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

Woody day

Finally, our morning was greeted with a western-style breakfast comprising toast and bacon, after a string of porridge for the past few days. After breakfast, Manager Jason gave a brief introduction to Shueili Wood Utilization Centre. Thereafter, it was time to proceed for hands-on work. Due to the bulkiness of a wooden bench which presented difficulties in packing into the luggage, Jason decided that it was better to make a tissue box instead. Practical idea indeed! I realized that after this trip, I will have a few hand-made souvenirs to bring home. First, it was the ceramics, then yesterday's Rubin Lock, followed by today's masterpiece. I remember sharing that I used to detest woodwork when I was in high school. Today's session started off rather well actually. Using sandpaper to make the surfaces and edges smoother not only requires patience and precision, but trains your biceps as well. I was covered with dust and sweating profusely by the time I was done with the process, and the buzzing mosquitoes only added to the discomfort. Then came the turning point - I inadvertently applied glue to the sliding lid, which meant that I could no longer slide open the bottom lid to place tissue paper within. Furthermore, I wasn't able to appreciate the rationale behind coating the box with lacquer. And I wasn't prepared to join the long queue just to make it a little shinier. Then came an idea which I thought was ingenious - the box became a pillow instead. I guess the others were puzzled by how I could sleep so soundly on such a hard surface, but I told them that after serving in the military, I have had experiences sleeping in the most awkward of positions and circumstances, hence this was nothing new for me. I fell prey to the mosquitoes as fatigue wore over me, while the others were still awaiting their turn to coat their boxes. About half an hour passed before I heard Jack's announcement for lunch. YAY! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT MOMENT!!! Lunch was again fantastic, with the crunchy fried shrimps and chicken drumsticks. After lunch, we were tasked to continue with our work. Already missing the coating step, I opted for an alternative - to apply Vaseline on the box instead. It at least produced a decent piece of work; not that I'm really going to use it as a tissue box anyway... I'm probably lacking in aesthetic appreciation and aptitude, for I told Jessica that it wasn't necessary to coat the interior since no one is even going to look into the box when retrieving a piece of tissue paper. I guess after 8 years, I still cannot appreciate and accept the beauty of woodwork; it is just not my cup of tea.

Next up was a guided tour of the wood factory, coupled with some mechanic demonstrations of the various methods of wood processing. The technicians were clearly adroit and experienced. I cannot imagine myself engaging in this nature of work as its repetitive nature will induce too much boredom. But at least the staff are not working under sweatshop conditions; I can tell that Jason is a fair manager who has the welfare of his subordinates at heart. There was a gigantic sign in the factory which read '安全第一', meaning 'Safety First'. From this, one can tell that Jason emphasizes safety of his workers as the priority, and the technicians seem happy and contented working under him. Master Lai, for instance, has been here for 30 years! He wouldn't have stayed so long if not for favourable treatment and working conditions. This tour has enlightened me on the origins of our home furniture which we take for granted everyday. Thanks to this, I can now better appreciate the operations of the timber industry.

Light moment: Harry Potter jump-shot during tissue-box making

Wood-cutting technology

Wood-cutting/smoothing technology

Interior of wood factory

Wood Utilization and Product Exhibition Centre

Owl mimicry

Descending the mountains

The first activity of the day was an introduction to Saideke tribe and hunting traps. Finally, I got to see the tribal men and their costumes up close. The video brought back memories of television series and movies, but having to witness them or even remnants of them in real life was clearly unthinkable. I was disgusted by how malicious and vicious the tribes were, yet admired their teamwork and eagerness to protect their territory. It was fascinating listening to the guides communicating between themselves in their own tribal language, which sounded quirky yet forceful. We had a light moment trying on the traditional costumes, exercising our creativity by establishing different combinations. Next up, they demonstrated the usage of various traps that the tribes used to hunt in the past. Sorry for the birds, mice, wild boars and monkeys, but the fact is, humans have to eat. These employed strategies are very ingenious indeed, because they save hunters the time and effort laying patiently in wait for their prey with bows and arrows. I remember coming across numerous wild boars during my time in the military; if only I had access to these traps then… Hahaha…

We were offered an opportunity to make our lunch dessert, the delicious Manto. I have been munching on Manto since young but have never gotten the chance to make one myself. The main raw materials were spinach and beetroot. We had lots of fun beating the dough and rolling them into shape. Suddenly, I had an idea – to combine both spinach and beetroot juices into a single common dough. Even the instructors agreed that it will taste better. However, the truth is, it backfired terribly, probably due to the addition of too much flour, which made its texture dry and rough.

