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19 Oct 2012 Here is a video of some very wet hikes mostly (not quite all) from Yangmingshan National Park. About 4 Minutes.

19 Oct 2012 This is from yet another day of hiking.

Here is a good place to mention the hot spring. After the Datum trail we decided to stop at the hot spring in the park, a perfect way to warm up. These pictures are actually from another day we had stopped when the bath was closed for cleaning and we had to content ourselves with the foot warming pool outside. On the day of the big hike it was open, we split up and I went to the mens side. No pics of the inside because there was a bunch of naked old men in there, one more when I arrived.

After being chilled to the bone and soaking wet on the hike you can just imagine how soaking in hot spring water felt.

I should mention something else about Taiwan. A surprising number of tourist attractions and activities are absolutely free. So different from South Florida where you pay through the nose for everything.

Look closely for one of the old Japanese observation posts on the distant hill

Left: Some local youngsters enjoying the day, climbing on those old military relics.

Below: The wheat like stuff is called silvergrass.

Left: Taiwan has been controlled by a few different countries in it's history. For a while it was under the control of Japan. These fortified observation posts are from the (relatively short) Japanese era. Naturally they are perched on the most scenic mountain vantage points.

Below: I didn't get inside (Thought I would have loved to) but I did poke my camera stick in through the observation port.

The trail later gave way to a forest of these small Bamboo. You had to duck down into the bamboo to see the trail. If you kept your up you would regret it. It was wet and overcast, I needed a flash for this shot even at mid day.

Despite the warm tropical climate I was soaked through and freezing by the time we topped the summit.

19 Oct 2012 Below a much later hike, this was actually a much more strenuous hike called Datum Old Stream trail. I was in much better shape by them and it was a good thing. Most of the first half was this incredible rocky stream. The shade was so intense I had trouble getting enough light for the camera.

Walking down through the mist filled trail

The day was very "atmospheric", here I am at the summit, a bit socked in but the clouds broke long enough to take is some good views. (Below)

19 Sept 2012 One one of my first hikes in Taiwan was to Seven Star (Qixing) Mountain in Yangmingshan park.We started at a small geothermal area with Fumaroles spouting. You could really small the sulfurous steam. It reminded me a bit of Yellowstone.

As you can see Yangmingshan Park is a beautiful treasure. Public transportation is available but was not as good as other places. And the other places had great hiking and other attractions as well. In a way parks can feel a bit over protected and in a way too well known. I could not just skip over the splendid days we spent here but I think my favorite excursions were in other areas as outlined in the Saunders books Taipei Escapes 1 and 2. You will see more of them in upcoming pages.

The next page however is not a particular place or excursion, It focuses on the temples of Taiwan which are found throughout the country. Some of them are quite amazing. Don't miss it.

Dispatch 10c

Taiwans YangMingShan National Park

About 19 Sept – 19 Oct 2012

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10d The Temples of Taiwan

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