Let me just start off by saying that I'm really really excited for the weekend.

Reason #1: I'm going to Kending which is known as the Hawaii of Taiwan! I'll be able to relax by the beach, drive a moped, jet ski and do other FUN THINGS. I love being by the water! And yes, you did read that part about the moped correctly; Kenting allows people to rent mopeds with licenses! Which means me, someone who has driven a car less than 15 times in her life will be handed the keys to a moped. How amazing is this?

Reason #2: I don't have to use the bathroom in my dorm for 2 days. Let me explain why this is such good, I mean great news. I think the janitor on our floor has decided to stop coming altogether. I mean, she used to come twice a week which is definitely not enough, but at least we only had to go 2 days at a time without toilet paper. But now, we’ve had to go more than week without toilet paper. And apparently, the idea of cleaning the bathroom here is to dump a bucket of water across the bathroom floor and leave the water to either evaporate or get mixed with dirt and have it spread around the entire hall. Also, the only normal or "western" toilet on our floor is clogged again! I don't blame the toilet, I really don’t. In fact, I feel very sorry for it. It has to endure 40 girls going #2 in it everyday; I'm actually surprised it doesn't break down more often than it does. However, I do believe that toilets should be fixed as soon as possible and shouldn't be left clogged for days until someone who works here notices. I've gotten so used to the smell of the bathroom that I just naturally hold my breath anytime I walk in or walk by, but I've heard that you can smell the odor from the bathroom even when you're a couple feet away from the door. Now that is bad. You know something has got to be wrong with the bathroom in your dorm when you'd rather wait to use a public restroom than use the one in your own hall.

I’m crossing my fingers for the toilet to be fixed when I come back. Some toilet paper would be nice as well. Mopeds…here I come!!!

Posted by Natalie at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

My friend Josh’s family, who are locals in Taiwan took Josh and I to YehLiu Geopark which is on the North-Eastern coast of the island. This geopark is known to have uniquely shaped limestone rocks due to erosion, weathering, strong waves, and salty wind over millions of years. These special rocks, especially known for the “Queen’s Head” is what makes YehLiu Geopark an internationally known tourist attraction.

There is one main road throughout the park that takes visitors through the mushroom rocks, pot-holes, cliffs, etc. There are rocks shaped like random objects, such as a woman’s head, a sandal, a gorilla, a chess board and more. It was a little windy that day which made me feel as if I could taste the salt since the smell was so strong. This is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been to, not just in Taiwan but in the world. It’s amazing to visit an area that has existed for millions of years, has gone through many changes and still continues to change even today.

The main attraction at YehLiu is the “Queen’s Head”. Josh’s aunt told us that due to the natural environment at YehLiu, the rocks are continuing to disintegrate meaning that the neck of the “Queen’s Head” will thin out and the head will fall off in 10 years. This was the reason for our visit; we certainly had to see the head before it falls off! There was a line to take a picture with it. YehLiu is a difficult place to describe. Although I feel like I’m just describing a whole bunch of rocks, it’s a place you certainly have to visit yourself in order to appreciate the true beauty of this ever changing geopark.
Ye

Posted by Natalie at 04:50 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)