Saturday, rising early and chatting with the hostel staff and fellow travelers over breakfast and coffee, we made our way to the subway, then to the bus station...and then to the mountains. A half hour bus ride away from the most bustling part of downtown Taipei and we found ourselves isolated in the barrens of YangMing Shan (Yang Ming Mountain) National Park. It is perhaps one of the most visited and easily accessible parks in Taiwan, but it is huge and beautiful and easy to get away from the crowds.
Our goal - to spend the day hiking then return to the city for the Stomp performance went off without a hitch. We made it to the peak of three separate (although geologically connected) volcanoes; one via a tourist route that was mostly rock steps...think climbing to a 20th floor apartment on the escape ladder, the second two were sources of extreme delight for us...rugged slogs through mud, muck and rope sections, steep cliffs, boulders and rockfalls and birds and ... something that barks like a dog but looks like a squirrel (yes, probably a squirrel....I know). These last two peaks, although not gargantuan heights themselves, offered an excellent day of volcano hiking in the unmistakable YangMingShan fog.
A tow truck takes away a stalled cal at the trailhead to the Mt. Datung (Main, South and East peaks, the triple volcano set) while the shuttle bus awaits...for along time ... to pick up the passengers. This was on our way up, so we simply watched the events unfold as we picked at our carrot and bread and prune lunch.
Trevor with a mysteriously calm and giving moth, slightly drenched and still in the morning chill, while Crystal ponders the foggy crags ahead and the alpine jungle....if one can say that...of YangMingShan Park.
Note our attire....it was bleeding cold. Wet, foggy and cold. Typical of the mountains in winter in Taiwan!
Rope sections - the camera does nothing to describe the angle and the need for these ropes! It was a wild, fast paced sloppy time which we were greatful for. An awsome trail, three awsome volcanoes and, if there was no fog, three awsome views to return for.
Back to the city, to the hostel, changed, swap hiking boots for sandals, grab dinner at a nearby HotPot place then take a cab to the National Theater. However, this cab.....well.....when we finally flagged down a cab after dinner and told him where we wanted to go, he looked confused. We assumed it was our butchering of the Chinese language that was causing all the problems, so we tried again. He looked more confused. Then we said we want to watch a play. Then he replied in English - "The National Theater". Yes.
"We are here".
And there we were. Yet, we had moved less than a block. The Theater loomed ahead of us in all its Chinese architectural grandeur, much less than a block away. The confusion was not due to language, but due to our confusing request to take a taxi for less than a block. Lazy, even by the most subdued couch potato standard! He realized our mistake, and decided to take us right to the front door, for free. No problem, he quipped, as we exited and pranced our way across the sidewalk to the theater doors. Embarrassed, just a little.
Stomp, the show, was awesome. We had heard of it before, but never seen it. And, having met two of the performers, it was a nice comfortable feeling that stayed with us through the show. Leaving inspired and rejuvenated, we searched out a place to rest our bones and share a pint for the evening.
Excellent weekend, excellent weather and new sights and sounds for us. Finding two exotic and rugged hikes in the park was an unexpected surprise, and now that we know where they are, we have a starting point for our next adventure in the north.
Back to the city, to the hostel, changed, swap hiking boots for sandals, grab dinner at a nearby HotPot place then take a cab to the National Theater. However, this cab.....well.....when we finally flagged down a cab after dinner and told him where we wanted to go, he looked confused. We assumed it was our butchering of the Chinese language that was causing all the problems, so we tried again. He looked more confused. Then we said we want to watch a play. Then he replied in English - "The National Theater". Yes.
"We are here".
And there we were. Yet, we had moved less than a block. The Theater loomed ahead of us in all its Chinese architectural grandeur, much less than a block away. The confusion was not due to language, but due to our confusing request to take a taxi for less than a block. Lazy, even by the most subdued couch potato standard! He realized our mistake, and decided to take us right to the front door, for free. No problem, he quipped, as we exited and pranced our way across the sidewalk to the theater doors. Embarrassed, just a little.
Stomp, the show, was awesome. We had heard of it before, but never seen it. And, having met two of the performers, it was a nice comfortable feeling that stayed with us through the show. Leaving inspired and rejuvenated, we searched out a place to rest our bones and share a pint for the evening.
Excellent weekend, excellent weather and new sights and sounds for us. Finding two exotic and rugged hikes in the park was an unexpected surprise, and now that we know where they are, we have a starting point for our next adventure in the north.
