May 26, 2018 Day 5 Taiwan

The mangoes, pineapple, and watermelon were so sweet in Taiwan.  Also pictures above is the wax apple (which looked like an oblong apple and was juicy inside like asian pear) and cherimoya (often referred to as the most delicious fruit known to man - which I disagree with - and tastes like a banana/pineapple).  

We stopped at a mango farm where they also processed them for shipping to other countries.  We purchased dried mangoes here and also freshly pureed and frozen mangoes in bottles.  They cut fresh mangoes for us and they were unbelievable sweet.

David, our guide, is introducing us to the wax apple.  Jonathan and I both had allergic reactions to it.  Fun fact:  he flower of this tree is used in Taiwan to treat fever and halt diarrhea.

Our tour guide had us meet at this temple before starting the days festivities which included the Anping Old Fort, Anping Treehouse, a stop for custard, and shave ice.

Our custard stop.  I wasn't too impressed,  Maybe because we were sitting outside in the heat.

Anping Fort/Fort Zeelandia...  it was a fortress built over 10 years from 1624-1634 by the Dutch East India Company during their 38 year rule over the western part of the island.  

Anping Treehouse was a former warehouse constructed in 1867 in Tainan that stored sugar and camphor before shipment.  In 1911, it was turned into the office and warehouse of Japan Salt Company.  Once it was abandoned, the banyan tree spread its branches and roots around the building creating this "treehouse".

Dylan and her adopted big sis.

Marty is in line to get us some shave ice!!  Couldn't read the menu very well - even with Google translate... but this is what we got and it was yummy.

Hayadashi Department Store.  Originally completed and opened in December 1932 during Japanese rule.  Upon completion, the building was one of two stores with the state of the art features of elevators.  The building was bombed by the US at the end of WWII.  It was restored and reopened on June 14, 2014.  

May 25, 2018 Day 4 Taiwan

Gymnastics in the hotel room may be the best part of the trip for Dylan.

Every hotel had breakfast in the morning.  It was always the best meal of the day (in my opinion).

We stayed the MATA Indigenous Culture Hotel in Taitung.  Taiwan’s twenty two million people are predominantly Han Chinese.  There are two predominant aboriginal peoples known as the Amis and the Yami but with others from the remaining 12 happily mingling in as well.

LUNCH!!

We finally made it to the southern beaches of Taiwan.  The sand was NOT soft but the water was warm.

I visited Taiwan when I was 10 years old...  so 36 years ago!  I don't remember it as being as beautiful as it is.  I hope Dylan will remember some of the beauty.

This was Dylan's favorite hotel because it had a kid's play area.  This was the Richforest Hotel Kenting.

As soon as the sun went down, Kenting's night life lit up.  And poof - when morning came, all the vendors were gone without a trace!

May 24, 2018 Day 3 Taiwan

This is a temple which was right next door to our dorm like lodging.

Funny little statue that we found on our way back from Starbucks in the morning.

Driving along Highway #11 (the Pacific Ocean coast line) to Taitung County.

OMG!  This was so beautiful!!

Sanxiantai Dragon Back Bridge to the Island of the 3 Immortals.  Located on the eastern coastline of Taiwan.  It stretches from the mainland to a group of small islands.  It is folklore that the 3 rocks signify the resting place of 3 of the 8 immortal saints and after they took their rest, they left 3 huge footprints - these are the 3 massive rocks.

The walk over the dragon back bridge was not bad.  The breeze was nice.  Once over though...  it was like a sauna.  The high brush blocked any kind of breeze and it was just hot stifling air all around.  

This is Dylan...  not impressed with the heat.  I was afraid to tell her that we had to walk back across and we were not even 1/2 way yet.

Seriously impressed that she made it with minimal complaining given the heat.