Got Bamboo?

Bamboo Mountain

If your first thought was " Hey, that's a lot of bamboo," you were correct. But then again, what else would you expect from a place called Bamboo Mountain? Whether or not that's its official name, I will don't know. All I can say is bamboo abounds.

 Bamboo Mountain is filled with a large bamboo forest. And along a winding climbing road is a place called The Bamboo Restaurant. Once again I must pause and question whether that is its real name or just a nickname given by the local population. Doesn't matter, because once again bamboo abounds.

Bamboo building.

Bamboo tables.

Even bamboo bowls!

The food was cooked over a bamboo fire, in a bamboo stalk.

And in case you were wondering, yes, the food was even served in the bamboo stalks.

The ultimate... bamboo shoots being eaten in a bamboo bowl. 

Besides being unique, it tasted fabulous!

So basically I ate bamboo, in a bamboo bowl, on a bamboo table, in a bamboo structure. in a bamboo forest, on a bamboo mountain. Any questions?

Did I mention the bamboo cannon?

The view was pretty spectacular, too!

After our lunch, we climbed back into our vehicles and continued up the winding climbing road. Actually, road would be an exaggeration. Carl defined it as more of a paved cow path with the word paved being another slight exaggeration. At one point the road was only wide enough for one vehicle, on a curve, with NO guard rail, and a very large drop off.  

The road dead ended at the very top. It was here that our bamboo adventure continued. Surprisingly, we were not the only people at the top. Some were enjoying the view. Others were dining at a restaurant. A restaurant? All the way up here? Crazy!!

Evidently, a television news crew felt it was just crazy enough  to share with their audience. The reporter's goal was to film someone digging up bamboo shoots to be served in the restaurant. Before we knew it, we were being led down through the bamboo forest with the bamboo expert to dig up bamboo shoots with a special bamboo tool.

Both Carl and Abbi were filmed and interviewed about their experience.

From the top to the bottom, Bamboo Mountain was filled with fun, delicious food, gorgeous scenery, and unique that-will-never-happen again adventure!

This is the only monkey that was out and about!

She Shoots, She Scores!

So proud of this team! 

The season started out rough. 

Three freshman, seven sophmores, and two juniors. At least four of them didn't play basketball last year (including the two juniors!) Several of them were undecided about even playing up until the day of tryouts. Only one player returned from last year's team (Abbi). They were a young, inexperienced team.

Their first game of the season was painful. They lost. They should have won, but they beat themselves.

But they persevered. And practiced. And practiced.

My life has oozed basketball the last two weekends. Ok, maybe ooze isn't the word I want to use. How about saturated? My last two Saturdays have been saturated with basketball. Two all day tournaments.

Good thing I like basketball. 

Yesterday was the last. They were on the court by 8:00am warming up and preparing to begin their journey to the championship. Five games later, as the sun slowly set over the mountainous American School in Taichung campus, their goal was achieved-- with lots of heart, soul, and digging way down deep.

Despite being sick earlier in the week, Abbi played great. Of course, I am a little bit bias!

And the coach, I might add, brilliantly led his team to the victor's stand!

It's a Livelihood

While on the beach New Year's Day, we witnessed a cultural experience. If you grew up next to the ocean, this post will seem silly to you. Fishing and boats are as common to you as tractors and cows are to my children.

If you are like me, the thought of actually making a living by fishing, is as foriegn as a man from Mars. 

We set up our barbecue near the breaking waves, close, but not too close. Slightly to our right was a large raft. Not a pleasure craft for sure. While allowing our food to digest, a flur of activity settled around that boat. I'll let the pictures tell the story....

Did you catch the size of those fish? Take a closer look....

Gives new meaning to "you should have seen the size of the fish that got away" stories. It will take a lot to impress me after seeing these fish! 

The dozer carried the boat away from the shore and the fish up to a fish auction, the tails still flipping and flapping. That's what I call fresh fish!

Welcome 2014

Happy New Year!

Yes, my wishes are late. but heartfelt, nevertheless. I pray that the first days of 2014 have rejuvenated and energized your spirit. May this be a year filled with love, joy, and faith.

We ushered in the new year in one of my favorite places- Hualien. And with some of my favorite people- the Bettinger and Heebner families!

For four days, we ate, we played, we fellowshiped, we traveled, we enjoyed. Below are pictures from our time together. I realize I post a lot of ocean and mountain pictures. If you are tired of these, consider yourself warned.

A tea shop with the perfect name!

We drove 2 and 1/2 hours to visit a place called Monkey Bridge. Here throughout the day, monkeys living in the surrounding mountains, gather in hopes of a handout. Sometimes as many as 30 monkeys can be observed close up and personal. After driving and stopping far more than the alotted 150 minutes, we arrived to only be served a major disappointment. Greeting us, instead of those beloved mammals, was a man with a long stick and strong words. "Go back, get in your cars," he said. "The monkeys have rabies. Many have died and the others have become aggressive. People have been bit. Leave quickly!" Naturally, that was the English version of what he said!

Rabies have just come to Taiwan. How sad! The fellow below rambled up the road. As quickly as Carl could snap his picture, the man chased the monkey back up into the seclusion of the woods and hills.

New Year's day was spent barbecuing on a nearby beach. Our gang was joined by fellow OMS missionary families- the Williamsons and Dinnages. A great start to 2014!

Thank you for sticking with me this past year! I appreciate all those who take the time to read and hopefully enjoy this blog! Have a great 2014!