualien(花蓮). On the road to Tienshiang (天祥), we find many great landscapes in the gorge. Its marble cliffs are stunningly beautiful. They are majestic and breathtaking. Two of the more impressive and more interesting sites would have to be Swallow's Grotto and the Tunnel of Nine Turns. To our disappointment, Swallow’s Grotto is closed due to typhoon. The Tunnel of Nine Turns is imposing. From this twisting cave, hewn out of the rock, the magnitude of Taroko Gorge is unmistakable. Nowhere else do the opposing marble cliffs come so close together, nowhere else do they seem to soar as high. As we look up and down at these close walls of patterned stone, feeling the heavy weight of rock looming over our head, the effect is dizzying, and it truly takes our breath away. @};-