Natural Taiwan / 台湾的环境

Yesterday we entered Kenting National Park (墾丁国家公园)! It's a national park that extends the whole lower peninsula of the island. It's truly beautiful and makes me appreciate this country so much more. Although I do enjoy the city life and all its spoils, returning to nature really helps set me back to ground zero. One fascinating thing about a beach here is that it's I believe 97% seashell sand! That's the highest percentage in the world! Because of this, they have the area fenced off, for conservation reasons. The way the mountains border the ocean here reminds me of home in a way, although it's much more tropical and warm than Seattle.

The museum at the Kenting visitor's center was fascinating. It had lots of information about current ecological threats to the park, conservation efforts, and indigenous history of the area. It makes me think that maybe my next global perspectives paper should be on the indigenous history of Taiwan...

We went snorkeling at part of the extensive coral reefs that are all around the peninsula. It was beautiful! Even though it's El Niño this year and there's more coral bleaching that usual, and although there was a recent nuclear leak nearby, the coral reef here was the most colorful I've ever seen. It makes me wonder how much more colorful it would be under normal circumstances. I feel that the coral reef we visited was more vibrant than the coral reefs I saw in the Galapagos Islands. Unfortunately, I saw no octopi this time. I did see several huge urchins, though! They were the biggest I've ever seen!

Later we went to a hot spring further in the mountains. There was a pedicure fish pool and herbal hot springs. Both were phenomenal. The fish really liked my feet, and my feet do feel considerably softer now. I really enjoyed the herbal springs. One bath was a kind of rose water and the other was an herbal bath that I couldn't pinpoint what it was. Perhaps a kind of vegetable or tea bath? Either way, both of them were very soothing and my skin feels very soft and happy! I think that besides the eco-tourism, the hot springs have been my favorite part of the trip so far.

Coral reefs in Kenting.