奇萊南峰 Chilai South Peak & 南華山 Nanhua Mountain

Big weekend just gone YA!  Made the most of Tomb-Sweeping Festival and the long weekend, and off we went for a big expedition to Nantou County in central Taiwan for 3 days on the 能高越嶺古道 Nenggao Cross-Ridge Trail ~ which crosses Taiwan’s central mountain range from west to east… Like many beautiful places in the world, unfortunately the Nenggao Trail has a tragic history, related to the Wushe Incident… These days the trail is used only for peaceful purposes, and mostly by walkers…. that’s us! We started off on Thursday evening from Tamsui, arriving well past midnight in the village of … Continue reading 奇萊南峰 Chilai South Peak & 南華山 Nanhua Mountain

Taipei Student Protests ~ The Sunflower Movement….

Taiwan’s student-led protests and occupation of the Legislature are now into their 3rd week…. so I thought it was high time for me to go along and check out what’s going on! Yesterday (on my home from the diocesan office) I passed by in front of the Legislature Building in downtown Taipei City – the main door guarded by police, but crowds seated on stools listening to speakers, and of course people posing for photos, as always! Then around the back of the Legislature building, and in amongst the student protest area, located around a crossroads.  People, tents, stalls, speakers, … Continue reading Taipei Student Protests ~ The Sunflower Movement….

Pandas World Tour hits Taipei!

Yep, there’s currently 1,600 of them right there in central Taipei – and only a few minutes walk from where the the student protesters are occupying the Legislature.  Such contrasting scenes – but all involve large numbers and a lot of sitting around, which is what both the students and the pandas are doing… Pandas World Tour started with the World Wildlife Fund and the number 1,600 is reckoned to be how many real live pandas there are, 3 of which are in Taipei Zoo – baby panda Yuan-Zai is Taiwan’s latest ‘cute’ obsession.  So this world tour comes at … Continue reading Pandas World Tour hits Taipei!

Yang-Ming Shan 陽明山: All Smiles YA!

Wonderful weather yesterday for Taiwan’s 228 national holiday ~ and it seemed like the whole of Taipei was up on Yang-Ming Shan Mountains making the most of the last few days of the Cherry Blossom season…. And it was quite some day, I can tell you!   3 very delightful students from our university student fellowship and me ~ there we all were standing at the bus stop outside the main SJU gate in the dark at 6:00am, all set for me to lead them on their first ever great ascent of the Yang-Ming Shan mountains…. Can’t believe we did it ha … Continue reading Yang-Ming Shan 陽明山: All Smiles YA!