Scenic Spots

More To See

On the way down from quaint Chiu Fen, the hilltop tourist village, Mr. Soo the tourist guide took us to spots which on our own would have been difficult.

Chiu Fen is surrounded by mountainous landscape and all the windy way down we went past mountains after mountains of which one famous one is Chin San ( the golden mountain).

Chin San apparently is where the evergreen songstress and my all time favourite - Teresa Teng- was buried after a prematured death. Mr. Soo told us that many of her fans made purposeful trips to the spot to pay their respects. As I related in a previous excerpt, Chiu Fen is home to many cemeteries ; it being a perfect spot for San ( mountains) and Sui (water) and is home too to Teresa Teng's final rest place.

Mr. Soo next showed us an ex-Gold Ecological Park which was a gold mining area first exploited by the Japanese using the local work force. The place however has stopped functioning and today traces of the enterprise is marked by the old building shown above.

Another prominent feature related to gold mining endeavour is evident in the 'gold-plated' rocks downstream along the river that is next to the park. The washing and cleaning process could have caused 'gold remnants' to deposit on the stones. We asked Mr. Soo if the local had tried to retrieve any 'gold' from the rocks and he said he was not aware of it. Imagine having gold-plated rocks all along the river beside your home.

The sea beside the gold ecological park also seems to speak of the impact of the gold effluents...apparently it is difficult to find catch in the 'golden portions' . Oh , of gold and her influence in the area.



As we proceeded further away from the hills along the coastal road to Yeliou, (north eastern coast of Taipei) we began to see the effect of wave actions on the cliffs that protruded out into the sea. Some were eroded to produce stumps and remnants with ponding features.

Others revealed steadfast rocks that had undergone massive erosion and sedimentary impacts so obviously seen.

Look at the cliff that has resulted from the pounding effect of the wave. Geography is so real here. We were supposed to walk along the Yeliou park to savour in more scenic views of eroded rocks but were detered as the road was closed for repairs. Many Taiwanese movies ; one of which was the famous 'Yi Nang Wang' of the 70s ; were shot in this spot which boasts of pedestal features. While there, we also saw a couple ; a groom and his bride taking wedding shots and dad shook his head from left to right ; the man who never believes in unnatural poses.

Next, on another day on the way from Hualien to Yilan ; home of the cultural village, we stopped by the harbour of Hualien and came to Cising ( seven stars) Cove.

The waves have again played their eroding roles and deposited rocks, stones and sand along the beach. The long stretch under the morning sky was a spot to behold.

Many meditated along the cove and I should say it could be a daily routine ; gazing into the majestic sea and her horizon for focus and peace.

Adventourous Celine could not resist a throw into the sea and later together with dad selected some stones and made beautiful craft out of them. I should have taken photos of it.

Just beside the coastline is a military base and we were fortunate to witness the taking off of a few fighter jet planes...and in Taiwan, we were informed that many of the pilots are of the female gender...gungho.

When nature in her most natural state is seen ; I recall Psalm 8:1

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth !

You have set your glory above the heavens.