The Bird Watching Expedition

Today started early, at 6am in fact with a 5.30am alarm, which is not my favourite start to the day but early morning is when all the action happens. We left the dorm and the birds were definitely awake. We exited Meifeng Farm and walked along the road and the great thing about getting up early was the sky was so clear so you could see further than the day before. We walked down a track and final found some birds we could see but they quickly disappeared into the tree. The guide told us this time of year is actually to worst the go bird watching because it is summer and the foliage is thick and the birds are breeding so they are extra secretive because they do not want to give away the location of their nest. I found the birds of Taiwan a little disappointing they are little cute, Australia have better ones and they and bigger and more colourful. Though I did have a lovely walk through the farm and Taiwan has definitely got bigger and more beautiful butterflies than Australia.

In the afternoon we were actually lecture by a Canadian man but he was from French Canada so even I struggled a little with the accent but he did a great lecture on organic farming. I always organic farming unachievable on a commercial scale and the produce was smaller and damaged. Though he made it sound possible. He also discussed composting with seafood. Up until now I thought compost heaps should have no seafood or meat in them but apparently not.

In the night we when insect watching and star gazing. I really wanted to see an owl but we didn’t. Anyway the guide had a whole PowerPoint display in the greenhouse and all there were beetles to play with and a vine full of caterpillars and cocoons, it was really cool and just not what I was expecting, I contently underestimate this course!

9^th July

A touch of Aboriginal Culture

Today we meet two native Taiwanese people and learnt about the Aboriginal hunting techniques. It started in the class, there we all tried on traditional aboriginal clothes and I thought I looked very good in a traditional bright red skirt but I don’t think it would be warm enough for the mountains. Then we ventured outside and the native Taiwanese showed us some hunting traps. They were very good designs and I think the aborigines wouldn’t go hungry much.

After lunch we left Maifeng farm and when to another farm and pick only two grape tomatoes. We arrived too early for the tomato picking season so we could only pick two tomatoes each but that was ok, two was enough to taste the flavour, it was just funny. Then continuing on with aboriginal culture theme and when and saw some aboriginal style houses. I really like them and you could imagine people living in them. And then we were back in the bus and off again to discover more of Taiwan.

    

Mt. Hehuanshan I'm on top of the world

Today I really noticed how much the other students say ‘delicious’ especially the Taiwanese and Chinese students. They just say it really funny, I just wanted to mention it. And another thing I have really noticed about Taiwan is there no trashcans ANYWAY yet the country surprisingly litter free. Where is it all going? In Oz there is rubbish bins on most streets and yet still you will find the odd bits litter floating around. How are they doing that?

Anyway back to what is actually did today, after a 6am get up we hiked to the peak of Mt. Hehuanshan. I thought we would have to do a lot more hiking the reach the peak but the bus virtually dropped us at the top. The views were great definitely worth waking up for (I’m not a morning person just as a heads up). I took some great panoramic shots. The mountain was previous used by the army for communication so it was an easy walk up because there was a nice concreted road. I meet a Taiwanese guy at the peak that had been to been to Australia too and his eyes sure did light up when I said I was from Newcastle and just said how much he loved it. I did not know I lived in such a nice city until everyone keeps telling me.

The gorgeous mountain range (Kim just happened to be posing for a photo at the same over the left side but it really added to the photo)

After that we headed to another peak. It was a lot busier and we only had a short time there but I was a great view because we could see right down the valley. I found a really nice flower on that peak too; think it’s my favourite so far.

 The flower, it was only about 2cm across.

The day before we went for a great walk at Taroko National Park through heaps of cave to a waterfall and to ‘The water curtain cave’. It was such a great walk because were there just was not a boring bit. Normally when you go bush walking you walk for a while just to see one thing but this path was relentless with spectacles. The walk started with a cave that had bats and once through the cave you could see down the gorge and see the metamorphic marble we witnessed the day earlier. Then we got to a waterfall and went across this bridge that moved heaps as the walked across it. That was a little scary, I wouldn’t cross that bridge when it’s windy. Underneath the bridge however there was really blue clear pools that you just want to swim in (because we were so hot after the walk) but there is no way of getting down to them.     

The pool underneath the bridge

The walk continued through more tunnels (that I found out were all hand carved by Chinese soldiers after they left China after World War II) until we arrived at the ‘water curtain cave’ and it was wet. I did know what to expect but it was literarily a curtain of water. So being the type of person I am, of course I had to walk through it fully clothed with runners on but it was so refreshing.

Then we got back in the bus and drove to Meifeng Farm. On the way we stopped at a really big tree and tasted some peach honey that was so nice. I really wanted to buy some to take home but there is no way it would get past customs (Australia has some of the toughest customs laws in the world, no fresh produce can be brought in from overseas).

When we arrive at Meifeng Farm the temperature had dropped, we had moved to 3000m above sea level. The farm looked nice and tomorrow we are off the explore it! 

