From sandy beaches to the tropical mountains!

Sunday 5/09/10
On Sunday, everyone had planned to go to a beach somewhere beyond Changhua on the West Coast. However, after ringing around everybody, it was just going to be me Andrew and Mere.
Then at the last minute Andrew got bad asthma and didn't feel up to it. So it looked like it was just the two of us.
We started the day at a breakfast place for some danbin (ham pancake Chinese style) stocked up on water and snacks for the trip. Mere offered to take her scooter.
Despite warnings of a typhoons across the west, it was a glorious day: a bit windy, but I've never seen such uninterrupted blue sky. I could feel my arms getting warm and was glad I'd packed the sunscreen.
We followed the main roads most of the way and after almost 2 hours and with only slight cramp in my legs from sitting on the back, we could see the sea. The road headed west towards a dozen massive wind turbines. A great sea wall followed the road. We pulled up alongside one of the turbines. It was a strange place. There were some rice fields around and in the distance you could see the outskirts of a small town. Yet there was no-one around.
We climbed over the sea wall, there was quite a bit of rubbish blown against the other side. The strangest thing though was the size of the beach. It just went on and on. We'd could barely see the sea. We walked for a good ten minutes across it before we were close enough dump our things. Bearing in mind how hot it was, I quickly got myself suncreamed up. I stripped down to my shorts and made for the water. It was amazing: it could have been Thailand or Zanzibar. Mere was a bit slow to come into the water, because she is allergic to seaweed.
So there was me; who couldn't swim but eager to get into the water out of the sun's glare and there was Mere; great swimmer who didn't trust what was lurking in the water.
We had a really nice relaxing afternoon, watching the crabs come out from their sand holes scurry about and then crawl back in. And we were the only people in sight... apart from 2 old men who were walking round with a brush or rake; every now and then they'd give the beach a sweep. Just before we left a family of 4 came down to the sea for a bit and then walked back.
It was incredible. Before we knew it, it was 4pm, time to get going if were to make it back in the light. I rode home. It was an interesting experience. Mere's scooter had no speedometer nor petrol gauge! On top of that the left mirror was loose, so I spent most of the time with one hand keeping that in place. Still; Fun and Games!
We were both starving when we got home. Luckily Mere lives next to the food road. Every shop: cheap delicious food. We went to a noodle bar
That night, Mike tried to introduce me to weird US humour with that cellophane guy from Chicago. I thought was quite funny but then I like the League of Gentleman. I thought it was only fair I introduced him to Father Ted in return.
Monday 6/09/10
Ouch! A little sunburn today. Despite putting it on twice while I was there my back and arms were pretty pink this morning.
I got to work especially early to figure out what to do for this reader class. But after half an hour thinking, a TA came in and said the reader lesson would be Friday instead. That solved that. Go back to the course guide for the day.
Tuesday 7/09/10
Had the day off and was determined to buy a bike today. I went to the Megabank this morning, but again, 'transaction cancelled- error' This was day five of Barclays six day registry time. Maybe tomorrow. When I mentioned it to Mere she offered to pay for the bike today, and I could pay her back tomorrow. Sounded like a plan!
We walked down to the Giant shop. I wanted something like I had last time. Front suspension, lots of gears, quick release tyres, bell, that kind of thing!
The bike guy I recognised from last time. He pointed out his mountain bikes. I chose one, the boulder and he let me take it down the main road through Yuanlin and back to get a feel for it.
"Do you have anything faster?" I asked him. He pulled a road bike. I gave that a whirl.
"Do you have anything with suspension?" I asked. He pulled out a Talon; a hybrid. It had a mountain bike frame with road tyres. I took it for a spin "I like it. Any discount?"
"10%" he said
"I'll have this one thanks."
While he was fixing a bottle holder to the bike, he pointed us in the direction of his off-road/BMX track at the back, part of which came up almost vertical. He persuaded me to have a go. I survived it; which I think surprised everybody there, including me.
As it was light, I fancied giving her a proper trial ride. Mere knew this actual cycle path that started in the centre of Yuan lin, followed an old railway track through the rice fields, vineyards and tropical fruit farms. It was nice to have a bump free ride... but then it came to a halt in the middle of no-where, so it was back to town.
Mere had a lesson that evening, so spent the time catching up on news around the world. I had no idea that an earthquake had stuck Christchurch.
Wednesday 8/09/10
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Thursday 9/09/10
Yep: another day off. It had been raining most of the night and the roads were wet. Today was day 6 of Barclay register time, so I should be able to get some cash out. There is a 7/11 with a cash machine on the road that runs along the bottom of the mountain. I cycle round for a good hour, but no sign of the shop anywhere. It seems to be Highlife terrioty. Getting desperate I head back to the Yuanlin Banks and as usual not a sausage can I withdraw.
Mere mentioned going on a hike this afternoon, weather permitting. So I head back to the house to get some stuff to take with me. One thing I forgot to order for my bike: mudguards. I am completely splattered with the muddy water below.
The only problem with buying a bicycle from the middle of town is that at any one time the other mode of transport will be in town until I can find someone to drive my scooter back.
So as I have to cycle back to Yuanlin through the drizzle and mud, I might as well not get changed until I get there.
As soon as I get to Mere's; she looks at the state of me and says "I take it the hikes off?"
I point out that I really can't get much wetter than I already am... so we might as well go for it.
She has a trail in mind and so I scooter through the wet to a place that is near where I used to cycle a lot. The path winds up and is soon a set of very steep steps shooting up through the wild forest. Every now and then we see a massive spider sitting on a web body 3inch legs about 6. well i was the old man of the party.
I realise I haven't done any serious climbing in a while and soon sound relatively out of breath...
I felt fine though.
[text missing]
Friday 10/09/10
This was day 7 of Barclays register time so I surely will be able to get money out today!
I have a pile of laundry bigger than my suitcase. Down to 7/11 I went, no money. Down to the Megabank: no money there either. This is getting silly. When I got to work I tried looking on the website... Barclays only list 2 banks in the area that will give cash and they're both in Changhua.
Today was the reader lesson, so I got there 30 mins early to prepare. When I got to my desk and see a pile of posticks my heart sinks a little. Paul's gone on holiday so I have 2 of his classes straight after mine. I decide as they are easier to plan to those first. 45m before the reader lesson and my plan is still blank! Then I have a brain wave: colours, sizes, animals. There is a very big black dog. That will be their target language. Genius! In the nick of time, it all just flowed onto the page.
It was a long day though: stood up from 2pm until 8:45 gives you stiff legs.
As soon as I'd finished I printed off a map of Changhua and scootered my way to this super-cashpoint. I found it easily enough, but it would only give me 10,000. I needed another 10 to pay back debts and deposits. I headed out to the other cash-machine passing the Shane school, that still had lights on. So I backed up and knocked on the door. It was 10:45pm. I've no idea why they were still here. They guided me in the right direction and I found bank no.2, but this wouldn't give me any either. There must be a limit on daily withdrawals. Tired and hungry I headed back to Yuanlin. The nice thing about pulling up in a Taiwanese town in the middle of the night is that the shops and food places are all still open and lively. It was midnight when I had an omlette with veggies with a bowl of rice (60p). Revived, I drove back to Hi Relax to meet up with the other the other teachers.