Yihuality : Phenomenal stones

Because I had to study a lot recently I didn’t had time to post my experiences from my trip to Yehliu Geopark (野柳) and Keelung (基隆市). So here comes an update and many pictures, because there’ve been very beautiful animals - and I finally figured out how to make a nice galerie. This time a put hand on the pictures afterwards, because it was a grey day and the real beauty of the stones was not reflected by the original pictures.

The mushroom shaped forms result from a harder top soil layer and a softer underlying layer which is eroded easier by wind and water. You can guess the shape as you like, but there is kind of a heart and the famous “Queen’s Head” which looks similar to the silhouette of Nefertiti.

For me – what I didn’t expect – most impressive were the tourists, which are queuing up to get a picture alone with the famous stones. For me it’s very funny to watch single tourist handling their selfy-stick or watching tourists (also Taiwanese people) taking pictures of me – because I look so special, so foreign. Sometimes they are very cute and ask if they can make a picture with me and ask someone to do, but sometimes they are a little bit impolite and just take picture from the distance. Do they really think, we foreigners do not notice?

Because I wanted to be a little bit out of the crowd I started walking to the viewpoint on top of the archipelago and had a nice view of the coast. The stone formations are phenomenal – hard to belief they are actually made by nature.

Another highlight of course where the butterflies I saw there, again new species I didn’t already saw before. But I was not the only one fascinated by nature. In the park and on the way I had some obstacles namely photographers to overcome. Take a look at the picture to get an impression how they also block the way to get the perfect shot of birds, butterflies, insects or what else is flying around there. I can definitely understand them, despite the fact that I don’t have the patience they have.

After spending the morning in Yehliu I travelled to Keelung and visited some temples with a 23,5m high Buddha statue. I liked the place very much and also rang the huge bell the biggest temple on top offers – it is loud but a very warm and nice tone.

Afterwards I had a short stroll over the famous Miaokou Night Market (廟口夜市) and ate vegetarian noodle soup there. It offers a whole street with more than 40 different places to get food, the seafood here is very well known in Taiwan.

All in all it was a very nice day-trip. The bus from Taipei Main Station just needs about one and ahalf to two hours toYehliu and the bus from Yehliu to Keelung needs about half an hour. The landscape where the bus drives through is very beautiful. But from Keelung back to Taipei I didn't see anything because I fell asleep.

Stay positive,

Yihua.