Imagine this: Double 10 (October 10), which is Taiwan’s National Day celebration, was just around the corner. Our great idea was to have a long weekend getaway to Kenting, the southernmost gem of Taiwan. On Thursday, the 5th of October, Typhoon Koinu made its presence known, setting records with wind speeds reaching an astonishing 342 kilometers per hour as it swept across the southernmost part of Taiwan. Friday afternoon, after our classes, we had to make the decision – should we go or not? And we decided to go for it. We took a 30-minute train ride to Zuoying and then a 2-hour journey on the Kenting Express bus. Upon arrival in Kenting, everybody was very busy getting town read for the big weekend, fixing the damage caused by the typhoon. Also in our hotel we had to wait till the next morning to have water in our bathroom.
The typhoon had rendered the national parks inaccessible. Since hiking was no longer an option, we chose to do short cycling tours in between the rain showers. The beauty of the area’s natural scenery remained evident, even in the face of adversity. The typhoon’s force was apparent everywhere, showcasing the strength of nature, with typhoons being even stronger.
And, naturally, when you mention Taiwan, you think of night markets. Kenting’s night market takes place on the main road, which creates a unique atmosphere with a large crowd strolling past all the stands while traffic continues to move through the crowd. Haven’t been to a Taiwanese night market before? The concept is simple: wander among the stalls, enjoying a variety of delicious treats until you find yourself in a satisfying food coma.
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