Sansia - Yingge - Pingsi - Juifen

Today I've taken part in Study tour around Taiwan, organized with AIESEC Taipei University for project One child, one chance. This project is focused on children on their summer camp. It has already finished. At the beginning it has been a little bit hard for trainees, because children’s English have been poor, but at the end the children and the trainees were very sad, that they won’t see each other again and they have made an excellent relationship with them. I’ve questioned them :-)

We've started with meeting in Sansia, where we've learnt one dance and then we've continued to Yingge main train station. From Yingge we've taken the train to Pingsi and during our journey we've transfer in one city, where we've tried typical student food-rice with soy sauce and pork fat. It's quite good, maybe I'll try to make it at home, when I’m going to be lazy :-)

Student's food :) Rice with soy sauce and pork fat

When we've arrived to Pingsi, we've taken a walk around the city. We've walked the Old Street. There is one special attraction, due to many tourists come here. It's releasing sky lanterns. On the Old Street you can see a lot of souvenirs in shape of sky lanterns. I haven't bought any, because at night we can create our own. 

We've danced on this stones :-) Nastua, me and Bogdan

That's the place, we've been in :-)

Sky lanterns were everywhere

The view of the Old Street

Yes, we've been there!

I've tried there also traditional drink sesame seed drink with ice-really tasty. Later we've explored Pingsi closer. We've been to “moving bridge” and we've climbed to Pingsi Temple. Close to this Temple are some caves, which you can enter. Some of them have tables and chairs and some you can walk through and you'll exit a few meters next to the entrance :-)

Sesame tea with ice - good choice :-)

Do you feel the freedom of the bridge?

Temple in Pingsi

God of the Temple in Pingsi

The entrance of the caves

The cave is protected from bad things and you can throw some money inside the water and you'll be happy :)

Would you like to play something or just take a drink? It's cold there..

There is a ghost! Aaaaah!

Later we've hiked a little. Behind the Temple is a secret way to an Old Bell and during this journey you can see a lot of interesting plants, like bamboo tree or yellow roses. The Old Bell has no heart, so you can't ring it.. But the trail is really nice.

Trails are everywhere in Taiwan

Yellow is my color :)

Wanna have a bite?

Bell on the hill

Another trail

aaand another trail :)

 When we’ve finished exploring Pingsi, we’ve taken a train to Juifen. First we’ve taken a bus to the Old Street. One Malaysian guy - Laurence has accompany us, because he works in the Old Street. It has been a little bit straight to the hill, but later – we’ve seen something breathtaking. Amazing view of the sea and the mountains. I have no words for it, it has been so beautiful. We’ve taken a lot of pictures. We’ve been there since sunset utill night, so we’ve seen the coast and the mountains with all possible colors. Every moment has been great. I’ve liked it very much.

Oh the view is so beautiful! Look!

Firts view - amazing

View - few hours later..

In the night - breathtaking!

After wondering around, we’ve gotten to the Old Street. This Old Street is interesting, because it’s build in the mountains. Sometimes you walk to the hill and sometimes you use the stairs. Whole this street is decorated with lampions and he atmosphere is amazing. You can see there a lot of people wandering around and chatting. A lot of shops, which are selling souvenirs, traditional things from Taiwan (fe. made from leather) or food. I’ve tried again some interesting food. It’s sweet, something like a pancake, but very very thin and inside there are chopped nuts and chocolate and vanilla ice-cream – so delicious! After a while of wandering, we’ve stopped in a work of the Malaysian guy and his employer has been so nice, that he has prepared for all of us a black cold tea for free. So we’ve had a chance to enjoy our day a little bit more. On our way back to Pingsi, we’ve stopped for a dinner close to the train station and then we’ve gone home. Our home is for tonight in Pingsi.

Old street in Pingsi

A lot of artists are there

Guitar..

Our amazing group (sorry for the picture, I haven't better yet)

When we’ve left the train our organizing team has taken us to one store, that has been opened only for us. We have created our own sky lanterns! It has been so cute. All of us have written our wishes on it. Some of them very secret, because we’ve masked it in our languages and some of them were for everyone. I have written also some secret wishes and some readable, that has been in English. I’ve wished Geena can experienced this moment with us.. But mainly I wished her to be happy :-) When we’ve finished our wishes, we’ve let the lantern goes up to the sky to make our wishes come true. Maybe one day, they really become a reality..

Everyone has a wish..

We've done it!

3 - 2 - 1 - fly!!

Make our wish come true..

And I’ve almost forgotten – there are animal everywhere. On the streets, on the stairs or in the shops. Especially cats.

Cats are everywhere..

..even in the shops :-)

And what is worth – today I’ve seen a spider big as my fist – really. I’m afraid of spiders, a lot. And I’ve taken a shower about 30 cm far from him, because during the shower it has come so close. I think it has checked me in the shower – what a rude spider. But I’ve finished it! I’m so proud of me :-) But I hope never see its again!