Explorer Taichung

The university organized a trip to the Gaomei Wetlands in the western part of Taichung on Friday evening. Accompanied by the evening sun, we explored the wetlands barefoot. We had to walk very carefully to avoid stepping on the many small crabs. It was a very relaxing experience for the feet without any missteps 😉 Afterwards, we all enjoyed a typical Taiwanese dinner together at a restaurant that left nothing to be desired.

Although we actually wanted to have a 'free' day, we embarked on a new adventure on Saturday. We called two taxis to take us to a remote valley with a beautiful waterfall and nice bathing spots. Our taxi driver had some trouble finding the way. While the others had already arrived, we drove aimlessly up and down the hills. The area was beautiful and resembled a jungle. The taxi driver remained calm. On the contrary, he made jokes and eventually found our destination after receiving various directions from locals. We imagined the 'hiking trail' to the waterfall to be a bit more leisurely. After a steep slope, slippery rocks, and climbing, we arrived at the desired bathing spot drenched in sweat. However, the efforts were worth it. The spot is perfect for swimming, cliff jumping, and relaxing. We even spotted a monkey in the trees. Unfortunately, this trip did not go without incident. One of our fellow students dislocated his previously injured shoulder while jumping. With his own experience and the help of the internet, we were able to easily relocate and fix his shoulder. With teamwork, we also managed to return without any problems. When we arrived home, he had his shoulder examined at a hospital. Fortunately, no further injuries were found. I accompanied him to the hospital, which was a rather unusual experience for me. In the patient registration hall, it looked a bit like a larger accident had just occurred. The hall was full of waiting patients and sleeping patients in beds. At first, it completely confused and somewhat startled me, although the patients seemed to only have minor injuries or illnesses. But the atmosphere seemed quite peaceful, and I can imagine that the described situation is normal in Taiwan. What a day...