To The Top of Elephant Mountain

Time to Explore Taiwan with Two Weeks Off

We rode the MRT to a Bicycle Park to rent bicycles
 and then ride on a 24 mile trail by the Danshuei River.
The map showed a "Rent Bike" sign!

We showed the map to a local Taiwanese man, and he said to walk along the trail for about 10 minutes to the Bike Rent.  We noticed a "Heart Theme" as we walked the trail.

The bike trail had some interesting scenery.

We saw one lonely fisherman with a large umbrella. He looked like he was planning on fishing for a while.

Even the Bird Cages had heart shaped holes.

After walking for 30 minutes or more; we stopped to ask of one the few people we saw on the trail, if they knew where the Bike Rent place was that was shown on the map. They did not speak English, but pointed in the same direction as we were headed.

Finally after walking for over an hour and still no Bike Rental in sight, we decided to head back to the MRT.  The two hour walk was good exercise for us, but with all the bicycles in Taiwan we thought we should ride a bicycle at least once before we go home.

Elephant Mountain

       Endless steps to get to the top of Elephant Mountain                                                                                                        

Bob likes to walk one hour to the bottom of Elephant Mountain and climb the 1,145 steps to the top for exercise.  At the top there is beautiful view of Taipei; and Taipei 101, the tallest building in the city. When Taipei 101 was built it was the tallest building in the world.  Bob has wanted me to go and see the view, but it has been summer time and the heat was giving me an excuse for not going with him.  But now it is the middle of September, and my opportunity has arrived. So on our "P" day, September 16th we first rode the bus to bottom of Elephant Mountain ( needed to conserve my energy for the steps). 

Is this suppose to be fun?

This is only about half way up and the city view
 is impressive with Taipei 101 on center stage.
 

Bob took this picture of the view from the top of Elephant Mt, to help motivate me to climb every step next attempt.  I only climbed a little more than half way this first time.  I was concerned that if I went clear to the top that I might not be able to walk to the Temple the next day.  My motto is conserve and use caution, which is different from my husband.

"P" Day Trip to the Water Park

We gathered in the parking garage for our day outing, and took pictures of the guys and gals who were going on the day trips. Most everyone (20) went with the group who wanted to hike in the mountains, but we went with the kids and their parents (7) who want to play in the water.

It was a very hot day and all the spraying water felt refreshing.

Lots of people. The water was only
 2 ft deep and there was no place to swim.

I

Bob played with the kids, and provided them with the squirt gun.

Bishop Arnie Chen and his wife Jean.
Arnie is the Temple Recorder, and a Bishop.

This is Sam Chen (almost 9 years old),
his parents are pictured above.

Here is Tony Wang and his daughter who just returned from a mission. His wife went hiking with the other group. Tony is the Temple Engineer, and has 5 children; which is a very big family in Taiwan.

Bob is having fun as he attacks the 3 kids.

The water slide was my adventure for the day.  Bob and I waited in long lines with water spraying on us. The slide was fun, but the landing was like a big rubber water bed and I couldn't get up.  The young little life guard came over to give me a hand, and he really had to work hard to get this old foreigner up.  I bet he told the story to his fellow life guards.

Bob was fascinated with the deck chairs.  This is Sister Wang, the return missionary, trying to take a nap. She has a sister on a mission in Vancouver, Canada.

You always know it has been a successful day when the kids fall asleep on the way home. Sam is sound asleep on my shoulder. His red cheeks look like Bob's face and neck, and my shoulders and back. We found an Aloe Vera plant across the street from the Temple to sooth our pains. We stayed under an umbrella most the time and Bob wore a shirt in the water, and I used sunscreen; but we still got too much sun.

Lunch at Grace Tao's Home

Grace invited us to her home for lunch. She is a Taipei Temple worker and we have become good friends. Grace is a talented artist. She painted all the pictures hanging on the walls of her home. She and her husband are retired. Grace retired as the Head Manufacturing Designer for a clothing company, she even studied fashion and design in New York City for a year.  Her husband retired as an Air Traffic Controller from a major airport.

The missionaries from the ward were also invited for lunch. Grace is also a talent cook and the meal was delicious, and served beautifully.

We enjoyed our visit with Alan and Grace Tao. They have two unmarried sons. They both worked for about 30 years, and now enjoy their retirement. Grace is the only member of the church in her family. Bob tried to take all the photos with Grace's paintings in the background.

Dinner at the Wilson"s

This is Keith and Wendy in their Taipei Apartment cooking dinner for the starving Missionaries (us).  Both of them are RM's and so they have great compassion for the Missionaries, and they cooked an unforgettable meal.  They are newlyweds, and both have lived in Taiwan for the last 5 years.

Keith is getting ready to cook the steaks.  Beef is so expensive here in Taiwan, and so we have not eaten steaks or even a roast since we arrive here a year ago.  Look at the view from the window above the range. 

Here come the steaks.  The food was delicious, and Keith had cooked the steaks perfectly.  Keith works for a very interesting company based in Utah. The company tests the quality of down feathers for most of the big companies all over the world (REI, Columbia Sports, Pacific Down, North Face, Bogner, etc). He oversees the testing labs, and travels to the manufacturing plants in China to make sure the products are made to certain standards. He speaks fluent mandarin, which he learned on his mission. They have bought a home in Sandy, Utah and will move there in December, but will continue to work for the same company.

