Third Visitor, Kenting, Major Photolog Update
Third Visitor
One of my friends I made from my many trips to Montreal last year had some money and time, and so I invited him to come visit me in Taiwan. He arrived on the ninth, and will be leaving on the twenty-second. I love playing tour-guide, so I have been keeping him, and myself, very busy doing everything possible within two weeks. We have done the main tourist things so far in Taipei, like seeing Taipei 101 (the world's current tallest building), National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, 2-28 Peace Park, Shida Night Market, and the Mitsukoshi Observation Tower. This past weekend we traveled the eight hours down to the southern most tip of Taiwan to Kenting (I tell all about that below), and this week I am planning on taking him to a few other night markets, the most northern tip of Taiwan to Danshui, Wulai to see the mountains slash waterfall, and lastly if the observation in Taipei 101 is open, we will go there. Right now, he is taking a nap because he feels sick - and after what we went through yesterday, I don't blame him. I just want to roll up in a blanket right now, too.
Kenting
So, Lonely Planet calls Kenting "The Hawaii of Taiwan" and from the pictures I have seen of Hawaii, I would say that is dead right, and it makes sense because both Taiwan and Hawaii are tropical volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Anyway, so we took a train from Taipei down to Gaoxiong - this massive port city on the southern tip of Taiwan, and then a bus from there to Kenting. It took a total of like seven hours to get there, and nine or so to get back because the train back had a lot more stops. The train back left at eleven on Sunday night and got to Taipei at a little before six on Monday morning. I could only sleep like an hour, so it was hell on Earth.
Anyway, it was amazing. We got to Kenting late at night on Friday. So, we found a hotel, got dinner, then went to bed. The next morning there was one of those parades that I have no idea what they are for, but they are loud as hell and really annoying when you are trying to sleep. So, I had no choice but to get up. The first thing I did was poke my head out the window to see what the weather was like, and to see the parade. It was really warm and completely clear skies. Oddly enough, a few hours later by the time we got up and ready to go, it was cold and rainy. Since that is no weather to go to a beach with, we decided to rent a scooter and drive the four kilometers up the mountain to the Kenting National Park.
It was so beautiful, but the map was horrible. We got lost so many times. It didn't really matter though, we ended up just going wherever the trails led, and we ended up walking though the same place a few times. My favorite part was getting to walk through caves - it was my first time! Hmm. Yeah. It was really cold and wet, but very much worth exploring.
The next day we woke up, and it was mostly clear skies and like 70 degrees. So, we packed up all of our stuff, checked out, and went down to the beach. I have never seen a beach like this. It was absolutely amazing. The water was this teal color and crystal clear, the sand was not quite white, but close enough, and surrounding the beach were lush green mountains. I took tons of pictures and got sunburned on my face. I cannot wait to go back.
Major Photolog Update
Kenting Beach ( nine pictures ) - View
Pictures from the beach we went to on the second day.
Kenting National Park ( twenty-eight pictures ) - View
Pictures from the park we went to on the first day.
Kenting City ( fourteen pictures ) - View
Pictures from the around the city. Including a picture of a store that sold shirts saying "Myrtle Beach South Carolina" on them!!!!!
One of my friends I made from my many trips to Montreal last year had some money and time, and so I invited him to come visit me in Taiwan. He arrived on the ninth, and will be leaving on the twenty-second. I love playing tour-guide, so I have been keeping him, and myself, very busy doing everything possible within two weeks. We have done the main tourist things so far in Taipei, like seeing Taipei 101 (the world's current tallest building), National Palace Museum, Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, 2-28 Peace Park, Shida Night Market, and the Mitsukoshi Observation Tower. This past weekend we traveled the eight hours down to the southern most tip of Taiwan to Kenting (I tell all about that below), and this week I am planning on taking him to a few other night markets, the most northern tip of Taiwan to Danshui, Wulai to see the mountains slash waterfall, and lastly if the observation in Taipei 101 is open, we will go there. Right now, he is taking a nap because he feels sick - and after what we went through yesterday, I don't blame him. I just want to roll up in a blanket right now, too.
Kenting
So, Lonely Planet calls Kenting "The Hawaii of Taiwan" and from the pictures I have seen of Hawaii, I would say that is dead right, and it makes sense because both Taiwan and Hawaii are tropical volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Anyway, so we took a train from Taipei down to Gaoxiong - this massive port city on the southern tip of Taiwan, and then a bus from there to Kenting. It took a total of like seven hours to get there, and nine or so to get back because the train back had a lot more stops. The train back left at eleven on Sunday night and got to Taipei at a little before six on Monday morning. I could only sleep like an hour, so it was hell on Earth.
Anyway, it was amazing. We got to Kenting late at night on Friday. So, we found a hotel, got dinner, then went to bed. The next morning there was one of those parades that I have no idea what they are for, but they are loud as hell and really annoying when you are trying to sleep. So, I had no choice but to get up. The first thing I did was poke my head out the window to see what the weather was like, and to see the parade. It was really warm and completely clear skies. Oddly enough, a few hours later by the time we got up and ready to go, it was cold and rainy. Since that is no weather to go to a beach with, we decided to rent a scooter and drive the four kilometers up the mountain to the Kenting National Park.
It was so beautiful, but the map was horrible. We got lost so many times. It didn't really matter though, we ended up just going wherever the trails led, and we ended up walking though the same place a few times. My favorite part was getting to walk through caves - it was my first time! Hmm. Yeah. It was really cold and wet, but very much worth exploring.
The next day we woke up, and it was mostly clear skies and like 70 degrees. So, we packed up all of our stuff, checked out, and went down to the beach. I have never seen a beach like this. It was absolutely amazing. The water was this teal color and crystal clear, the sand was not quite white, but close enough, and surrounding the beach were lush green mountains. I took tons of pictures and got sunburned on my face. I cannot wait to go back.
Major Photolog Update
Kenting Beach ( nine pictures ) - View
Pictures from the beach we went to on the second day.
Kenting National Park ( twenty-eight pictures ) - View
Pictures from the park we went to on the first day.
Kenting City ( fourteen pictures ) - View
Pictures from the around the city. Including a picture of a store that sold shirts saying "Myrtle Beach South Carolina" on them!!!!!