The Grand Gorge

Ok, I thought the geo park was rock heaven but today came a close second as rock paradise. Today I witnessed the magnitude of the Taroko National Park and was mind blown by the grandness of it's gorges. The gorge we walked around was made up of black and white marble and green schist as it progressed deeper into the alpine mountains. I really loved the wavy patterns in the marble caused by metamorphic processes when it was formed. 

The beautiful wave pattern on the marble

After that we left the park for lunch and for the first time I had frogs stomach. I am still confused how they manage to dissect out just the stomach for such a tiny animal. Anyway the taste was a cross between chicken and calamari and very chewy, I did not really like it. Though I still can't believe how good the prawns are here, I always thought Australia's prawns were really good but I was wrong. I think it because they cook them fresh and serve them hot compared to Oz were they are cooked and then iced. 

Moving on from my prawn obsession, after lunch we walked through tunnels to see more of the gorge in hard hat I might add (you know shits getting serious when your issued a hard hat). Unfortunately it started rainy but it was ok, it makes the rocks like shiny. We then went to a nice red bridge that had great views of some nice green schist outcrops. There was a little Japanese temple there too made from marble of course since we were in a marble gorge. 

After that we drove to Tienhsiang Youth Centre to stay for the night and as we walked into out room monkeys were playing just outside our bedroom in a tree, that was exciting. They were so close to the window. We had such great views from our room too, a huge marble outcrop towered over us mixed with little patches of vegetation! Today was the best day so far!

The candle rock

I've been neglecting the blog the last few days but I was out enjoying Taiwan instead (and the internet was down last night). Any how the last few days has definitely been full of highlights including the National Palace Museum, the Yehliu Geopark and the Shilin Markets.

Start with the National Palace Museum, the place was packed, there were so many people there but we saw some great ancient Chinese pottery and artwork. I don't know how they manage to do it considering it was made thousands of years along. Though I guess see don't see all the duds that they made first. The piece were so well preserved a well, it just amazing how they are managed not to the damaged over thousands of years. Unfortunately we were not allowed to take pictures in the museum but we got a few outside. The guide recognised my Australian accent too, that is the first time someone has so far.

After the museum we headed to the Shilin night markets. I loved the markets, thats how I imagined Taipei to be like. I ate so much there, I had sugared strawberries on the way into the market, I had squid as dinner along with some sort of red iced fruit drink, it was nice. I then found the underground section of the markets and it was crazy. So many people that you could barely move, eating so many different things. It was there I saw the snails for the first time. So I brought two and a beer and gave them a try. I did not like them, they were eatable but I wouldn't if I had the choice. They were just so chewy and salty and had a wired dirt tasting after taste.

The Shilin Markets 

That was also the first time I had walked around the city by myself (I lost everyone pretty quickly) and it was good because I really got time to stop a look at the city and watch the people and see the culture. And I really love it!

The fun continued the next day when we went to the Yeliu Geology Park. We had a really good guide that spoke great english and really knew his rocks (I think I am a little bias since I come for a geo background). The rock structures were so cool, you just do not see structures like that in Australia because it's an old continent in comparison to Taiwan and all the delicate rock structures have eroded away. My favourite was the candle rocks just because they were so smooth and unusal!

The candle rocks

Taipei from above

Today was my best day in Taiwan so far. We climbed Mt Qixing and saw a birds eye view of Taipei. At the peak it was blowing a gail as you can tell in the photo but it was very refresh after sweating your ass off on the hike up. Then on the descend there were holes in the rocks that release sulphur gas and deposit yellow crystals, and that really got my geological nerd senses going. But it smelt so bad (sulphur does make rotten egg gas) and you could really inspect the crystals will out being stink out.

After we visited in hot springs in Beitou and they were so beautiful. The springs are around 90 C and the pH of the water when it firsts bubbles from the cracks in the earth is 1.2 - 1.6. That is so low that if it touched your skin is would burn through to the bone. The low pH therefore dissolves the rocks and I got a good photo of that.          

The Cicada buzz

I got a strangle sense of home today as I first heard the buzzing cicadas as I opened my bedroom window. I guess it was a just a reminder that I'm just a little further north in Pacific and home is not as far as you think. I was further reminded of home on when we visited the sea, a lot of the creatures are very similar but I think Australia has a nicer shoreline. The Taiwanese shoreline is a maze of ugly concrete but I guess its to protect it from typhoons. In a country of this size you cannot afford to have an erosion problem.

I also saw a temple up close today. The designs are also detailed and the colours are so bright but it does kind of look like the place is made out of play dough from a distance. I hope we learn a little about religion in Taiwan or at least about how they make the decorations!

This is part of the temple design ( I have to find out what village were in.)

This is the view from my dorm window. I live on the twelfth floor. I thought it looked so cool how the sun was beaming through the clouds.  

   

The Frog Hunt

Today we went caught frogs, and I mean really caught frogs, the poor things were handled to death almost. I'm racking my brains trying to remember their names but all remember is the Taipei green tree frog and the Formosa (taiwanese) toad. But never mind the frogs, all the other animals were way better we saw a tree snake that eats birds, fireflies that glow in the dark and these massive snails. Unfortunately the snails are not locals but imports from Africa but they were still my favourite!