Hiking Up YangMingShan
A group of us headed to Yang Ming Shan (Yang Ming Mountain) this past weekend, which happens to be one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist spots. Not only does it have a spectacular view of Taipei, there are also exotic plants and animals, and hot springs. Although we didn’t have time to try out the hot springs, which is where a lot of locals like to go to relax, we went to see the sulfur springs which is something completely different. At least I’m sure it smells completely different.
We started off by taking the MRT to Taipei Main Station, which is pretty much the heart of Taiwan transportation; it’s where everything connects. We then took about a one hour bus ride to the mountain and had to take another bus to the top of the mountain. The ride was really turny and twisty but it offered a beautiful sight of the city. The highest point of Yang Ming Shan is one of the highest peaks in all of Taiwan. There are many different stops around the mountain and we got off at a stop that had sulfur springs. When right we got off the bus, I smelled rotten eggs and I thought someone threw a stink bomb or something. And when I asked what it was, my friend said, “It’s the sulfur.” I then said, “Oh yes, that’s right.” I didn’t know sulfur smelled like rotten eggs!
As we walked further down, there were little boiling puddles of water on the floor. Apparently people tried to boil eggs in it because there were some cooked eggs lying next to the puddle. Not only was it really foggy that day, which could’ve been because we were so high in altitude, there was a lot of steam coming from the sulfur. There was sulfur spread out in blotches all over that part of the mountain and it smelled really bad! We then walked around the rest of that part of the mountain and saw some beautiful scenery. It’s always nice to be able to get out of the city and remember that I am indeed on a tropical island.
|
