A beautiful day for a hike in nature. The Jangtaesan Recreational Forest just south of Daejeon is perfect for such a ‚Forest Adventure‘. Various hiking paths and facilities like tree top walks, view tower or suspension bridge invites for exploring the nature there. But it wouldn’t be called ‚recreational forest‘ without having a picnic area under the trees with relaxing chairs and coffee facilities.
On my visit at the Dongwhasa temple near Daegu i noticed a small cabin car going up into the area of Mt. Palgongsan. Spontanously decision was made to take a ride uphill. When i asked for a hiking trail back, they told me there’s one, but might be rather difficult. However, the view from the cafe on the top is beautiful. I got a coffee there and had an interesting talk with Momo, who was a visitor from Thailand. The way down wasn’t as difficult or even dangerous as i’m told, but beautifully lonely and with pretty views over the mountain forests. I truly enjoyed it, but made too many selfies 😉
There’s a hike on Lü Dao which leads to the highest point of Green Island. And there was the most beautiful weather to do that. So, hiking boots on and up the hills.
The path is wide, well maintained and not to miss. But on its side is dense forest with rich flora and fauna. Most obvious are the many butterflies fluttering in the air, buzzing insects and the calls of different birds. Also obvious became these big spiders and their sticky webs, especially when you run into it. They use the space on the path and once i missed it, i was busy for quite awhile to get rid of the gluey threads all over my face and head.
A nice surprise was but the sights of these little deers. Even twice they crossed my path, had a look at me and jumped back into the bush, before i could grab my camera for it. And there was more. Small lizards and even a pretty big snake, which flee from me too. I could just take picture from its tail, before disappearing.
At the summit i was rewarded with a splendid view almost over the entire Island. From here, once more you can imagine how it came to its name Lü Dao, the Green Island. This day surrounded with the deep blues, not only by the sea but also from the sky. And look closely, the air is clear enough to see even the town of Tauting on mainland Taiwan.
Another beautiful day on this remarkable island. Only to finish with a local speciality, an omelette with local seaweed and of course a coffee in my favorite cafe @coffeestray
(sorry for the many butterflies, but they were too many too nice ;-))
It was already late afternoon, when i had another stop on my route trough the famous Taroko Gorge. Here i noticed a start of an hiking trail. Spontaneously i grabbed my camera and went on the path. It’s an easy going hike for approximately 3km each way. A broad path followed a river and was quite leveled. Even some tunnels were made to avoid steep bypasses. The only danger was the fallen rocks, which is not uncommon, as one can see along the way.
Just before reaching the waterfall of Baiyang, a suspension bridge has to be pass over an impressive gorge. Unfortunately the waterfall is rather a trickle, despite the rain from day before. I did expect more to be frankly. At least i had a nice chat with a doctor from Taipei, who offered me to take a picture from in front of that waterfall. Instead i asked her to join me on the selfie.
A signpost pointed to a tunnel, which lead to a stormy sound in the dark. To my surprise water streams from the ceiling of the tunnel, created a curtain of water falling to ground and flows in a stream towards the light on the end of tunnel. What an amazing spectacle. This hike was really paying off, latest with this final. Taroko Gorge will stay in good remembering for sure.
One of the most beautiful place on Taiwan, is Taroko Gorge at the East Coast, i read.
So, i took a direct train to Hualien, rented a car, grabbed a coffee early next morning and went off to see the landscape. And what a landscape i saw. Deep in the gorge, the walls went high on my sides when i drove in the narrow gaps of the mountains. Started at sea level, the road went higher and higher, got almost 2500 m.a.s.l. before i turned back. Many stops for photos or just taking a deep breath or resting on a quite place while was stunned about the old trees, the forest covering the high mountains and the river cutting its way down to the sea.
A fairly long hiking trail goes all the way up, but was closed due a typhoon earlier. Unfortunately i didn’t get to the hot springs there neither. At least another shorter, but still nice trail was open, as i found out on my way back. But this is another story for my next post. Stay tuned!
It was on a random chat with another tourist, when i heard about that wooden Borgund Stave Church. Let’s go there i thought, followed the rainbow and found my way via the fantastic Vindahellvegen to that awesome wooden church.
I was expecting a crowd in Trondheim, but little knew about the Olavsfest, what was held on that particular weekend. The famous Nidaros Cathedral was overrun by spectators and entry tickets were sold out for the day. But there was still a lively market place to visit.
Not far from the cathedral flows the river Nidelva, which divides the city in two parts. The old city bridge ‚Gamle Bybro‘ connects them and leads to the neighborhood Bakklandet, what’s certainly worth a visit.
After a long day strolling around, enjoying street life and drinking coffee with sweets, i was longing for a calm place again. Luckily i found a nice hike in the hilly forest just outside of the city. The gentle rain that started to fall didn’t even bother me, but it also gave me a beautiful rainbow.
The very famous Lofoten belongs to the best known region of Norway.
As beautiful the landscape is, in summer saison it’s overrun with tourists. All the visitors want enjoy the fjords with crystal blue water, hiking the many peaks or just relax by a good meal or refreshing coffee along the route.
Once i’m here as a tourist myself, i gonna take a hike too, i was thinking. But it wasn’t easy to find even a free parking lot near a hiking spot. The more famous hiking routes i had to skip because of that. Eventually i found a less popular hiking path on a top of a mountain. Surprisingly few wanderer on the route. Maybe they were scarred of the steep slope, especially at the top. But it was definitely worth to stand on the peak with its breathtaking view.
There was this occasion of a family reunion in a small valley. As a boy i used to spend our family holidays in these mountains in Northern Italy.
Blue sky invites for a hike in nature. From the top of the mountains shines the first snow of the season, and the colors of autumn burst from the forest.
A good opportunity to grab my Nikon and take some shots of this colorful world in autumn…
After paying a small entrance fee, the guard at the gate jumped in my car and joined me up to the mine. We got to a halt in front of a huge dip. That’s all? That’s the mine? I asked myself a bit disappointed. From the oldest mine on earth I was expecting something more exciting.
I was doubting about the age of this mine, till I looked up on Wikipedia about Ngwenya Mine. As my guide told me, the scientist dating back the first use of the hematite, or iron ore, for more than 40,000 years. It was used in the stone age for coloring the skin, probably as protecting from the sun.
But first we stepped into the remains of the former museum, which burned down by wildfire a couple years ago. Just in front of the ruins lies the deep hole from the old commercial mine. There are two more dips, the guide explains me. We drove further and parked at another mine dip, filled with water.
From here we got on our feet and walked up to the highest point, the top of Mount Ngwenya. The last steps are on a steep latter. Stairways to heaven, slipped in my mind and followed me for awhile. From the top, a green wide valley opened up in front of my eyes. The sun rays plays with the clouds, draws pattern in the green landscape. The clouds sprays rain over it, as if it’s in a playful competition with the sun.
Eventually we got to the cave I mentioned earlier. Reddish rocks and ground all around here. Easy to imagine how the early homo sapiens was impressed of that colorful stone. My guide picked up some hematite and rubbed it on the back of my hand to demonstrate how the skin got colored. With the reddish stain on my hand we left the place, still imagining how 40000 years ago people was wandering these beautiful hills.
rene bauer photography 