Man About Taiwan: May 2006

Tienchung (again), Goodbye Katie, Dragon Boat Festival (again)

Been very busy lately, with all that is involved in leaving a country and start traveling. We are both making progress towards getting it all done and I hope to have most of it completed within the week now I've stopped teaching.

So for a bit of a retro-blog! This is a summary of some things I've been up to last month. Terrible of me, but I'm going to find time to update!

TIENCHUNG (HIKE II)
This time we went with friends, Ross, Rea and Katie to share the wonderful 3km hike around a mountain ridge not too far from Yuanlin. We picked a perfect day but with no breeze, it was a struggle to keep going and not stop and sleep!

KATE GOODBYE BASH
Kate finished working for Hess about 3 weeks ago, everyone got together and had a little meal in a Japanese restaurant. Great food, even the oysters, which needed a spicier sauce, but good all the same.

DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL
I did this my first summer, missed it the following summer and 31st of May this year I did it again. The weather was crazy, mixture of rain, wind and sun! I got a sunburn and soaking wet in the same day. Wonderful food on offer and we tried most of it.

That's all.

MC

Hot pot, temple and hiking weekend

After a wonderful week in Shitou Forest hiking and being one with the wildlife, Saturday rightly turned into a day of mooching about, until Kate and I were invited to a hot pot. The hot pot restaurant was good and the company was great, but I still prefer the Japanese hot pot we frequent.

Sunday followed with temples and hiking in Tienchung.

DIY sauce for the meat.

The skanky, low grade, free with the shrimp meat... called "bacon". Yeah whatever!

The posse pose, showing Kate’s beautiful eyes.

The Hess Chinks munching on some ice cream

I notice Kate unexpectedly growing taller and start to freak!

Sunday was more adventurous. Kate and I got on the scooter, with only a direction in mind and no actual destination, and headed yonder for some random delights. We stopped at a local temple I've not been to in ages.

Cool as chips with shades!

My big hair and goatee make me look less gay!

Kate stands in front of our new apartment.

After the temple we found ourselves on the Tienchung Hiking Trail. The hike was a hot and sticky affair that took us 3,000 metres around the mountain ridge.

Take a shower and sort that bloody hair out, please! Martin looks good though....

A bug readies itself to attack my stinky body.

I pick up a tree with one hand and throw it over the edge! Grrrrr...

The mountain ridge we walked over.

On the other side of the hike we encountered a dangerous spot where a landslide had washed away the steps. We slowly scaled down using ropes and with some luck made it safely to the bottom, where we realised most people climb up to avoid the dangerous abseil! Oh well!

Danger, danger..... Do Not Enter!

The reason. You can see the steps at the bottom turn into mudslide further up.

Anyway, after we wondered around the local area, covered in dried sweat and dust, we saw some uninspiring things, including a temple under construction. We made it home in the late afternoon and had a well needed shower.

MC

Hiking in Shitou (Sitou, Hsitou) Forest

When one has a week’s holiday, what should one do? I opted for camping in Shitou Forest Park. It was the perfect location for hiking, getting away from polluted Yuanlin and being able to rest without disruption! It's a 1 hour 45 minute scooter ride from Yuanlin. Shitou is a massive forest reserve and has many beautiful things to see and do. The first day I walked the sights as illustrated on the map! It was great to stomp around the woodlands and sweat!

The second day I did no walking and lots of reading, finishing the book "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown. Pile of poo! An amazing day of nothing much and being a sloth..... just what I needed.

The third day I headed up Phoenix Mountain, a 5,000 metre round-trip in the heat of the afternoon and up quite a steep incline. Lonely Planet says 2,000 metres one way, but I don't believe the author ever walked it because he would have seen the "other" signs or just made it up!?!? Lonely Planet in Taiwan has a reputation out here of being rather useless.

Now my calves ache and I can't wait for more hiking loveliness.

The beautiful woods, tall thin trees!

As I came in to an opening the mountain became clear, with the sun shining behind it.

Tree and leaves - close-up.

Tree-top walkway. Amazing view, but a little scary.

View of the ground.

Lovely lily.

University Pond with Bamboo Bridge.

Day two - bored after I finished my book!

Day three - gorgeous morning sun.

The tent!

The steep mossy steps at the beginning of the hike to Phoenix Mountain.

Sweaty-boy smelling funky and looking American!

Bamboo forest.

At the top - cloudy!

Two excellent Taiwanese guys show me the recommended "backwards walk" down the mountain.

MC

Anniversary Baby!

On the 27th of April Kate and I celebrated our first year together. "What could I do for her at the weekend?" I asked myself. I came up with the idea of watching baseball at the new Douliou Stadium (built in 2005). The whole day was a surprise so Kate had no clue what I was doing, until we turned a corner and she commented on the cool stadium and I started driving towards it. She suddenly realised what was coming and was sparkling all day. We had a fabulous day watching The Elephants (Douliou team) beat the Whales. We now have The Elephants T-Shirts, cap, key rings and plastic noise making thingamabobs, so we're planning to return and support the Elephants soon.

I also bought her a fabulous chinkalicious watch, which I'm proud to say she actually wears...

The stadium with mountain backdrop.

The novices use the bangy things wrong until a local helps us.

Kate has the "23" Elephants T-Shirt... and here he is in action.

We happened upon a packet of Hula Hoops!

The crowd-pleasing, riot-inciting band.

Pleased with my noise and general lack of rhythm.

Kate had the trumpet and bangy things!

Looking down onto the stadium.

The final score.

Yay! We Won!!!!

Afterwards stopped somewhere for a spot to eat and drink... hahaha.

MC

Ji Ji and Shueili

We started the weekend early on Sunday arriving in Shueili, a little town that's next to the mountains. We hire some bicycles and make a long and strenuous ride up the hill to the destination: Snake Kiln. It looks like a snake I think!

Train station.

Miranda victorious.

Look at this wonderful example of kiln production.

We outside Kilnland.

What a snake kiln can do.

My little cutie looks great as a gnome.

Half the kiln, looking towards the "fire and heat making bit"....

She's Whoopi and I'm Patrick!

Kate doesn't appreciate how dangerous sunbathing can be!

After the sticky bicycle ride up hill, the refreshing ride down and the lovely kiln excitement, we head for Ji Ji. It's famous for having been hit hard by the 9/21 earthquake. Many buildings collapsed, including the train station. Much of the damage has been repaired but it's still a scenic place to cycle around. We saw an amazing school and its temple, a collapsed temple and sunflower farm! Wow!

Our transport in Ji Ji.