Man About Taiwan: My Brother Came to Visit.

For one week at the start of April my brother, Pete, came for a holiday in Taiwan. I rented a car and subsequently drove around Taiwan with Pete, Kate and Katie. Kate and Katie left after four days because they had to teach in Yuanlin.

We visited the following places:

Lukang
Sun Moon Lake
Dongpu
Tatachia
Alishan
Kaoshiung
Pingtung
The East Coast
Hualien
Taroko Gorge
Chinjing Farm

Almost a complete circle of southern Taiwan, going through the mountains. We had a wonderful time and saw some amazing sights. Taiwan is so beautiful and I'm glad to have seen so much of it now. I was very happy to see my brother and actually share some of what I do out here! He even got to see one of my lessons! I think Pete is now looking to come back to Asia for some more action, maybe China, which coincidentally is where Kate and I are heading in June of this year.

Pete gets his first taste of milk tea with jen-ju balls.

We head for Lukang and discover a ceremony with flagellation at the Matsu Temple.

We're all shocked by the men whipping themselves and spitting alcohol on their bleeding backs! A man died doing this when the spiked ball went into his head.

We find ourselves in Neil's Bar reading Pete's excellent Chinese phrase book.

At night we show Pete the night-market. Not keen on the stinky tofu! We play a Chinese game and suck at it.

Went to the night market and met a vender who wanted to take a group photo.

We have a go at throwing baseballs at a grid to win prizes, I suck!

The "Beast" got me around Taiwan with no more trouble than over filled brake fluid, but the brakes did stop working for a short time!

The gang in a bandesque pose.

Adorable.

Looking cool in Sun Moon Lake.

The eye, the eye is coming.

Sun Moon Lake Temple from above.

Pete kisses the dragon.

The gold ball wasn't that heavy.

No, it's definitely that way.

Dongpu Spa Hotel in the mountains.

Pete forgets you need water to swim!

We stop at the top of Tatachia to look at the Fucing Tree (Couple Tree).

We get to Tatachia and relax with a beer in the sun.

The sun starts to set.

The London tourist spots us and comes over for a beer!

Oooh, he loves the beer!

Awesome sunset.

We get to Alishan in the evening and by morning we are up and watching the sun rise again.

Cold but looking a little burnt from earlier...

I want to be this cool!

Teacher Coyle inspects the "Water running uphill" and surmises it's not going up at all! It's a trick of the eye. But we don't have the heart to tell the locals.