King Chiayi

... was a lady playing a traditional Chinese instrument as we arrived, unfortunately she was gone before we left. We enjoyed a nice dinner.<br><br>Monday was making travel plans and lunch with Ginny [my boss] and her family. We went to a Japanese style restaurant and Mom had some tasty crab meat and some other seafood.<br><br>We're going to be heading out of Chiayi soon, I might not be able to update for a week or so.

... It was very colourful and it was a cool experience. It started sometime between 6:30-7 and I think it wrapped up a couple hours later. Apparently people mostly only stay until the food stops. We stayed for awhile afterwards and hung out before heading home.

... frigid winter. We could be tossing around the idea of making an additional payment on the mortgage or wondering if we can afford to buy a newer vehicle to replace the clapped out one in the driveway that is on it&#8217;s last gasp and wheeze, but instead we are trying to determine which country we should traipse around seeking new experiences, beautiful beaches and interesting (if not always appetizing) culinary 'delights&#8217;.<br><br>Yup, life is tough ** sigh**<br ...

Later on Sunday, after a mad cleaning exposition, we decided we needed some new decorations. This need for decorations wasn't quite as strong as a want for a new pet though and after discussion we choose to go out searching for beta fish. We found at least three new pet stores, went to the night market and then lovingly picked up our new friends. They don't have names as of yet, I'll update when they do, as I know everyone is dying to find out!

... some traditional Chinese weddings actually post it on a big chalkboard) and they are at the bank now cashing it all in, hoping to cover the cost of the wedding! Cracks me up. My cousin knew about 20 people there. Crazy stuff. It was fun feeling like a rock star for a night. It is not a bad thing to be a minority all the time. Maile and I were given bouquets of roses, but we gave them to these 11 year old twin girls we met ...

... Ging alles ruckzuck, musste auch erst zweimal hingucken, aber wer Huenchen essen will, der muss das auch sehen koenne, finde ich. Mir taten nur die Leute leid, die das Tag aus Tag ein machen muessen...sie schienen das allerdings mit erstaunlichem Gleichmut zu nehmen und haben sich natuerlich gefreut und gelacht, als wir Auslaender rueberkamen und alles interssiert angeschaut haben. Und dann auch endlich "ab ins ...

... us. Now cold drinks - a few liters - some rest and life might look more rosy again, I hope. The problem is it is not only hot, it is sticky humid and no leave moves. Dark rain clouds are forming by now over the central mountain range - couldn't they have come earlier, providing shadow and as much rain to cool down as they would have liked. In Guangfu we eat in a Chinese buffet shop. When we arrive at the train station the station guy waves us through without ...

... ago We have our lunch from stuff we carried along on a cental gathering place in the shadow. Now the proof for my decision not to continue my walk is obvious - hot, hot, hot! On the Coastal road we see that the bus will only go from the next village, so we walk the short distance and decide against walking the 8 km to Changbin village as we are melting in the noon sun. We go to a forest beside the beach, lie down and I take a swim in the ocean ...

... dropping from the cliffs of the gorge. Beside the road almost boiling water is running from a pipe into a small pond. Wulu has an old traditional hot spring and a new fency hotel called " Chief Hot Spring Hotel ". Behind the hotel an old red bridge spans over the gorge and continues on the other of the river with a 2 km section of the old Japanese cross mountain trail we have seen before a few times. The trail goes almost vertically up and ends 250m higher on ...

... is pretty rushing at this section. The hot spring is just at the entrance to a pretty, but short gorge. The hot water running down the walls, forming stalactites which shine in green and white, a really pretty picture - sorry my photos did not get very good as I had to take the photos against the sun reflecting in the stream. There is no other perspective from where to take the photos, except waiting a few hours until the sun will have changed ...