A Snake in Hell Valley

Micha's parents came for a visit to Taipei - our first visitors!!! So we tried to organize an interesting and diversified program for them, to spend as much time as possible together and to squeeze our work's duties in between... Not always an easy job, but we managed quite well and our parents enjoyed their stay very much!


One agenda highlight was a stay in one of Beitou's hot spring resorts (- thanks to all friends from the Basel Geology Department for their wonderful gift voucher!). Beitou is just in the northern periphery of Taipei in the foothills of the volcanic area of Yangmingshan.

The spring area in the center of Beitou is called Hell Valley, and indeed, the billowing clouds of sulphurous clouds and mists inspired one's mind to imagine that this could be the entrance to the nether world.


But before we relaxed in the hot water, we climbed Mt. Zhongzheng.
On the way up, we met an exceedingly nice Taiwanese couple who insisted on offering us part of their lunch packages: sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves! Yummieh!


We next encountered the Beauty of Taiwan. This unfortunately is not "Miss Taiwan", but an about 2 m long, thick, attractively patterned, tree-climbing snake. Only later we found out that it is not poisonous. Had we known this plus that the snake is famous for its delicious meet, archaic hunting spirits would probably have risen in the male participants of our hiking squad...


It is the season of the cherry blossoms, so here and there, pink specks of blooming cherry trees embellish the countryside.


The rhododendron bushes are fully flowering at the moment, too, and do not only beautify nature:


After coming back to the hotel, we relaxed our tired limbs in fantastic hot water whirl pools and bubble baths... hmm... and had a delightful Japanese dinner!