Thursday, April 5, 2018

Wuji Tianyuan Temple


Early one morning, before sunrise, Chad and I took a little pre-work adventure to Tamsui to see a temple known for its cherry blossoms. The quiet drive though windy roads was peaceful as the sun was coming over the mountains. The Tainyuan Temple is a Taoist temple dedicated to the worship of Yu Huang Dadi, one of the three great deities in Taoism.


The five floors rise 200 meters into heaven which is indicative in its round architectural design representing heaven. This style of temple is not common in Taiwan. The gold columns between arched windows, along with intricate painting cause one to walk slowly, taking it all in.


The Yoshino cherry trees were brought from Japan in the 20th century. The delicate blossoms only last a short time. We were nearing the end so we made a quick decision to scoot out early one morning before the crowds arrived. We only had time for one slow walk around the temple. We didn't have time to go inside.


Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Longdong




A night away from town refreshes the soul and clears the mind. Chad made the escape several times to hang his hammock in a gazebo on top of an overlook. Longdong offers rock climbing and snorkeling, but we went just for the breath of fresh air and a night of sleeping with waves crashing against the cliffs. You really can't beat waking up to this view - can you?