Riverboarding in Taiwan?

Ok...so I still have to finish my NZ blog trip recap. Don't worry...I will. I've been reading Ice's latest entries(we are ALL playing catch-up)...and I am laughing because so many memories are coming back. We had a GREAT trip, and like Ice writes, what made it extra cool was the friendships formed. I can't think of a cooler bunch of strangers to be thrown together with. We bonded immediately, shared the same twisted sense of humour, and had a blast. I can't wait to finish my NZ blog.

But first alittle on Taiwan(where I am at now). My brother and I spent the week hiking around Taiwan's mountainous East Coast, namely a place called Taroko Gorge. Like NZ, it is truly a land that time forgot. Its not the rainy season yet, so the rivers are fairly dry...but I found myself noticing the rocks(more like boulders the size of 3 story houses) that littered the river bed and thinking...WOW...imagine what it'd be like during the rainy season?? I GOTTA tell Ice, Docta P & Kevin about this place. Yup...I've been bitten by the riverboarding bug. I'm thinking like a riverboarder now. How the water would flow over the rocks. Where the sticky points would be. I kept pointing out to my brother what I had learned. I really can't wait to post pics for you all to see. I don't think that Taiwan's rivers have been explored much. For one thing, while NZ may be the "extreme capital" of the world, Taiwan is the complete opposite. Not that the Taiwanese are wimps by any stretch(they defy the Mainland on a daily basis)...its just that they have yet to tap into their awesome river system beyond sight seeing yet.

But there are dangers. Taiwan is the home to 10 very poisonous snakes. How do I know this? Well...um...I stepped on the 3rd poisonous(the Green Bamboo Snake) the other day wearing only sandles. Doh!!! Got a picture of it that I'll post later.

I also fell into some quicksand. Yup, he said quicksand. My bro had to pull me out with a branch.

Plus Taiwan was formed by the European and Phillipine plates thrusting up against each other(cue porn music now), and thus is plauged by earthquakes. This in turn causes a HUGE amount of falling rocks. And I thought worrying about the river was mentally and physically exhausting. Throw poisonous snakes and falling rocks, and you've got one helluva adventure. Now my brother and I didn't actually SEE any rocks fall. But we DID see their evidence EVERYWHERE. I'm talking massive damage. Obliterated trails. Smashed iron fences. Posters of missing people(presumed buried by falling rocks).

Yup. Sounds like a GREAT  future  riverboarding trip. Dontcha think? Hello?

Comments

[I C whaa-a-a-a?]

Dude, that sounds awesomely terrifying! =) That was the one thing I was REALLY glad about in NZ, no poisonous snakes, no bears, and quicksand?! You stepped in quicksand?! Wow. That's intense. Was it like, um...uh...oh man, this is horrible, but the only movie I can think of with quicksand is Princess Bride. Dear God I shouldn't post this here. LOL. Was it like that though? Glad you're ok. Can't wait for pics. I got some video of Citroen (sort of) finally too...

Ice

[Kevin]

Regan, don't forget the typhoons. Taiwan and Japan serve as barriers (just like the outer banks of NC) to protect the mainland of Asia from all the typhoons. They usually aren't too intense, just strong tropical storms, but are pretty frequent. Bet that would turn those boulders into a wave train. If wet season is anything there like it is where I'm at, then it's probably off the scale.