After lunch, it was time to check out. Meifeng Farm and Hehuanshan have provided me with sweet memories; I couldn’t bear to leave. The next stop was Chuenyang Sub-farm, where we engaged in tomato-harvesting, in addition to an introduction to tomato planting. The tomatoes were bright, fresh and juicy. I was tempted to take more than the two we were instructed to do so. We were also introduced to the Saideke tribe’s houses and a dagger.

Then came a long bus journey to Shueili Wood Utilization Centre, where we were to spend two nights. Jack brought us to the 7-11 convenience store and it was like we were released from captivity! Everyone went about grabbing food and beverage items to supplement the main meals. Guess we have really been away from civilization for too long, although it has been just a mere few days. The last activity for the day is a puzzle game called Rubin Lock. It tickles your mind so much I would recommend it for occupational therapy. I recall having bad experiences with wood work during my earlier years in school, as I was disinterested and inattentive. However, it had a different feel to it this time round. The competition segment really brought the nerves out of me. I made it to the final round, but lost marginally to Vico and Andria – congratulations to them, they were deserved winners. I’m now looking forward to more activities with wood the following day!

 Tribal costume

 Animal trap

 Mantou

 Tomato

Tribal house

Orientation to Meifeng Farm

We had to wake up even earlier than the previous day. The first activity was bird watching. I was very impressed with how the guides manage to distinguish different bird calls when they all sound the same to me. I feel that one attribute of a talented ornithologist is acuteness. They could even spot a moth pupa hanging from the top of a tree (which by the way, is so minuscule relative to the size of the tree)! With binoculars in hand, we went for a short hike, in the process checking out various species of birds. However, they were most often flying too quickly for me to catch sight of them. Therefore, it was a little disappointing as I was not able to relate to the video and guidebook images. Nonetheless, the guides were really generous with their sharing of information about bird behaviour, mating and reproduction. Along the trail, the guides also did a fantastic job in explaining the characteristics of some interesting plant species.

Upon our return from the hike, we participated in a short morning exercise session with the people there. I have to compliment their efforts in making that practice a routine. It really rejuvenates one from the morning slumber and works out your muscles too. After breakfast (which we have been dreadfully awaiting since the start of the morning hike), we were introduced to anything and everything about Meifeng Farm. We played a game before we commenced and it was interesting to know what our first impression of our fellow participants was. The flowers that I came across were probably the most beautiful I've ever seen in my life. They were blooming and healthy. The highlight was when we were told that certain species had edible parts. We were like throngs of kids lining up to get a taste of them. Besides flowers, we observed other things like cacti, lavender, dried flowers, cultivation of spinach, and of course not forgetting navigation of a maze. It was through this session that I realized how comprehensive the farm was in terms of varieties of crops and plants, hence justifying it as a professional and established education and research institute.

The afternoon segment began with a lecture on table waste composting and organic vegetables. Here, I learnt the Taiwanese usage of the term 'pwun', a colloquial for food waste. With one of the highest population densities in the world, it is thus necessary for the nation to employ effective strategies to deal with food wastes, and I think Taiwan is doing very well in this aspect. I also learnt of the healthy aspects of organic food. The lecturer used himself as a good example: He is a regular drinker with a beer belly, yet is still strong and fit at 73 years of age, which he attributed to the consumption of organic food.

Next up was some farm-work experience, including plug seedling planting, clearing of weeds, sugar-beet and spinach harvesting, and lastly, juice-making. Now, I sincerely appreciate the diligence of farmers in removing weeds, because it is no easy task. It takes tremendous strain on the back when you bend over to pull out the weeds, which have virtually overrun the entire plantation. Kudos to them for their hard work, perseverance and patience.

At night, we had a session to observe insects, which included moths, caterpillars and my favourite rhinoceros beetle. The way insects perform techniques of camouflage and mimicry is truly ingenious. We also took some time to appreciate the glistening stars in the night sky. It was really a 'creepy' and 'silent' night.

