Xiao You Ken, a volcano with water bubbling out of it at 95 degrees Celsius!

As it had been every day, I woke up kinda late to take full advantage of the day trip to one of the outlying areas surrounding Taipei. The trip to Yang Min Shan was no different.

I arrived at the place around 3pm, after running around trying to find the Red 5 bus. When they say “left” they never tell you how far left you should go. Fortunately, I found a spot where I could watch three separate roads and sprinted after the bus when I saw it.

During my trip here, I have always managed to “accidentally” climb mountains. At Yang Ming Shan, I took some “sidewalk trail” thinking it would take me to a place that was just about 10 metres above where I was.

Slippery path leading up the mountains. I wish I brought hiking shoes.

Instead, I found myself climbing stairs through the fog and rain that went on forever. At some point, I thought I’d back up. However, as I only had cross-trainers, they were kinda slippery and heading down was kinda dangerous as I had already almost flipped twice going up. So I decided to press on up the mountain. I also finally a sign promising the visitors centre after 600 metres of combating gravity.

With night about to fall and the busses a little over an hour away from halting for the night, I had to make a quick decision about what I wanted to see. As I entered the visitors centre, I saw four posters, one with a volcano.

With my quickly improving Chinese, I pointed to one picture while asking one of the workers, “zhe me qui zai zhao pian de di fang …”

I’m sure that wasn’t grammatically correct, but it was enough to be directed to bus 108 to head up the mountain.

Little friend waiting for the bus with me. Everytime I said "ni hao" he wagged his tail.

This was the first time I’ve ever been in a volcano. It stinks. I don’t recall how rotten eggs smell like, but if I had to imagine, the smell of the volcano would be it. Still, I hung around for quite a while enjoying the atmosphere while trying to keep the sulfur out of my lungs.

It was kinda cool to see the water just bubble out of the ground. Yup, I haven’t hit the hot springs yet, but I think I will before I leave Taiwan.

A man views the bubbling water and steam from the volcano.

I kinda wanted to climb datun shan after that, but the people at the visitors centre adviced against it. For good reason. It was raining, it was dark and I had no clue where I was going. Maybe next time!

Xiao You Ken.

When I got back, I decided to head to Shilin night market for dinner. I managed to find some pretty nice “ka li yu yuan”.

Curry Fishballs!

If I were to reflect a little on the trip to Taiwan thus far, I feel I’m neither local, nor foreigner. People here go out of their way to help those who distinctly look foreigner. When I try to ask for directions in my crappy Chinese, I get the “why can’t you speak Chinese and don’t know where you’re going” kinda attitude sometimes. Not all the time though, many are helpful.

It has really strengthened my resolve to improve on my “guo yu”.

I love the mountains.