So Day 3 my aunts, my mom, and I have arrived at Penghu and staying with my aunt's sister-in-law. She and her husband are totally nice people and have arranged our entire 3 day of Penghu trip for us. The first day in Penghu they personally drove us around the entire Penghu to see all the famous spots accessible by car. Penghu is not a huge place, driving from one end to another takes about 40 minutes. But there are so many natural wonders you don't see anywhere else!
The first spot, 蛇頭山, Snake Head Mountain. Not obvious to us but supposedly a birds-eye view will show the mountain shaped like a snake's head.
What surprised me the most at this time was how much cactus is growing on Penghu! Although in a tropical zone in the middle of the ocean, Penghu is very hot and the ground is sandy and salty. So in the beginning there is barley any trees to control the island climate. Penghu usually rains less than 7 days in a year so it was pretty much a desert surrounded by water. At the same time, Penghu is the first line of defence during the time of war, so the smart people in the past introduced this spiky cactus to the island and planted them wherever enemy might land.
Beautiful cactus flower - only can look from afar
Now at a time of peace, cactus is not so much for defence, but it has become a famous local product. The cactus fruit were made famous into fresh juice or delicious sorbe.
More pictures of the beautiful coastline
The flower of the Penghu - 天人菊 (rose-ring gaillardia) - is pretty much the only widely grown flower that can survive the heat.
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