Shoushan 壽山 and Monkeys Galore

Shoushan gives me a feeling of deja vu - it is similar to that of Cascades D'ouzoud; a large waterfall in Morocco that is home to many Barbary apes. It was a destination we wanted to visit, but that kept being put off. When we finally went, we were very glad we did and wondered what had taken us so long.

Shoushan, or Mt Shou, is located on the western side of Kaohsiung. It is home to various temples, a zoo, a military base,university, walking, hiking and mountain biking trails, wild dogs and many Formosan Rock Macaques. Shoushan stands tall to the side of Kaohsiung and is visible from our apartment's kitchen window on clear, non-polluted days.

Jeff and I had tried to hike there previously, but the poor signage and lack of parking, as well as our lack of navigational skills, left us driving around the city in all directions. So after some research and advice from friends, we made it.

We parked just before the zoo, in front of the February 28 Memorial Park and walked up the stairs. We followed the signs and found ourselves on a pleasant 2 hour hike, surrounded by Taiwanese locals and non-threatening macaques. The main paths are well signed, with rocky short cuts interspersed throughout the trails. The higher up the mountain we climbed, the more macaques we encountered.

Where we began our hike

Take the stairs to the top, and keep going

The view of the city from the top of the first stairs

Try your luck on some of the smaller trails

We went a little off trail and ended up at an
army base.
We were offered some help from some
locals and followed their lead.

The view of Kaohsiung and the 85 story building

Short clip of the view from the highest vantage point on Shoushan

Short clip of a family of macaques grooming and goofing around 

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See the Delighting Sights of Alishan 阿里山國家風景區

Alishan National Scenic Area is a mountain range situated in the Chiayi County, 3 hours north of Kaohsiung, in Taiwan. It is famous for its endless mountains, hiking, tea and wasabi plantations, amazing sunsets and sunrises and the historic Alishan Forest Railway - one of only 3 remaining in the world.

I think it is best that the pictures speak for themselves.

The view you will encounter before entering the area 

Clouds on the mountain range

Entering the Area - a nice a fresh 12 C

The famous 3 Generation tree

Can you see the elephant in the trunk?

One of the many staircases on the trails

The Mountain Railway

This bridge was built in 2002 to connect the many trails

The hiking trails

The Giant Trees are well labelled

Can you spot the happy monk?

Off the trail, you will find some treasures...

Food carts can be found at the Primary School along the walk

Sausages cook on hot pebbles

The wasabi markets

Feeling the love at the heart trees

Read the sign below. Do you see the love between the Dragon and Phoenix? I can't...

Can you spot the pig?

The much photographed pagoda in one of the Sister Ponds

Workers fixing the tracks

The view of the sunset from the main railway platform

The mist moves over the tourist town

We boarded the 5:40am train to watch the sunrise from a higher vantage point in Chu-shan

The sun begins to appear

Fore more information, visit Taiwan, Touch Your Heart

Where is Alishan? Here.

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The end of the voting brings peace and quiet - I hope.

So Taiwan has been enveloped in elections, campaigning and voting, and more campaigning and more voting. We do not watch Taiwanese television. We do not read Taiwanese newspapers. We hardly even converse with Taiwanese locals. So how did we know there was an election going on?
We heard it.
Every night. Every morning. The wannabe mayors and representatives came out in droves and blasted their promises to the streets. They stood on soap boxes on the corners of busy intersections, with their support groups in tow, waving flags, giving away pencils and tissues emblazoned with their faces.
Little trucks meandered through the streets, airing the delegates promises out of large speakers.
Fireworks lit up the sky, scaring the stray dogs I am sure, continuously.
But now, the votes have been cast. Hopefully, the campaigning will cease. And we can watch a movie without having to close the windows as the sound of the trucks and fireworks takes over our living room. And we can walk calmly around our streets without having to listen to crackling speakers and staring at cheshire-cat grinning campaigners.
All we will have to listen to is the soothing sound of the ice-cream come garbage truck, singing its happy melody at 7pm every night. The closest to a noiseless Kaohsiung that we will ever get.