Koahsiung to Baisha and Back Again

Fortunately this spring, we have a bunch of long weekends. On our first long weekend, we took a 3 day bike ride around the southern tip of Taiwan. If you are looking at a map, we started in Taitung and rode around to Kenting. It was a challenging and gorgeous ride. Up a mountain down a mountain and finishing at a gorgeous beach. We rented bikes from Giant (a Taiwanese bike company that is popular in the states as well) for about $30 US a day. Here are some maps that Ben made of our journey. Check it out!



On the train from Kaohsiung to Taitung, where we started the trip.

At the bike shop starting our ride. We took the trip with Julia and Jon - two of our good friends here in Taiwan.

A short stop along the coast. Jon and Ben chatting.

Julia and I. Nice helmets, I know.


Our bikes loaded up. We camped all along the way so we were climbing the mountains with our bikes weighted down with tents and clothes. A great challenge.

When we stopped for the first night, Ben found some local friends who were enamored by his height.

Our campsite for the first night. This elementary school basketball court was a nice protection from the wind.

Second day on the road.

Wow! I was tired by this spot. We climbed up a mountain for about 10km.

View from the top.

Jon with a thumbs up. This was the point when the trip changed - down hill!

View of the west coast from the top.

I made it!

All of us on our way down the mountain. The pain of uphill seems so far away.

The best part of the ride for me - Hwy 199. A smooth coasting ride through the mountains, along a river, and never ending hedges of bougainvilleas of all colors.

A victory dip in the ocean. This was an excellent finish to our ride. We ended in Baisha, a beach community of the West Coast near Kenting. Gorgeous water and beautiful sunsets for a reward.

Sunset our first night.




Our little camp spot for the night. Not a bad view.

Baisha. So gorgeous.

Breakfast at the local shop.

Ben and I. "I love the beach!!" shouts Jon.

Julia's awesome tan line. A nice souvenir from the bike ride.

Baisha on the third day. After two hard days of bike riding, sitting on the beach was a nice change.


That's me!

Julia and I just before sunset.

Dusk as we bike back to the Giant shop.

Ahhhhh. It was difficult to leave this site, but back to Koahsiung we went.

A Run Through Kaohsiung

At the end of February, Ben and I and a few of our friends participated in the Kaohsiung Marathon. Even though I only ran 10k, it felt like a huge personal accomplishment. We started and finished at the World Games Stadium in our city. As we finished we ran in around the track and were on the jumbo screen in the stadium. It was an early morning and a great day! Taroko last November was the catalyst and I am sure there are many more runs to come! Here are some fun pics from our running day!

Outside of the World Games Stadium, our starting point for the run.

Jon and Julia, our two American friends who ran the race with us that day.

Mark, Jon, and Ben getting warmed up for the early morning run.

Ben and I waiting for the start.


Mark, Jon, and Julia.
Caitlin, Julia, and I.


Caitlin and I. We didn't intend on matching, it just happened. Caitlin was my training buddy for this race.

And we're off. Julia in the gray, I am next to her (you can see my leg), and Caitlin waving.

And the boys! Jon in blue shorts, Ben in black shorts, and Mark waving in the orange shirt.

The Mayor of Koahsiung (in red) made it out for the event.

Everyone at the starting mark.

The start for the marathon runners. One day, that will be me.

The finish before anyone came in.

Here I come! 1hour and 15 minutes. At about 1 hour 8 minutes, the first place half marathon runner passed me. To be clear, this man finished 21k before I finished 10k. No wonder he makes money doing this.

Ben at the finish line at 1hr 8 minutes.

Caitlin beating us all 1 hour 2 minutes. Congrats!

Yenshui Round 2!

One of our favorite Chinese New Year Festivals is the Yenshui Beehive Fireworks Festival. We attended this last year as well, but I think that the second time was much more exhilarating. Standing around with groups of strangers suited up from head to toe with protective gear waiting to be showered with fireworks is definitely a once in a lifetime that we were fortunate to experience twice. These pictures may look scary, but trust me, it is one of the most fun things I have ever done.

If you can see the tower in the middle, that is where all the fireworks shoot out of. It starts at the top and goes all the way to the ground hitting every inch of your body.

My own personal fireworks show.


Jump and shake! Jump and shake. People crowd in front of the fireworks in traditional belief that being hit with as many as possible will scare away bad spirits and bring good luck for the year.


The smokey aftermath.
A rack piled up and being wired to soon be set off.

Fireworks off in the distance.

So beautiful!

Ben marvels at a brightly colored truck parading the gods around the event.


Some teenagers with some fool proof protection. Who needs a helmet? Elmo will save you!

Ben all suited up on the right with the silver helmet. He really jumped in the mayhem this year. Look closely at the back of his jacket. Parts are singed from direct firework contact.

A couple local guys who are really getting in the action. This is not their first time.