Bike Trip from Xindian (新店) to Hsinchu (新竹)
2018/02/17-18, Part 3
The Taiwan or Formosa Strait (台灣海峽) serves as a natural frontier between the People's
Republic of China (PRC) and the Republic of
China as Taiwan is officially known. Within the strait are the islands
of Penghu, Kinmen (or Quemoy) and Matsu; all three administered by Taiwan.
The PRC extensively shelled Kinmen and Matsu during the
First and Second Taiwan Strait crises in 1954–1955 and 1958 respectively
(wikipedia). Today the remaining high quality carbon steel bomb shells serve as
abundant material for famous knives forged in Kinmen. While I am typing these words I am reminded of the
prophet Isaiah who said in the Bible: “They will
beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” Or, in
the case of Kinmen, beat their bomb shells into knives…
Riding along the Taiwan Strait it is hard
to imagine the austerity between the two countries. The weather was sunny; from
my back I had a strong wind pushing me effortless forward through an empty
road. Soft waves of the ocean on my right were singing a soothing lullaby
bordered by mountains on my left. No wonder, the Portuguese named Taiwan
Formosa ‘the beautiful island’!
Already in Taoyuan County I could hear
occasionally the sound of planes from the international airport nearby. The
view and road did not change much so I was glad that I discovered an unobtrusive sign
showing the direction to the Zhuwei (or Chuwei) Fishing Harbor (竹圍漁港) on a pole beside a
building.
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| Unobtrusive road sign to Zhuwei Fishing Harbor (竹圍漁港) |
Following the
sign I had to cross the Rainbow Bridge (彩虹橋) on which I overtook some Philippine workers
enjoying a few days off. After a short downhill ride I turned right and again
left into the very active harbor. During the Chinese New Year the harbor was so
crowded that volunteer traffic police tried to get some order into the traffic.
In Taiwan all fishing ports have a market where you can buy freshly caught fish
and all kinds of seafood.
Some years ago while we visited this harbor my wife bought
some Salmon and Tuna. While the Japanese would make them into Sushi the
Taiwanese serve them in a plastic tray with a lemon and Japanese Wasabi paste
which is supposed to be mixed with the also included soy sauce.
To be continued...
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| Zhuwei Fishing Harbor (竹圍漁港) |
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| Fresh seafood to-go Taiwanese Style |
To be continued...
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