Back to Taipei!

The time has arrived for us to make the transition from natural to urban landscape once again, as we head into the final stretch of this fulfilling summer programme. After a frantic half an hour of ferocious packing (my bag seemed to have gotten heavier!), we made our way to the Earthquake Museum by bus. There, we got to observe the remains and vestiges of rubble in an area tremendously devastated by the 1999 921 Ji-ji earthquake. It is amazing how they managed to preserve. There were various exhibitions to showcase the causation of earthquakes, methods of prevention and damage limitation. Previously, I've learnt some rudimentary facts about earthquakes in geography classes, but those were merely lessons in a classroom environment.

Last day out of Taipei: Free-and-easy hike in the forest

Breakfast today was even better than yesterday, with everyone, especially Kylee, jumping for joy at the plate of hash browns on the dining table. I could sense that Kylee have been somewhat uneasy with Asian food, notably rice and tofu, and having a dish which closely resembles a Western layout must have been a great boost for her. We checked on our experimental set-up after breakfast but stopped short at removing it just yet as it had not reached the 24-hour mark. We merely snapped some photos as evidence of the soil residue collected on the collecting trays. Hence, we went on a hike to the bamboo arboretum, rainbow trail and then the giant tree. I got to feel the sturdiness of bamboo for myself by sitting on one. It could practically support the weight of both Kylee and myself combined! It is no wonder that they are sought after to generate our furniture and other hardy products. The rainbow trail is identified by a bridge which is constructed to mimic a rainbow. In the process of hiking, we huffed and puffed as we negotiated a steep ascent and undulating terrain. I remember telling Jessica that almost 90% of the people who were on the roads and trails were senior citizens, or those who have retired. These elderly people really deserve my respect for that, for this can be said to be a rarity in Singapore. In addition, most of them are seen to be wearing knee protection guards, which meant that they are showing effort to keep healthy despite deteriorating bones and joints. Finally, we reached the giant tree, which was not really as tall as I had expected it to be. It was taller than the rest, but pretty much stubby. On our way back, it was down-slope for majority of the journey. I tried to mimic the backward movement of some of the elderly, which seemed to be easier and somehow reduces the tendency to go on a downward roll. We even saw some monkeys, which despite not being our closest cousins, resemble every bit like humans when they went about gathering and gobbling their food.

Lunch today had my favourite miso soup.  The post-lunch syndrome started to set in and my entire group, except myself, went for a good long afternoon nap. I woke them up at 4 pm, but only Randy had enough energy to accompany me on another short hike to the Meadow. As we walked, Randy was relating how glad he was to be able to enjoy the fresh air here in Sitou Experimental Forest. He added that the air quality in Shanghai is poor due to the exponential increase in car usage over the past few years, and he will definitely miss the fresh air when he returns to his homeland. Fortunately, the air quality in Singapore has not reached such a tragic and irreversible state. He was also glad that hiking could play some part in his goal to shed some mass, and return to his slim figure a few years ago. We made it back in time for dinner. And wow, Richard's group was already back! I had expected their group to be still sniffing their way through the bushes.

After dinner, we proceeded to dry our soil and tabulated our results. Finally, we got this experiment done and dusted, and we are just left with the Powerpoint presentation. With some time set aside for us to work on that when we return to our dormitories in Taipei, we decided to make the most of our last day here in Sitou. We visited 'Monster Village', where I spent an incredible NT$175 on 3 servings of ice-cream - it was marvelous! And now it's time to pack for check-out the next morning!

Playing with dirt and soil

Breakfast today was a spread, and there were sunny side-ups!!! :) We had a pretty entertaining session with Dr Simon and his family over the meal, where I shared with him some interesting facts about Singapore. I couldn't help but fix my vision on his adorable 3-year old son for I really love toddlers and young children. Right after breakfast, our group headed to collect soil samples for our experiment. It was quite a challenge identifying suitable topsoil due to the torrential rain the day before, which practically caused most of the soil to turn soggy. When we finally found a patch that looked in good shape, we started to heave our shovels and get the ball rolling. Even then, it wasn't an easy process. We had to remove small rocks and vegetation to make our soil as pure as possible and patience was key. In the process, we uncovered many earthworms from the ground. In the past semester, I have learnt many facts about annelids and earthworms, and I was intrigued by their wriggling movements which I know are possible due to their longitudinal and circular muscles working in concert with each other. I picked one up and immediately got my fingers sticky and slimy. Prior knowledge taught me that earthworms have ventral nerve cords, and when I pricked them, they started to curl up, possibly an act of defence upon sensation of stimuli. It was an interesting session applying what I learnt in theory on the field.

We managed to rush back in time for the next activity. Once again, we got to take a ride in the golf cart, which took us a distance away from where we stayed. It was a guided tour of a region in the forest which had experienced mudslides and landslides due to a major earthquake which hit Taiwan in 1999. The guide was overly generous in his sharing of ideas and knowledge. He mentioned that over the past 2 days, 400 mm of rain hit Taiwan as a result of the typhoon! Just when I thought we would have to hike back the way we came, a golf cart arrived to pick us up after the tour.

