Most of the west coast is not really worth a visit.

Starting out in Guanyun, my trusty bicyle had to endure Highway 14 all the way to the peak at 3275m.
From there on it was heaven on two wheels. Barely able to contain my excitement, it was overtaking 4WDs all day long. I have never pushed a bike that hard before, arriving in Wushe my hands needed a break from gripping the brakes.

Puli is just as you would expect a city in the west to be: Dirty, loud, chaotic and filled with cheesy Matsu temples.
Heading out tonight was a good idea; Amongst other things, I witnessed some Tai-chi groups practising and a Taiwanese orchestra performing classical native music.

This afternoon I arrived in Guanyun, hoping to avoid the typhoon heading towards Taiwan.

Even at 2370 meters of elevation the winds are going strong and there does not seem to be an end to the huge amounts of rain pouring from the misty skies.

By the way: Today, yours truly rode more than 1500 meters of elevation and about 35km from Tienxiang to the middle of nowhere.

While I enjoy a warm shower and my clothes dry slowly, the TV shows concerned-looking anchormen commenting on events I  presume will unfold into a third intifada.

What a mad world. At least I cannot complain about a lack of excitement at the moment.

Kindness, discipline, order, commodity and convenience: Those are the words that came to my mind after roaming the various districts of Taiwan’s capital.

Bye, loopy middle east, hello beautiful Formosa!

I’ve travelled to Jordan recently. My first impressions were formed by passing dozens of villages and small towns in the north. It seems like a very underdeveloped and rural country, but there are good universities and international schools located in Amman. Apart from the usual suspects trying to rip off foreigners, most people are friendly and helpful. Syrian refugees mingle with Kuwaitis, Lebanese and Jordanians and returning exile-Jordanians.