From Ocean Views to Mountain Views

While it was sunny for a second day in a row, my aunt offered to take me to areas that I can't easily get to via public transportation. We drove for about 40 minutes to Yehliu Geopark which is on the northwest coast of Taiwan, known for its amazingly beautiful natural rock formations. I'm not exactly sure how they're formed, but it's some combination of different rock densities and the water repeatedly hitting the rocks and washing away the 'weaker' parts. It truly is one of the most beautiful and unique things in nature that I've ever seen!




















































Natural patterns in a few of the rocks, isn't it gorgeous?



































This sand dollar is embedded into the ground


















How AWESOME is this rock formation? See the sandal?!



































I love these perfectly round pockets in the ground filled with water


















Here they are in context






































This one is called Queen's Head (for obvious reasons)




















After lunch, we drove for about 30 minutes to Yangmingshang Park, and we're surrounded by mountains! It's hard to imagine that we were just surrounded by water not too long ago!

















It's so peaceful here, with the light breeze and hills everywhere. You can basically pick an entire hill to sit on and not hear another person's voice.
















The mountaina here have so much depth, they seem to go on forever....
















There are a bunch of these 'bunkers' in the park. My aunt told me that after the Nationalists retreated to Taiwan, they built them at the top of these mountains for defense just in case China decided to attack us.
































Another area of the park, where sulfuric-something-or-other (the white smoke) escapes from the mountain, producing a very unpleasant smell. But I think it's good for the skin, hence there are hot springs in the area.

















There are these puddles in the ground, it's the natural hot springs! The water is very hot and cloudy.































I love the fact that Taiwan has a lot of places to see and things to do in such a small area of land. It takes away the traveling time and one would have more opportunities to go on day or weekend trips!