 Elegant flowers

 Edible petals

 Tai chi symbol

 Dried flowers

 Me engulfed by lavender

 Cacti

 Clearing weeds

 Rhinoceros beetle

Harvesting of spinach

Mountain hiking!

Oh man! Today was the day when we had to rise the earliest, but I can say that it was my favourite day thus far. I felt rejuvenated this morning, probably because the absence of internet forced us to turn in early the previous night. It was a cold morning, yet it was a strange feeling because the sun was warming up our bodies as well. As we munched on our breakfast, the minibus took us to a higher elevation to commence our hike. The air was really thin and everyone was taking more effort to breathe. We were instructed to avoid trampling on the vegetation, which exuded a feeling of serenity and tranquility. I felt like I was at the top of the world and could literally look down at everyone at sea level. As usual, a galore of photos were added to my collection as we trudged on to the respective peaks. Huff and puff, panting and with calf muscles feeling the strain of continuous exertion, there were a few moments when I had felt like giving up. Nevertheless, everyone encouraged each other, and I can assure you, it was all worth the effort. The gratification achieved upon reaching the summit was the sweetest one can get. It was a pity that I hadn't brought my country and university flag along, otherwise I would have posed with them and do them proud. Having ascended two peaks above 3000 m, I've now added another milestone to my life; I felt a great sense of accomplishment. One interesting fact that I observed when scaling the mountain ranges was that there were many locals (both young and old) doing it as well. A group of retirees particularly impressed me and spurred me to push on. With a plethora of food choices in Taiwan, it's puzzling why I haven't seen many obese people thus far. This must be the reason. Back in Singapore, most people, especially the working population, are merely interested in mainstream activities like shopping, movies etc. I feel that this spirit is totally not adventurous at all! As such, I admire the locals for their efforts in maintaining a healthy lifestyle even as they approach senescence. I was just telling Andria that it was really unfortunate that time did not permit the scaling of more peaks. I strongly feel that in next year's edition, more time should be set aside for this segment. The optimal is to scale 9 peaks, so that you can put them together in a grid collage representing 9 different altitudes - how cool is that!!! She totally saw eye to eye with me. Lunch today was awesome, probably the best thus far. It was so delicious that I ate two boxes. Vico was telling me that he was worried lunch would be bread again, due to our previous experience at Yangmingshan, when it was probably cumbersome to transport lunch boxes up high elevation. I shared the same worries, but thankfully, it was not to be. I feel that for this programme, lunch boxes should be provided more frequently as they are cheap and good, and most importantly, are provided in excess and high quantity. I have to confess that I did not feel full most of the time when we ate at restaurants. It was expensive and the quantity was little, so I'm not very keen on that.

The early afternoon segment was a napping session. Everyone was so overwhelmed with fatigue that we crashed into our beds immediately upon reaching our rooms. That was the moment when I realized that the WiFi in the room was working! I yelped for joy, which meant that I can now post my daily blog entries! Thereafter, we had a lecture on 'Introduction to Meifeng Farm'. I'm truly impressed by how well the farm has done to juggle the financial, education, commercial, and subsistence aspects. The infrastructure of NTU towards education and research in agriculture is really comprehensive, equipping students with practical skills necessary for the working world. For that, I wish to credit the faculty for their job well done.

 Scaling the first peak (3416m) - mission accomplished

 The first peak

The second peak (3237m)

 Floating in the mountains

 Fog/mist

 Meditation amidst clouds

Funky-looking toilet

Up the mountains - the air gets thinner...

Today represents the half-way mark of this summer programme. Due to the rate by which activities come and go, it hardly felt like two weeks has passed. Breakfast was again a similar style as the day before. I particularly enjoyed the minced pork rice. Thereafter, we headed over to Lyuchui Trail for more hiking. I groaned in dismay when we were required to put on our helmet; I detested that feeling of having my head ‘trapped’ in a confined space. As such, I removed it from time to time to wipe perspiration off my hair. On the right side of the helmet read three words: ‘Not Absolutely Safe’, which immediately got my attention. How reassuring and ironic was that! The main purpose of a helmet is to protect you from falling debris and yet they had to print those words, which kind of defeated the purpose of even putting on the helmet in the first place! We walked continuously, in the process taking photos and admiring the scenery. Then came the highlight of this segment of the trip – the waterfall cliff/tunnel. It was a pity because none of us brought a change of clothes, and this kept me from wading in the water. Nonetheless, I was still hit by falling water from the ceiling of the tunnel. Wet and sticky, I desperately tried to dry myself by sitting on a rock which was fully exposed to the full force of the sun.