The dinner not only tasted great, it was also pleasing to the eye. The Wilson's entertained us in high fashion, and put forth a great amount of time in preparation and thoughtfulness into the wonderful meal and evening.

Philippine Sisters Working in Taiwan

These are some of our Philippine Sisters who have left their families to work in Taiwan as maids, cooks, and caregivers to help their families survive.  Most of them have been doing this for years, and at most only get to go home once every 2 to 3 years. Many have young children.  I can't even imagine the sacrifice that would be, but better than seeing your children starve. Julio, who also wanted to be in the picture, is from the Philippines. His leg is cut off above the knee, but he still works and sends the money home to his family.

This is Nanette, her employer that she now has lets her have one day off each month.  Her choice was the first Sunday of each month so she could attend Fast and Testimony Sacrament Meeting. Nanette has only been in Taipei 14 months, but the first employer she had would not give her any days off each month and would not let her out of the house.  It was only after 9 months that she became so discouraged and had been praying for help; that decided that her only hope was to wash her underclothing, then hang the items outside hoping that someone would recognize that she lived in that house.  It worked, a neighbor (member of the church) came over to see who was living there.  The neighbor told her that she did not know that a member of the church lived in the area. Nanette told the neighbor that she was being held hostage and needed to make contact with someone in the church who could help her.  Nanette was directed to a Filipino Sister in our ward, who knew the employment agency had to make sure the employer was giving at least one day off each month, and had to let her go outside the home. The agency responded and Nanette was able to come to church for the first time in 10 months.  The agency said if things did not improve for her they would find her a new employer after one year, which did happen. She originally signed a two year contract, and cannot go home until the end of her second year. Nanette has 6 children ranging in ages from 3 years old to age 16. Each time she comes to church I hug her and cry with her.  She tells me that her husband is good man, active in the church, he just can't find work.  She said she had no choice but to come to Taipei and work for her family to survive.

My Filipino Sisters are my true hero's.  This is Jenny; and she has 3 young children, and a husband who can't find work in the Philippines. She has been working in Taipei for the last 2 years, but has recently signed a contract to be a nanny in Montreal, Canada. She told me that this has been her great plan to get a job in Canada, and make a way for her family to immigrate there.  She said it would take 2 years working there for her family to qualify to join her.  She is leaving next month and will not be able to go back to the Philippines first to see her family.  By the time she gets to see her children and husband it will be a total of 4 years.  

I am finding it very hard to write even a little bit about these sisters, because of the emotions and tears.  As you can see here these women all radiate love of God, Families, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  In the picture we all held up our fingers for the number of children we have.  Nanette in the green dress has the most, and I was told that her fingers say 6 in sign language.  Her green dress was given to her by a member of our ward.  One more story to remember them by is, that they told me the hardest part is being away from their children when their children get sick. They try to daily e-mail or text their families; and so when they are told that one of them is sick, and they can't be there to hold them, and try to help them feel better that is the hardest of all.
One more story.....I did not know this sister, because she went home to the Philippines a month before we arrived in Taipei.  The true story was told to me by Sister Horner; the woman came to Taiwan a few months after her youngest child was born and she did not get to go back to see her family until that baby was 8 years old and being Baptized.  Fortunately, she got to stay with her family in the Philippines and did not have to return. 

Trip to Fulong to See the Sand Sculptures

Several Senior Missionary couples on our day off; gathered in the MRT Station to start our trip to Fulong.  Sister Day and her Mother-in-law decided to make the trip with us. 

Next we boarded the train to Fulong , which is about 1 1/2 hr ride to the North East Coast of Taiwan. The fare was about 38 NT each way ($1.26 US).

Like most beach towns there were bicycle for rent.
Bob wanted to rent this bicycle built for two.

Sister Day; the Mission President's Mother, who was in Taiwan visiting for a month and is in her 80's, was ready to take Bob up on the offer. She is a very fun interesting lady. She and her husband served 4 missions before he passed away. Sister Day has written several books on paper cutting and lives in Virginia. She also tells stories in the schools and libraries while she does the paper cutting.  She does stand out in any group, because her hat and cane are decorated with plastic flowers.

Big sister taking charge by insisting on her twin brothers holding her hands as they walked to the beach.

The sky was overcast and the weather cool 

enough that we really enjoyed the day.

The sand sculptures are on display for the entire month of June.  The sand is mixed with something to make it hard and able to withstand the heavy rain.

Interesting and many to see

Lots of detail

Still Famous 

Bright Beach Cover Up

Beautiful View

The visitor center featured a few wood sculptors.  Here we are with President and Sister Yu (second counselor to the Temple President and assistant matron). The Yu's are from San Jose, CA.

This extraordinary bench was out of one piece of wood. I had just said this is my favorite piece, when President Yu walked into the area and said "this is my favorite piece". 

We were excited to see the train, because the five of us missed the first train on the way home.

As we rode the train, we got a few smiles.

And we made new friends.  This young lady was on her way to graduation for her students from cooking school.