After lunch, we proceeded with our experimental set-up. I wish to thank Judy for helping to provide the necessary equipment and apparatus. It was a dirty affair all afternoon, and we inevitably messed up the lecture room when we used a hairdryer to dry our soil. Furthermore, there were complications to our experiment when we found that the force of water from the bottle was insufficient to even push the soil down the tray. At that moment, a downpour erupted, which gave us an idea - we should might as well just place our set-up out in the rain. There would then be no need for simulation of actual conditions. Hopefully the rain continues tomorrow to facilitate accurate collection of results.

The calm after the storm

The bright light from the sun awoken me from my sleep in the morning. Yeah, the weather was back to its best today and it was a good way to kick-start the final quarter of my time here in Taiwan. The first segment of the day was a morning lecture on soil biodiversity. We learnt a lot on the interconnections among different types of organisms in the soil, and there is an absolute interdependence among one another. To fully comprehend soil science, we require the combination of expertise from zoologists, botanists, microbiologists and geologists. It is interesting to unravel the mysteries and complexities going on in what I have always thought of as 'gooey stuff'.

Capitalizing on the perfect weather, we finally resumed our calf workout after a day of rest. We took a short hike in Sitou Experimental Forest up to the Sky Trail. I felt a tad too tired, probably because I hadn't shaken off the previous day of lazing around the room. Through this, I got to see the interior of the forest. I'm mesmerized by the synchronous tree growth, whereby they are all evenly spaced out with almost equal distance between one tree and the next. I learnt from Mr Hong that this region of forest is mostly reforested, which explains the neat arrangement of trees. In the process of hiking, our group also went about collecting photographic evidence of soil erosion on slopes of different gradient. I think we can be labeled as the most adventurous group, for we went off the main trail in search of the 'Giant Tree'. We passed by a river with water gushing at high velocity, then came across the bamboo section.

The period after lunch was mostly project discussion. Then came the session where we presented our proposal to the rest. It was amusing how everyone was so amused by my Singaporean accent and hand gestures when it was my turn to present. Jack, in particular, found my way of presentation very comical yet captivating. Guess this is just the Singaporean style, haha! In the evening, just before dinner, we made a short walk to the convenience store at Devil's Village, where I tried the highly-rated papaya milk for the first time - it tasted great. More project discussion took place after dinner and I also chatted with Judy for a while.

We are now ready to receive the shovel and pots tomorrow morning right after breakfast to collect our soil samples. Hope everything goes well (including the weather!) and may it be a successful project with my team members. It's the final week already - cherish the company with one another before the school semester commences!!!

Sky trail

River

Bamboo section

A day of darkness and despair

The first thing I did when I woke up in the morning was to connect to the WiFi with my mobile phone, but it wasn't successful. I didn't think too much about it until I observed Jimmy and Randy brushing their teeth in the toilet without switching on the lights. It then dawned on me that the entire electricity supply in the building has been cut off by the destructive typhoon. I peered out of the window to observe the torrential rain and strong winds that have already taken its first victim in a bamboo tree. We had breakfast in the dark dining hall, lit only by a small torch which hovered over the ceiling. It was a fortunate affair that cooked food was still available in the absence of power. It effectively meant that you were unable to recognize the dishes on the table and could only know what you were eating when you put it into your mouth. It brought with it an element of suspense and surprise. Yet everyone seemed pretty calm about the situation; there was hardly any panic or desperation. Guess they are already accustomed to and well prepared for circumstances like this. I was telling the others that after 22 years of living in this world, this is the first encounter with a natural disaster. You have to understand that Singapore is located in a prime location, well buffered from monsoons, tsunamis and cyclones by neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. Neither are we in the Pacific Ring of Fire, so we are free from earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Then came the news that a fallen tree has caused obstruction to the road leading into our place of accommodation. I felt a sudden surge of fear, but it was nullified by the others' composure. We were instructed to stay indoors for the entire day until the typhoon subsides. So, it was a quiet affair of lazing on the bed till lunch. Lunch was awesome, probably because it was the first time we had noodles in a long time. There were only 2 simple dishes as it wasn't convenient to whip up too many dishes in the dark, but the noodles were delicious. After lunch, we remained cooped up in our rooms engaging in discussions for our project proposal. Then Jack came knocking on our doors to offer us an opportunity to drop by the convenience store. And the highlight of it was a ride on a golf cart! I didn't really need any supplies of snacks and drinks, but the idea of riding on the vehicle tempted me. It was a bumpy ride on a ground littered by fallen leaves, twigs and branches, but enjoying the force of the gale blowing on your face is an awesome feeling. Shortly after we returned from the convenience store, electricity was restored. We went to take showers almost immediately in case the electricity were to go off again. Everyone rushed to connect to the internet to read their Facebook notifications and to research for ideas on their project. Dinner was back to the sumptuous rice with dishes. After that, we had a consultation session with the professor regarding our project topics. Then came the time when the electricity was cut off once again. It came on after a while, but ONLY FOR 2 SECONDS!!! Torches and flashlights were whipped out to navigate around the building. It was eventually restored at about 9 pm and you could here the sounds of joy again! Alright, no activities and hence no photos to show today. Hope that the adverse weather conditions would have passed by tomorrow so that proceedings can commence once again. Goodnight!

