I decided earlier this summer that I wanted to end my summer break by being in a place that is now a bit familiar and pleasant (pleasant, meaning the air is better and the people are far more outgoing, friendly, and polite than people back in China). I wanted to visit some friends that I made during my last visit 7 months ago, as well as try to see more of the island.

Taichung – Sun Moon Lake

My first stop was in Taichung, which is about halfway down the west coast. I decided to stop there for 2 days, mainly so that I could see Sun Moon Lake. This is Taiwan’s largest freshwater lake. While there, it was cloudy but still humid. Oh well, at least it made for some interesting mountains-covered-in-clouds backdrops. The color of the water was also interesting. It’s a lake, but it still had this shade of emerald-aqua.

Though the lake itself is nice, I found it to be a bit lacking in terms of things to do. There was a spot to take a cable car to see the aboriginal village, but I forgot to get a ticket earlier, so I sat that one out. Perhaps if there were more things to do on the lake itself (like private boating, swimming, and other water activities), then I would have found it to be more interesting. Still, if you like hiking or biking, I’m sure you will enjoy this place.

Kenting

The next leg of my trip was visiting the southern tip of Taiwan in a place called Kenting. This is basically a touristy beach area for Taiwanese and other folks to go to for some beach time. While the place that I stayed was not near the beach, the closest beach suitable for swimming was only a 5-minute bus ride away. The beach itself was rather small and a bit crowded (but nothing at all like the horrific crowds at Chinese beaches). I didn’t like how many noisy tractors were being used to haul ski-doos and other beach equipment around, but the actual water itself was also quite nice. I was worried it might be cold since it’s part of the Pacific, but it was actually quite warm (let’s hope the water at the northern tip of Taiwan is the same). The waves were the biggest I had ever experienced so far, and the water was also this emerald-aqua color. The tide was strong and made it more challenging to stay put at times, but the powerful waves were quite fun to ride. At first, it seemed like I was the only person (foreigner or not) to be out enjoying the waves. Seeing the sunset just before I left made the trip seem worthwhile, too.

The sunset here was rather amazing too. Of course, no photos can really do it justice, but I managed to get some nice shots.

I’ll throw in a couple of photos of the yummy food that I have had here as well.

I was worried that, because I didn’t have much time here in Kenting that my trip would be a bit of a waste. Luckily, even though I didn’t have that much beach time, I was still able to enjoy the water and waves as well as capture a brilliant sunset.

Taipei

This being my second time in Taipei, I decided I wanted this trip to be more relaxed and not so full of outings that would wipe me out. I again visited a hot spring (which might not be what one thinks of doing when it’s summer time in Taipei, but it was cloudy and it rained on and off). The place I stayed was about a minute away from Longshan Temple. I’m not much into temples at this point, but I decided that since I was so close, I may as well stop by.

While walking down the tourist night market nearby, I came across a fan shop where a man hand-painted fans. I decided to buy a small black fan made of silk with a dragon design on it. He also said that he could paint my name and any Mandarin symbols that I wanted (from a list of words) in gold paint. I had him write my name, which I spelled out for him in English, so he could figure out what the sound would translate to. Apparently the last part of “Gregory” is pronounced “lee,” and it sounds like two words in Mandarin: “money” and “power.” I finally decided to choose “power,” among other words. I thought it was odd that he painted the characters from right to left, though.

Taipei 101

I had intended to visit this skyscraper that stands out above all other buildings in Taipei (much like the Eiffel Tower does in Paris), but I didn’t really have time. This time, I made time. I wanted to get a photo of it from far away to get it all in the same frame, but I didn’t have time to find a view that far back.

I went to the 91st floor, which is the open observatory. However, due to the recent typhoon that just skimmed past Taiwan, there were still some “heavy winds,” and we were restricted to only being on one side as a result. I would have liked to have explored a bit more of the tower, but I was pressed for time to meet up with a friend for dinner.

Yangmingshan

This is a famous mountain area and national park in Taiwan. There are many places to visit here, but I didn’t have that much time. I had gotten out of bed late since I was tired and because it was pouring out in the morning. I was also pressed for time again to meet my friend for dinner. I chose to go to the area of Xiaoyoukeng. I had trouble finding the visitor center, and I met a woman along the way who works in Taipei in a hostel. On the way to finding the shuttle bus to get around the mountain, we came across some wild monkeys. They are called “Macaca Cyclopis,” or “Formosan Macaque” monkeys (or even “Taiwanese Rock” monkeys). We were excited to see them, but we also made sure to keep our distance.

After taking a speeding bus ride with a driver who didn’t seem afraid of sharp turns, I reached Xiaoyoukeng. In this area are volcanic remnants and landslide areas. You can see the hot steam whisping up from the ground, the bubbling hot water, and the smell of sulfur. You can also overlook the different mountain ranges all over.

Once again, I wish I didn’t have to leave Taiwan (especially not to have to end my vacation and go back to China to start teaching again). But at least I had a chance to see my friends again and meet some more people. I shall return someday to further explore this beautiful sub-tropical island.