2023PhilippinesTaiwan

  Hengchun I spent one day in this coastal city. Late that day I got an email from Melody. Her mother was deathly ill, and in the hospital. My presence was needed immediately at home (well, actually in Los Angeles). I bought a plane ticket for the next day. Thanks to Taiwan’s great transportation system I got back to Taipei in five hours. I spent a few hours trying to purchase some gifts, then headed to the airport for my flight. The plane left just after midnight. Twelve hours later I was in LA.  The health scare faded, I’m happy to relate. Medy is now healed and at home. I lost a few days of my journey but that’s no great problem. 

Leaving Lamey Island The night of July 12th I searched Airbnb for suitable digs on the mainland. I found an inexpensive place in the extreme southeast corner of Taiwan, the city of Hengchun, and put down funds to secure a two-night stay.  I had twelve days left before my plane was scheduled to depart Taipei, ample time for me to explore the east coast of the nation. The east side of Taiwan is sparsely populated, at least compared to the westward. I wasn’t especially psyched to undertake a bunch of nature walks, but if that was what was left to see here then I was resolved to make the slow trek northward. I wanted to be in the capital city by the 20th to provide me with a few days to buy gifts.  I returned my ebike on the morning of the 13th and walked the short distance to the ferry terminal. The return boat ride to the mainland was uneventful. I did dread the next step, a 15 minute walk in the stifling heat of the late morning which would get me to a bus stop that Google told me would