Week 3 of Recovery (scheduled)
Monday: 4-5 mile walk in LuGang (Rest)
Tuesday: 5 mile run in Shetou (4-mile easy run)
Wednesday: run in South District of Taichung (5 mile run)
Thursday: Hiked Liting Mountain near Neipu (4-mile easy run)
Friday: 5 mile run in Pingtung and a walk in SanTiMen Village (Rest)
Saturday: Rest- aka lazy (FULL 60 min run)
Sunday: Rest - aka lazy (X-training)
Stat & Course condition:
TO BE UPDATED.
Note and reflections:
A full week of the long break had been in Shetou, Taichung and Pingtung before returned to Taipei for a weekend rest. A full day hike on crowded "big streets and small alleys" in historical district of LuGang brought me to many temples on Monday. As preparing to leave Shetou on Tuesday afternoon, I ran and Meng-shin biked along a 5-mile section of Northern irrigation canal before lunch. The run was in a great weather (but a bit too bright and sunny). Arrived in Taichung, I did a quick run around the apartment before leaving for Pingtung to visit Yun-Huei's and Azhong's families. Yun-Huei & Gin-Fang and the family gave us a warm welcome and fed use very well all three days of the stay--"a series of eating: light snack --> big course --> fruits --> tea --> dessert --> .. -->" according to Yun-Huei. Azhong and his family took us to LuGang for a big fest on Thursday after our hike up Liting (well not quite to the top due to a time limitation). Last day in Pingtung was started around 7:30a by a 5-mile run the house and a hike in SanTiMen Village during our visit to an aboriginal bead art center. A famous recent Taiwanese movie, Cape No. 7 (海角七號), used beads from this village. The village is also famous for its wild raised chicken. I came back to Taipei and took a weekend rest, which resulted in missing a long run and a Sunday X-training. However, I had kept an active holiday (despite 4-lb weight gain) .... "adhered to my schedule."
I really appreciated the welcome from friends and the three families (Meng-shin's, Yun-Huei & Gin-Fang's and Azhong's). Their hospitality made my second Chinese New Year in Taiwan another very-memorable experience. Special thanks to Meng-shin who accompanied me for the whole trip.
Photos:
Colorful pinwheel turning on LuGang Old Street.
Crowd of devotees at Tian-Ho Gong
Small and "Big" Kids sailing out on a dragon boat!
Dacing Station: I passed trough its gate several times.
At Chunghwa fan-shaped roundhouse.
Fan-shaped roundhouse in action: An engine car was moved from one rail to another rail.
Four buddies on their way to KaoHsiung. They played cards loudly on the train before asked to leave. 
Grandma rolling dices. Sounds of rolling dices could be heard all over Pingtung City during New Year.
Yun-Huei tossing gifts for the girls at a Pingtung Nightmarket.
Hard or Easy Way. We climbed the hard one, of course, up to Liting Mnt.
Well, after climbing up a steep staircase they are smiling.
Meng-shin, Gin-fang, Yun-Huei's dad and Yun-Huei on our way down from the top.
Azhong and his parents brought us to DongGang for a big lunch of DongGang's famous dishes.
Black Sugar Cake Ice for dessert in Pingtung.
Evening fest at Gin-Fang's parent's house.
Gin-Fang's mom and "Obama."
Pingtung's hosts, Gin-Fang & Yun-Huei, at a microbrewery.
Meng-shin awaiting for her drinks.
Pingtung's Ba-Wan for a breakfast before leaving to SanTiMen.
Fire up! Bead making process in SanTiMen.
Various beads with special power (a belief of Taiwan indigenous tribes) at Dragonfly Beads Art Studio. 
Meng-shin concentrating on her DIY "the pearl of eyes of red-gragon" bead creation.
A photographer and a bead-framed mirror.
On Taipei Express, "my family and I are going to Taoyuan."Continue reading the rest...
