2014 quickly coming to an end ...

The road lead to a temple and a dead end leaving no option but to turn around (good find though)

Looking out over Sanzhi or Shimen from one of the mountain roads

This road led us in the wrong direction although this was another good find

The beginning to the end ...

The first time I ever laid eyes on Datsun, who was named Stan at the time. Cat = yes. Name = no.

Datsun moved into this apartment one day after I did and from nothing, we built something wonderful!

Not exactly the kind of box I was hoping to bring Datsun home in from the vet.

This year's birthday gift. Datsun was definitely the best gift a girl could ever have.

Rest in peace my little Boy Cat. March 2005 — December 22nd, 2014

富福頂山寺 — temple made of coral and seashells ...



My friend wandering through a tiny cave inside the temple


Sunday December 7th, 2014 (23°)

At 龍泰陵 (Lóng Tài Líng) near Sanzhi District in northern Taiwan  

One of two stick bugs spotted today — this one being the bigger of the two

Looking over to 龍泰陵 — a spectacular 20-floor mausoleum

On the 20th floor

Tuesday November 25th, 2014 (28°)





Playing tourist on Sunday II ...

Nothing like finding random awesomeness in Keelung — inside 仙洞巖

Feeling a bit claustrophobic in 仙洞巖 — dark, wet and extremely narrow 

Part of Buddha's hand in 佛手洞 — no flash, no tripod

Wandering around inside of 佛手洞 — eerie when alone

Playing tourist on Sunday ...

At 白米甕砲台 — free but not overly impressive




Sunday November 23rd, 2014 (30°)

Discovered another pool to check out — a few people were swimming laps today!

Heading around the path at 和平島公園 in Keelung — NT$60/adult

Heading around the path at 和平島公園 in Keelung— looking to the west

Heading around the path at 和平島公園 in Keelung— looking to the east

Tuesday November 11th, 2014 (25°)

Looking at Taipei 101 from Bishan Temple in Neihu

Found along the back mountain roads near Bishan Temple

Hmmmmm?!

The suspension bridge in behind Bishan Temple

Saturday November 8th, 2014 (27°)

The peak in the distance is Qixing Mountain, the highest dormant volcano in Taiwan (1,120m)

One of the trails that heads up (and up) to the peak of Qixing Mountain


Looking over to the Qixing Mountain Main Peak from the East Peak

Sunday October 26th, 2014

Today's route was a challenging 4.5 hour hike on new trails in my neighborhood

Looking at the second peak from the first — yes, we climbed up onto those peaks over there

Two of the girls ended up with leeches — eek