Joy in the Journey!

Last Saturday we left Fengyuan at 8:00 AM for what turned out to be our greatest adventure in Taiwan so far. Erin and Devin had found a random tourist sight in one of the travel books, and we decided to check it out. Destination: FIRE-WATER in Guanzaling! Yeah...it isn't as exciting as it sounds, in fact I found it rather boring...but the trip that took us there was amazing! We spent most of the day zippin' around the beautiful green countryside of Taiwan on scooters. Best. Thing. Ever. We also ate a whole chicken and wild boar in a famous BBQ tent up the mountains, went swimming in some incredibly relaxing hot springs, visited a gorgeous temple, and spent at least 2 hours riding our scooters in pouring rain! Everything worked out perfectly through the very end when we jumped on the train with 30 seconds to spare. I LOVED THIS DAY!

Ready for a rockin day exploring Taiwan! At the train station we saw one of the secretaries, Amy, from school.

Gorgeous scenery during the train ride...

Ah yes my friends, the time has finally arrived to rent scooters!

Signing their lives away...

Scooter #1: Erin and Devin

Scooter #2: Libby and Laura

Scooter #3: Kristi and Meg

The "Smile" gas station where we stopped to fill up, pre-journey.

And now, please join me for a scooter ride through the countryside of Taiwan!

(The pictures do not do this adventure justice...it was BEAUTIFUL!)

Picture Break! Notice the storm clouds rolling in...this was one of the last dry moments of our day.

The view at the restaurant before it started raining...

The crew: Erin, me, Meg, Devin, Laura, Libby

Totally unplanned, we ended up at this restaurant...well, tent...that is apparently famous for their BBQ chicken. A nice lady who was eating their spoke English, and helped us order. Everything was delicious, except the weird green vegetables.

It's only a little strange to have your lunch stare back at you...

Looking out of the tent at the storm and green, green mountains!

Rockin the ponchos. It was pouring!

On our drive back down the mountain we stopped to look over the city we'd just been in!

One of the pools at the hot springs

Partyin it up at the hot springs! In Taiwan, everybody has to wear a swim cap...adorable.

Chillin' in the rain

I seriously felt like we were on a mysterious movie set at this temple...the clouds were all misty and hovering over the green mountain top behind this beautiful building.

This wall was below the temple and had the most amazing view!

Me lovin' those Taiwan mountains!

Guanziling...page 259 in the tour book that started it all!

This "geological oddity" is totally legit!

Look out...it's pretty intense...

The FIRE-WATER!

Crazy-cool dragon mural!

Meg and I had a blast being scooter-buddies!

Erin and Devin, the navigators, and the trusty maps that survived the entire rainy day with us!

Video of me driving a scooter for the first time...haha...lunch, flesh-eating fish nibbling our toes at the hot springs, the awesome temple, and the fire-water!