 Jump shot in the tunnel

 On the bridge

 Water cliff

Lunch was fantastic. Randy and I were smart enough to take the table with only 4 people, simply because we were extremely hungry and wanted more food to ourselves. I practically performed a one-man job on the steamed fish!

Next up was a really long bus journey as we did a steep ascent to Bilu Sacred Tree and subsequently Hehuanshan Station, then to Meifeng Farm. Although this was not my first experience ascending a mountain range (two months ago, I was at an altitude of 1900m in Yunnan province, China), curiosity still arose in me as the external surrounding gradually became more foggy. I also witnessed the transformation of vegetation type from tropical species to alpine vegetation. The mountain roads look precarious as any slip of the vehicle would have led to a plunge down 3000m! My mood became better as the temperature dropped, because I’m one who thrives in cold weather. By the time it was time for dinner, I was unusually not hungry at all, probably because we merely sat on the bus right after lunch, and digestion was slow. The worst news to greet us was the breakdown of all forms of internet connection in the lodging, which meant that this was a night when we would likely all sleep early. On the bright sight, with all of us taken off our computers, it allowed more quality time for social interaction. Otherwise, we would have gone back to our ‘anti-social’ manner of befriending our technology and gadgets for the night. There’s going to be more hiking tomorrow, and the fact that we have to rise earlier than usual means that I will have to stop my diary here. Goodnight all, and have a good rest!

    Halfway up the mountains

A Day at Taroko

Breakfast was simply sumptuous this morning. I had expected another serving of toast and hot beverage, but it surprised me when breakfast took the form of a buffet, with a Chinese-style theme. I guess I had gone too used to the Western style breakfast of egg and ham, which explains why I was so taken aback.

Then came a bus journey to Taroko National Park. I had mixed feelings when Jack mentioned that we are about to leave the last trace of civilization. On one hand, I was excited because we are about to venture deep into the natural heritage of Taiwan, with many new discoveries to be made. On the other hand, it is expected that convenience stores will be almost impossible to come by once we embark on our expedition. Nevertheless, I couldn't wait anymore for the journey to Shakadang Trail. Over there, we hiked along one of the most popular trails (thank God it was a much easier route than the one at Yangmingshan). It was a truly mesmerizing river with boulders of various sizes. The speed and power of the current seemed to exude an intimidating effect. Of course, photo-taking has already become the default practice every time there's a scenic view, and this was no exception. Some of us couldn't resist the temptation to dive into the clear water and take a dip, partly due to the scorching weather. However, I did not join as I did not like the feeling of being wet and having no available change of clothes. As of before, Jessica and I embarked on our own swift-photo-snap act again. This time, we dragged Randy along with us. We persevered along the trail which culminated in a dam. On a side note, I am very sorry for the deer which died (for whatsoever reason which I do not know); may it rest in peace.

 Dam

Dead deer

The highlight of lunch was this plate of frog stomach. I have eaten frog leg before, but never frog stomach. It's texture was smooth and chewy. Not my favourite dish but still, worth trying.

Frog stomach 

After lunch, we had a spin around Swallow Grotto Trail and Nine Turns Trail. Here, I witnessed for myself the towering gorge in this national park. However, I didn't enjoy this segment as the rain took some joy of it. I had to hold an umbrella in one hand and it was a really bad feeling since I only had one hand free. Furthermore, I had to keep on making adjustments to protect my camera from the rainwater. The helmet didn't help matters, as it made my head feel 'trapped'. As a result, I didn't manage to get as many pretty shots as I wanted, and it was truly disappointing.

 Nine Turns Trail

Nine Turns Trail

Now, we're at Tienhsiang Youth Activity Centre, our accommodation for the night. Finally, we have individual beds! Alright, now hungry and waiting for dinner! Hope everyone had fun today!