I was able to take a little vacation time with the girls. Leigh arrived from Mexico in time to come with us. She'd been over in San Diego for a couple of weeks before coming. Em and Krikki came too but Dad stayed back to unpack the container. We went with Libby's parents and sisters down the east coast to a place called Hua-lien. It is a beautiful drive and the weather stayed dry which was a blessing. There is a lovely Ocean theme park there in Hua-lien and we were given free entrance in exchange for pictures of the kids with the dolphins for advertising. So, actually the free admission also meant free 'date with a dolphin' and the kids were able to stroke the dolphin, be kissed by him and conduct while he sang to them. They all loved it but for Em especially it was a dream come true as she has loved dolphins every since she was a very little girl.
There were also some pretty hair-raising rides – see the pics of Em's hair really raising! I went on this ride, the Viking Ship and so did Krikki – who sat alone and was terrified. I sat with others and was also terrified and prayed the whole time for it to stop – Leigh and Emma who were sitting at the opposite end of the boat could see me going through it and they couldn't enjoy it for fear I'd either fall out or have a heart attack...so they had to go on it again and again and again after I got off! Ha! The day was exhausting and we ended seeing a show by some very talented Uzbekistan actors, singers and gymnasts.
On the way home we went through Toroko Gorge and it was also very beautiful – we had just finished reading some history of a missionary called GL Mackay who was the first missionary to north Formosa (now Taiwan) and it was so neat visualising what I had read, the mountains coming down to the ocean in places, in other places, beautiful plains and it made our coming here so exciting. When we started reading the book, called “Black Bearded Barbarian” we had only been here about a week – and it started when he arrived in Formosa – just around Christmas time as well. He left an amazing legacy and it is a very inspiring book if you get a chance to read it.
Well, it is Chinese New Year now (Xin Nian Kuai Le) and so we are staying in as there are lots of fireworks, firecrackers and not much else as everything has closed for the festivities. Being on the mountain we are able to see some of the displays, but thankfully we are far enough away that it isn't too loud.
Toroko Gorge is one of Taiwan's premiere tourist attractions and is a spectacular marble canyon. The few human constructions actually add to the place. There are red suspension bridges, temples set in mountains and, most famously, the Eternal Spring Shrine. The Shrine is built over a waterfall and dedicated to the 450 people who died making the Cross-Island Highway that runs along the gorge. The Highway certainly gives a feeling of how hard it was to build here. The amazing route is precariously cut right into the side of the gorge.