Tea and bamboo

After a night of attack by rampant mosquitoes, we reverted to a Chinese-style breakfast after 2 mornings of bacon and sandwiches... haiz... The first activity of the day was a guided tour around the Phoenix Tea Plantation, where we learnt how tea is cultivated and harvested. I have been drinking tea since young, but was never cognizant of how tea is grown and processed. The guide mentioned that once the season arrives for harvesting, a committee of women will sweat to complete the task. Given the vast area that the plantation covers, it definitely is no easy task, and these workers deserve my respect for that. I also learnt that tea grows over a stretch/gradation of elevation above sea level. After that, we had a session of tea-brewing. Steven seemed to have prior knowledge of tea-brewing, as he got the ball rolling and seemed adroit in his steps and movements. I probably will not be getting such an opportunity anytime in the near future unless I venture out of Singapore again.

The highlight of lunch was the taro sticks, which were so fragrant and sweet it easily beat the other dishes hands down. Thereafter, we headed to Bamboola Taiwan, which produces and markets bamboo merchandise. The products there were sturdy and durable, and aesthetically pleasing to the eyes too. The master has been in this trade for 34 years! And he waved it off as 'ONLY'! On show were many boxes which can only be opened if the latch is shaken to a specific angle. It appeared to be a magic show initially; he said that it will open if you treat the box with respect. Actually, I feel that there's a deeper meaning to it - it applies to human social relationship as well. If you treat one another (family and friends) with respect and patience, refrain from fuming over trivial matters, relationships will blossom or at least be prevented from souring.

Now, we're at Sitou Experimental Forest to take shelter from the imminent typhoon. Hope it subsides quickly so that we can continue with our outdoor activities tomorrow! :)

Tea-brewing

Tea plantation

Gigantic beetle

Bamboola Taiwan

Me with walking stick at Bamboola Taiwan

Endemism

After breakfast, it was time to check out of this place which provided probably the best dishes for meals since we left Taipei. I will definitely miss the chicken wings, nuggets and bacon that have got me salivating during meals. We proceeded to head towards the Endemic Specimen Research Institute. I have heard so much about Taiwan's endemic species, but haven't seen them up close. The guide brought us on a tour around the specimens centre, wildlife and rescue centre. I learnt a little about how animals which fall victim to roadkill incidents are reported and brought to the specimens centre. The framework is quite established and systematic. Paying the rescue centre a visit brought some sorrow and sympathy out of me. Although I've never really had any deep feelings for animals, it pains me to see the injured and handicapped owls and buzzards. They seem virtually hapless, and yet I could somehow see their willpower and determination to live on. Humans can probably draw some lessons from here, I mean, what can be more miserable than a bird which can no longer fly? I recall Jiling getting really emotional over a bird called '歪歪' (crooked), which was a suggestive name considering it had broken its neck as a result of a fall from a tree. The head was hence tilted at an awkward angle. She was sympathetic over how the bird is being 'coerced' to remind itself how it ended up in this rescue centre.

There was a movie screening and a lecture on diversity of bats in Taiwan, with a lunch break sandwiched between them. I'm impressed by the persistence and perseverance of honey buzzards in bashing down the hornet nests. Day after day, they incessantly attempt to break down the gigantic nests, despite the hornets' efforts to repair them. The bats lecture was probably the highlight of the day, especially when the lecturer showcased his live bat specimens, unleashing them onto our bodies. Next up was a guided tour of the conservation education centre. Being endemic and endangered, it is imperative to preserve the natural wildlife, and I think the Taiwanese government has done a very good job in this aspect.

Before we proceeded to Phoenix Tea Garden, we dropped by Mingsin Academy and Temple Remains. The latter was the rubble of a temple which came as a result of an annihilating earthquake in 1999, and it was probably left there as a heritage conservation initiative. I also took some time to buy a quirky-looking red banana which I have been wondering how it tastes like. The stallholder explained that it is a different breed of bananas,  but it tasted the same anyway.

Due to the stipulated arrival of a typhoon tomorrow, the lecture on tea culture in Taiwan was pushed forward so as to allow sufficient time for the professor to return to Taipei unscathed, which everyone is hoping so. Worries about the impending disaster aside, it was a memorable session as we got to sample various kinds of Taiwanese tea and learnt about the history of tea in Taiwan. The lecturer was pretty proficient in English, enunciating words accurately, which helped matters. Too much caffeine now, will I be able to sleep tonight? :D

Injured owl

Skeleton of a baby sperm whale

Temple remains

Red banana