Time? Place?
Kitty has an appointment at 8:30pm, but other than that, a hike sounds great![/quote]
Yes, let’s enjoy the wilds of Taiwan before the KMT pave over what they couldn’t finish off last time they were in power.
But I thought it was going to reign, or rain tomorrow?
Is it?
Oh no… 
Reining hard.
Well, just thought I’d share a few bizarre incidents from today. Foudn this in the hills just back from my house. Yes, a Tibetan stupa. After all the events this week it really was a shock.
I’ve been to this area dozens of time but never to the knoll where this stupa and shrine are nestled in a little hollow.
Anyone translate this:
What was especially chilling was that the entire time I was there two eagles circled overhead crying out shrill plaintive notes. For Tibet? I couldn’t help but imagine it was.
Weird morning.
On a lighter note, here’s a nice closeup of a friendly blue-tailed skink:
[quote=“Muzha Man”]Anyone translate this:
[/quote]
It’s a grave. I looked up the guy, and apparently he was a prominent politician and Buddhist. You must take me to this place!!
I found this online:
Qu Wenliu 屈文六 1883-1973
Also called Yingguang 屈映光
A prominent minister of the Republican era, he held many posts including that of governor of Shandong in 1919. He was initiated into esoteric Buddhism in 1929
A grave. That makes sense. Is the body under the lotus mound behind the plaque? There was also a larger obvious tomb like structure in the same area.
Governor of Shandong? Patty will be thrilled.
This will be a great addition to your piece for LP next time.
Okay, I’m of early tomorrow morning to catch the HSR to Taichung, the regular train to Ershui, the small-rail Jiji line to Shuili, and a Fongrong Bus to Dongpu. Worth it all to start my week long trek across the Batongguan Trail. See ya’ll in 8 days.
Have a splendid expedition, MM, and keep well away from those nasty little chiggers.
Is anybody up for a hike this coming Saturday?
It’s still raining, according to weather forecast, it would be a cloudy day. We can go hiking this Saturday if you like to join me.
If it doesn’t rain, we can go hiking on Fuba Hiking Trail and explore Fushan section, it would be a 6-to-7 hour hike. If it rains, we can go hiking in Muzha and it would be a 4-to-5 hour hike.
I have a scooter so the transport won’t be a problem for us.
If you feel like to join me, how about we meeting up at 9 a.m. in MRT Xindian station?
Sounds good, Kate.
I’m in.
[quote=“kage”]Sounds good, Kate.
I’m in.[/quote]
Great, see you there. 
kage and I went hiking today, we hiked on Fuba Hiking Trail in Wulai, but we didn’t cover whole trail. We started the hike around 10:30 and got back to the trailhead around 15:00. The trail is nice and lush, and the day is really beautiful. Thank to kage’s great company, I had a pleasant walk in the woods.
Here are some photos from the hike http://www.flickr.com/photos/13050164@N07/
The leech in the photo really sucked a lot of my blood and its size became two or three times bigger than starving leeches. I think it will live very well in the following three months.
You certainly had gorgeous weather for the hike. That’s a lovely leech, isn’t it! I think they’re fascinating little creatures, and I never begrudge them their bellyful of my blood.
I had been aiming to go to Cloud 9 to see Mingshah, but then I had too much work to do (with file after file coming in during the morning), so I had to be content with just dashing up to Wulai at midday for a half-hour swim in the Tonghou Stream.
kage and I talked about arranging a two-day hike from Fushan to Shangbalin during today’s hike. We wondered if you would have interest in hiking on Fuba Trail for two days.
And I was going to Cloud 9 this evening, too. But I got to a hospital instead of getting to Cloud 9.
I came back from the hike and wanted to have a rest before heading to Cloud 9. I watched There Will Be Blood. It’s a terrific movie. I finished watching it and then took a shower. When I was about to leave my bathroom, I heard my cellphone ringing. I dashed out, and unfortunately, I slipped. I got up quickly, felt nothing, and hurried to pick it up. It was a phone call from my professor. Then I said:
“Yes, I got your email.”
“Wait! A lot of blood on my hand!”
“It’s bleeding!”
“Shit! I see my bone!”
My professor was terrified by what I was saying. In the meantime, I realized my elbow was deeply and widely cut that I could see my bone.
I managed to get dressed and got to hospital with my flatmate’s help.
I watched There Will Be Blood, and indeed, there is a lot of blood. Bloody day, bloody leaches, and bloody elbow. I did see my bone. (I am trying to amuse myself.)
So…sorry, kage, no two-day hike for me next weekend. My joint was cut really badly. I am lucky that my nerves and tendons are fine, but I can’t use my arm probably for two weeks.
And sorry, mingshah, I couldn’t make the trip to Cloud 9.
Yikes, Kate!
Seeing bone is never good. Glad all the harder to heal parts are undamaged.
Hope you are not in any pain. Was it your writing hand?
Had a really great hike today. Thanks heaps, and glad it was a good one - it’ll have to last you a few weeks or so!
Ouch, Kate! I hope the wound will heal quickly and not hurt too much. Make sure to guard it carefully against infection.
Ooooh, Kate! I’m sorry to hear of your injury. First your twisted ankle, and now this…
Blood… bone… ouch! And the leech… yuck!
Hope you recover quickly, Kate!
3 leeches, actually. Kate’s my hero.
(and, IMO, the one in the photo was easily 5 times the volume of the hungry and disappointed leaches)
No chiggers, though. Those little nasties have me a bit edgy these days.
… Pants tucked in… What did Sandman say about them liking the tight area around your waistband? So shirt not tucked in. Or undershirt tucked in and outershirt hanging over.
Ugh…
Thanks! I can barely type after the effect of anesthesia went away. Some funny things happened to me when I was in hospital. I can tell those horror stories when we meet on trail next time.
[quote=“Omniloquacious”]
I had been aiming to go to Cloud 9 to see Mingshah, but then I had too much work to do (with file after file coming in during the morning), so I had to be content with just dashing up to Wulai at midday for a half-hour swim in the Tonghou Stream.[/quote]
Same here, but we ended up camping up Taian way for 3 full, glorious days. The air was so clear today there was a rainbow around the sun. Shooting stars all night, hunters, great company.
River swimming…Awesome.