2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 05 - 林務局休憩園區

On the way to the next spot, we drove through the Forestry Bureau of Penghu. Remember I said Penghu is like a desert in the middle of the ocean? After years of effort by the Bureau, everywhere in Penghu is now planted with trees that can withstand the heat and lack of water. Of course there are more on-going efforts, such as watering trucks have to go out regularly to keep the plants alive, but the plants now living on the islands made Penghu is much more beautiful place, and also regulates the climate for the people.

The "fake" 雙心石滬 in the Bureau. 雙心石滬 is a famous spot in 七美, a island south to the main Penghu islands. 石滬 is a man-made structure that traps fish when the tides recede. This one of 七美 is particularly famous because it is shaped like two hearts connected together, therefore it becomes a famous spot for couples who want to mark their love - and literally see hearts connect. To see at picture of the real 雙心石滬, click here.

The "fake" rock columns - another famous sight of Penghu is the rock columns... more to come....

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 04 - 山水

山水 is also another famous beach in Penghu, this one in comparison is packed with people when we arrived. There are three tourist buses lined up!

The ancient story goes that by this small hill there was a giant octopus came on the beach and dragged a large sow into the sea. Whether there was really a giant octopus, or why there is a large sow on the beach, no one knows...

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 03 - 蒔裡

蒔裡 is a famous local spot for the fine sand the strong waves. Although there is no one there on the day we visited due to the cloudy weather. I can imagine the place packed with people swimming, paddle surfing, and wind surfing on the water.

This is the tourist centre right next to the beach, it also has a small cafe that serves some local treats...

Savoury cookies, peanut crisps...

and 風茹茶, a tea made out of dried herb that grows locally. Caffeine-free, slightly nutty,  but also tastes slightly bitter.

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 02 - 風櫃

The second place we were taken to was 風櫃, which is famous for hearing the sounds of the tides, and the amazing sight of water column spray towards the sky because of the strange rock formation formed through many years of erosion. However, the water column is only spraying when the wind comes from the south, which only happens less than 5 days a year.

This odd looking building marks how high the water could spray when the right wind comes, roughly about 3 stories high.

The rocks on Penghu islands reminds me of "the Thing" of the Fantastic Four... chuncky...

This is the gutter eroded through out the thousands of years...

and this small crack next to the gutter, is where the water would be spewing if the waves are hitting it from the right angle. No water right now, but you can hear the sound of the ocean, hitting against the rocks, slowly eroding the rocks away even more. Oh, and my foot was there...

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 3 - Point 01 - 蛇頭山

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.

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 2 - Taichung

Day 2 in Taichung is an in-between day getting ready for my exciting Day 3. But it was great seeing my relatives and cousins who I haven't seen in 16 years. My aunt of course preped too much food, including...

Beef roll from Costco... wait, Costco? How come we don't have this delicious goodness in Vancouver? For less than C$2.50 you get a foot long roll filled to the edge with sliced steak and melting cheese...

I miss so much the pressed tofu with a dent in the middle! Don't know why but it just tastes better! Stewed with (very) fatty pork, bamboo shoots, nappa cabbage, and carrots

Soft boiled squit with light soy ginger sauce - another product of Costco Taiwan which you just defrost, chop, and serve.

On to some sight-seeing... actually, more food-seeing. What I learned this time in Taiwan in pretty much next to all large buddist temples in Taiwan, you can find local market or night market with hidden delicious food.

Came here for the 肉圓, deep fried rice dough filled with pork and cubed bamboo shoot, covered in sweet/hot sauce, one of the most famous food that Taichung people are proud of.

Hours later, heading to Taichung Airport (what?! more airport?!). I am heading to Penghu! Which is a group of islands west of the Taiwan main island, famous for gorgeous natural landscape and fresh seafood!

But... I am taking this tiny 50-seater plane and it was pouring rain with very, very strong wind. It was amazing that the plane took off without a hitch and landed in one piece... thank you!!

2012 May Taiwan Trip - Day 1 - Transportation

Start my day off right, the way a true Canadian should be! Not realizing I am just going to spill this Timmy coffee on my shirt minutes later... before my 10 hour flight

Very grateful there is a charge station at the YVR boarding gates... already down to 50% battery on my cellphone saying "see ya" to friends.

This is the plane I am taking, JAL connection flight from YVR/Canada through Narita Airport/Japan to Taoyuan Airport/Taiwan.

Blue sky and I am thousand feets in the air overlooking... I think that is Vancouver Island

Well, one advice here - don't order the seafood meal! Good thing I am already half drunk with the nice ume (plum) wine. Fish in white sauce with sweet potato and beans, smoked salmon, salad greens, and fruit.

Seafood meal #2 - Tuna sandwich, apples, and orange juice - really? tuna sandwich? what happened to my second full meal?

10.5 hours later, Narita Airport, where I will spend 3.5 hour till my flight to Taiwan.

Well, what better use of my time than more eating?! Since I am in Japan, I must try what a real Japanese ramen is like - a simple shoyu ramen will do.

Over looking airplanes taking off with a bowl of hot noodles in front of me... nice...

Not too bad but not too great, serves me right to have noodles not in a noodle shop. But the noodles are cooked right, soup is light, and good amount of fat on the meat, so no complaint here.

On to the next flight after 30 minutes delay due to "waiting for other plane to land" - what a lame excuse! More fish in white sauce with potato, spinach, and mushroom, shrimp and tuna, salad greens and fruit - with a specially made Screw Driver on the side!

Off the plane but with no time to take pictures! Rushed to bus station and hop on a bus to Taichung! That (almost) concludes my 24 hour day of transportation...

1 hour prep at home + 4 hours at YVR + 10.5 hours to Japan + 3.5 hours in Narita + 3 hours to Taiwan + 1.5 hour bus ride + 0.5 hour car ride = Day 1