First Hike of the Summer

Dorion suggested going for a swim in the mountains,
Bill remembered the small pond that is tucked away in the middle of nowhere,
Kate just wanted to play outside,
so off we went to Pingxi.







There were many beautiful plants and flowers on the way.














and some pretty cute two-legged friends too (well, the beehive was scary & impressive).








After we reached the "half-way point", the boys went up to the summit of Xiaotzi (the dutiful son) Mt. Kate waited for them under a roof of tree branches, fighting off mosquitoes and bees.









Then Dorion went on to the peak of Tzimufeng (the loving mother) while Bill and Kate headed toward the pond, taking a short detour to get some brew.








Voila! The pond!














Time to pose for some cool (and cooling) photoes.








Afterward, we went back to the town to have some soy pudding. Once a bustling mining town, Pingxi is now famous for its sky lantern festival and hiking trails. Whether it's to carry coal out or to bring visitors in, the railway that runs through the heart of town remains the central lifeline of the people here.

















Though it has already become one the the most famous tourist attractions in northern Taiwan, you can easily find things that reveal the rugged core of a mining town.