Rainy Day

For the most part of our trip, it was raining nearly everyday except on the first and second day where the weather was gloomy and there were the occasional light drizzles which stopped just as suddenly as they've begun. I was saddened by the fact that we had travelled so far to a different country only to see its dark and cloudy weather, but it did not deter me from enjoying myself.

Next to my traveling companion, the umbrella was my most reliable friend.

The second last day of our trip saw us travelling in a taxi to the county of Yilan. Yilan is well known for its natural volcanic hot springs, fresh seafood, beautiful beaches with brown volcanic sands, homestay farms and panoramic views of mountain terrains.

Alas, it was also the day with the heaviest downpour of rain - non-stop, from the previous day until the next day. 

 Rain, rain, go away...

Oct 21: Yilan

Nevertheless, we ate fresh seafood, dipped in jacuzzi tube filled with clean hot spring water in the privacy of our rented motel units, were treated to some local food by our taximan, tasted Yilan's oolong tea and bought lots of local biscuits and products from Yilan.

We were oblivious to what was happening to the rest of Taiwan as we travelled snugly in the comfort of our chartered ride. It was only towards evening as we were heading back to Taipei that we saw the current news on the mini satellite TV in the taxi.

There were flash floods in the lower parts of Yilan only 20 minutes away from where we were enjoying ourselves the whole day, strong gusts of typhoon wind tearing through Taipei city centre and landslides in the mountainous tourist region of Hualian which  had trapped many groups of tourists in the mountain and took the lives of a whole busload of visitors from Hong Kong.

I was very thankful that we were safe and spared of all the unfortunate events that were happening on the very same day that we travelled the furthest from the county of Taipei to Yilan.

It was just so ironic - there we were enjoying ourselves and there were others who had their holiday, and lives, cut short...