Day 10 and 11: To the mountains and back again

We started our two day field trip explore Taiwanese native culture by going to the mountains covered in sub-tropical forest and mist. Goran and Markus felt good enough to join the team. We were accompanied by our Friend Mr. Tank who twisted his leg during one of his acting masterpieces that he performs to make us more happy and his son MoMo, as well as members of a new hosting club. After the lunch in the mountains (Traditional Aboriginal meal as our hosts call it, turned out to be a Round Table only with a view towards mountains this time…). 

We would like to mention that Round Table is a shape of a table that is very common here, and convinient too  – every time more than 10 different  dishes are served, and guests are invited to try everything. The taste of all food is typically Asian. Vegetables, rices, noodels, meat, seafood – everything is served in local souces and spices, and is far from Western taste experience. Taiwanese are very proud about it and they invite us to beat it  twice a day. So, up till now we have had up to 20 Round Tables, and it seems that we will have 20-40 more…

So, we wached 2 shows with Aborigan performers from Zhou tribe – both with a mix of traditional and contemporary songs and dances. One was special involving a stage setting in the field where artists performed dancing scenes based on traditional ancient activities – harvesting, haunting, fighting etc. Both performances included artists inviting audience for the last common dance.

We stayed in mountains in small houses with no heating (it was around +14 in the night), but we had our first party, where boys were taught to make a rice cake, and people played tambourines wearing national hats. The party ended in our house and the sleep was short.

Sunday started at 7.a.m. when we headed to the National Park with impressive giant cypress trees, Buddhist temple and fresh air. After a long bus ride back to the city Sunday ends with dinner. We are very tired.