Isle Formosa...Part Deux

Back to Taiwan I went, to try out the mountains. There were many of them. Some forested, some only partially.

Like other mountains I had seen, Taiwan's were beatuiful. Long ridgelines plunged a couple thousand feet into boulder-strewn valleys. Mist, hail and snow danced around trails hugging sticky-mud covered paths. Camping, we huddled down and ate the bare necessities- Salame hoagies, chunks of Gouda and the occasional Snickers. Wearing a 20 KG backpack, it does indeed really satisfy.

One of the other guys who came along brought a bottle of wine. I enjoyed drinking the smoky French red wine in my titanium camper's mug (whole lotta ounce shaving going on here) whilst being buffeted by unexpectedly strong wind gusts that at several, points seemed to be doing a good job of exceeding the forces the not so top of the line tent was designed to resist. Rip-stop nylon tent, I love you.

Since we camped at almost 3,500 meteres (exceeding 11,500 feet) Tylenol pills deterred nagging headaches brought on by the height. Cloud-veiled valleys the Taiwanese call White Forests dripped with a constant dose of moisture absorbed every sound but the wind.

Back in Taipei and its many day-tripping options, the Taiwanese are always keen to meet foreign visitors. My habit of noisily slurping up water-laiden tapioca balls drew a curious snicker from a teashoppe girl. I returned the smile, she was so charming.

Taipei's roster of art museums, delightely free from tourists during the weekdays, volleyed inspiration my way.

A cheap, easy-to-use metro train network whisked me from destination to destination, always offering up nice, robin's egg blue molded seats for my weary tourist endoskeleton.

Though the Island is small, (about 300 miles by 80 miles, give or take) after two week-long visits there, Taiwan has given me two totally different experiences: Wintry mists in the north, Snow-free high altitude camping in the Southeast and mild temple walks in sunny Tainan. And plenty, plenty of bubble tea.

On the drive back from hiking, I couldn't ignore all the brightly flowering mango trees. Next time, summer's humidity will be rewarded with oh, so many mango and ice treats. Ice Monster among the most famous mango dessert stands on snacky Yong Gang street was less that busy last week when I passed by. Give it a few months, and the lines with lenghten as the temperature soars. Since it was both wintertime and blustery, I nipped in to Chocoholic for the thickest, richest mug of hot cocoa ever. Swiss Miss ain't got nuthin' on this establishment.

Pictures, anyone? Will have more on file soon.