Sep 14, 2018 - Taiwan Baseball & City Sights

Having gone to three professional baseball games while in Japan, had to attend one in Taiwan. There are only four teams in the Taiwan League so viewing options are a bit limited. But, the Taipei team, Fubon Guardians, had a home game scheduled so onto the metro it is, and to the stadium. Obtaining a ticket was absolutely no problem. Stadium capacity is 12,000, and I would estimate there were 500 fans in attendance. Pick a seat - any seat. Or just move around the stadium and watch the game from different vantage points. That's what I did....

Sep 13, 2018 - Taipei from the Top

I don't know why, but I've always enjoyed, nay pursued, the views from high above; though am extremely afraid being near the edge of a high place - no, knee buckling terrified. The perspective from on-high is humbling, and awe inspiring. We are so small, and Mother Earth so HUGE. Hence, journeys to tall buildings are an opportunity to see a place from a vastly different perspective. Walking the streets is a great way to get a feel for a city, but that view from above puts it all into a big picture. Especially as to how the place is...

Sep 12, 2018 - Taipei Redux Day Two

The dire threats of bad wet weather have not materialized yet this week; Hurray ! In fact, it's been the best consecutive days weather we've experienced in Taiwan. So, outside we go. Today was to the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial. We had not been in the building 10 minutes when we're asked to move away from the center area of the memorial rotundra. Should've researched more, but there is a changing of the Honor Guards every hour on the hour. The 15 minute formal process was precision in motion. Every step, every body motion of each guard was...

Sep 11, 2018 - Taipei Re-visited

Drove from Hsinchu up to Taipei (actually Taoyuan where Taipei International Airport is located) and returned our rental car. In 20 days we circumnavigated the Taiwan Island with some journeys into the central mountain regions. Travelled 1561 km, or a bit under 1,000 miles. The tollways we used cost a grand total of $14 ! Total petrol cost $125. Definitely a travel bargain, which enabled us to really venture off standard routes and see the country. First day back in Taipei decided to visit a Hand Puppet Theater/Museum. Luck was with us...

Sep 8, 2018 - Hsinchu, so changed

I first went to Hsinchu in the early 90's when it was a small 'village'. WOW - how things have changed ! It is now a BIG city. Absolutely unrecognizable; there were no buildings over three stories, now there are countless over 20 ! Had the enjoyable opportunity to visit with & have a leisurely lunch with Jimmy Liu, his wife Emily, and son Michael. I worked with Jimmy at AMAT back in the 90's & into the 00's. It was very special to see Jimmy again after so many years, and especially to meet his wife & youngest son. And their choice of...

Sep 2, 2018 - Sun Moon Lake

Spent a couple days at Sun Moon Lake up in the mountains northeast of Tainan. First day was cloudy with a bit of rain, but day two had gorgeous blue skies with warm dry breezy air. Perfect day for walking in the hillsides around the town. A 2km walk up a steep country lane took us past a research center for growing black tea, complete with terraced tea trees/shrubs. The walk culminates at a weather station that was originally established by the Japanese in the 1930's. There were nice views of the surrounding mountainside terrain from that...

Aug 30, 2018 - Tainan II

The weather was overcast this morning so we walked a few blocks to the National Museum of Taiwan Literature. It is housed in a government building built by the Japanese in 1916. Though largely destroyed during WWII, it has been renovated to the original design. The literature museum section is well organized and curated. The muti-faceted Taiwan culture flavored by the aboriginals, Dutch, Chinese & Japanese, to the continuing flavors imparted by global immigration and the cultural currents of modernity, are explained, and examples of those...

Aug 29, 2018 - Tainan, Zeelandia to Qing

It appears that the weather gods have smiled upon our journey a bit yet again. Yes it was raining and we could not go to Kenting National Park, BUT, our drive from east to west over the mountains was without any flooded roads or trucks having close encounters with tunnels. Unfortunately we were not able to visit with Yuyu & her husband in Kaohsiung, though we may have needed a boat to do so based on the flooding in that city. So, we proceeded up to Tainan. Though not a small city, it has a laid-back, small town vibe. It has been utilized by...

Aug 28, 2018 - Rainy Route

After two rain soaked days in Taitung, and no dryness in the short-term forecast, we decided to deploy paddles and launch over the mountains to the west coast. Alas & alack we'll not go to Kenting Park at the southern end of Taiwan. The wet weather has begun to shut down roads, and our friend Yuyu from Koahsiung has said venturing to that city is a no-go. So, we will alter plans and head to Tainan, further up the west coast.

Aug 25, 2018 - Taroko National Park

In order to get to Taroko Gorge National Park from Wulai we pretty much had to drive back to the outskirts of Taipei. The mountains are so steep and the passes so few or narrow there is really only one highway, Rt. 5, to get to the northeast of Taiwan. Once we reached Yilan we used the winding Rt. 9 to drive south along Taiwan's eastern coast. It is reminiscent of Rt. 1 along the California coast. There are many tunnels on the route. At one point a tractor-trailer rig heading north clipped the tunnel exit and veered into our southbound lane...

Aug 22, 2018 - Back to the Mountains

Took the mass transit to the airport and picked-up our rental car. Back to driving on the right (correct ?) side of the road ! Eventually made our way out of the urban sprawl of Taipei and headed into the mountains. Followed a winding river valley for an hour or so, and arrived to the small town of Wulai. Spent the next couple days hiking the surrounding countryside, and identifying bird species. Lidia added 5 new species to her life list in those 2 days. If we had been tracking butterfly species we'd have added at least 50 during the two...

Aug 20, 2018 - Taiwan On

Journey from our hotel to Narita Airport was quick & without delay, and so we arrived about three hours before flight time. Unfortunately, check-in does not begin until two hours before flight time. Fortunately, we were 1st in line for check-in. Better news upon checked-in; we were asked if we would prefer to sit in an exit row because we spoke English. Instantly, "Thank you, Yes we would". As we boarded it was very evident that the exit row seating was a present from the airline gods. The standard seating rows were REAL CLOSE to each...