Monkey Mountain! Yes, Monkeys!!!

This weekend is a 3 day weekend for those of us in Taiwan.  On Monday it is Moon Festival  so it is our first long weekend after a month of teaching. I can't believe school has been in session for 4 weeks already!

Today a few of us ventured up to Monkey Mountain.  It is about a mile from my apartment, if that, and you literally climb a mountain to not only see an amazing view of Kaohsiung but also see monkeys - and LOTS of them.  Ally and Nathan, this post is for you.

When you get to the parking area, you go toward the walking path and these are the two signs. Luckily one has some English but the other, who knows.  At least there's a map on it that shows the paths.  Now, picture this, we headed out at 8:00 a.m. and it was already close to 90º before you factor in the humidity.  We climbed up a few hundred stairs to get to the first level where there was a view.

 These are the stairs.

 It is a primordial setting.

Everything is SO green.  It's like being in Ireland, except 30 degrees hotter and everything is on steroids.

Look at the size of those leaves.  This is Lily by the way.  She is the daughter of my friend Dawn, who happens to be my principal here.

The walk up is endless and by the time we got to the first level where we could take a rest, we were all a hot, sweaty mess.  Before we got to this level, that is when we saw our first monkey.

Can you believe it!?  This is the first monkey I've seen outside of a zoo!

We continued to climb, at this point on paved and dirt trails, until we got to a little rest stop.

 So many dramatic spots to take pictures.

 Here is one of the spots to sit and take a rest.

 And another

Even after a long and sweaty climb, people are using the exercise spots along the way.  CRAZY! At this point you couldn't have paid me to use this equipment.

The view was magnificent although it was a little smoggy/foggy on the first stop. 

 That is the city of Kaohsiung below us.

 This gentleman was cleaning up the seating areas.  Yes, they do wear these hats.  I need to get me one of those!

 This monkey was sitting at the rest stop waiting for anyone to have some food.  That's what they do.  Wait.....then grab.  This is how close I got to him.  They are so used to humans being around that they are completely calm and just watch.

 While we were resting and cooling down (yeah, right!) a group of friends came and sat at one of the picnic tables.  We greeted them, as we did everyone up and down, and they invited us to join them.  No, that's not completely accurate.  They INSISTED we join them.  It was one of the best experiences I've had in Kaohsiung so far.  We sat with this group of friends as they took out all of the makings for tea, different crackers, fruits and snacks and offered them all to us.  Each person who joined the group had something to offer.  One of the men who joined had a pellet gun that he shot at any monkeys who tried to come close to grab food.  No kidding! As they connected the small propane burner they took out cups and poured us cool and eventually hot green tea.  The local tea is so floral and delicious.  They tried to communicate in English as much as possible and then, after an exchange of business cards and conversation, we headed back on the trail.  They invited us to join them again because they, apparently, do this on a regular basis.  What a welcoming and friendly thing for them to do.  I now know how I am going to act any time I'm hiking or traveling somewhere; I will invite others to join.  I'm smiling just thinking about it.  Amazing!

We headed back on the trail - you can see how gloriously green and luscious it is.  We were on the trail for some time before we hit another set of stairs that went up, up and up.  At this point the stairs are in this thick vegetation so everything is covered in a little moisture and slime.  It was a slippery climb but we got up to the top of the mountain and saw an incredible amount of monkeys.  I couldn't believe it.

 This is the view from the top.

At the top there are many containers of both cold and hot teas just there for everyone to share.  Can you imagine that in the states!?  Pretty much everyone brought a cup with them so they can partake, which is something I will do from not on.  There are many benches and tables to sit at to rest before heading back down and you are surrounded by monkeys waiting for anyone to take out food.  They are so close!  It's incredible!

 You can see how close they are to where everyone is sitting.

 I sat on a bench and this one was just staring at me for a while.

 Eventually he made his way toward me and, no joke, sat on the bench next to me, scratched his balls, got up and walked away.  Not sure what the message was but...

 They are so close!

This video is of a monkey right next to me.  I was no more than 5 feet away!

After a rest and enjoying the breeze at the top, we travelled back down the mountain.  We saw a few more monkeys along the way.

These aren't clear but he was licking the contents out of a plastic bag someone left behind.

I can't wait to go back.  My next visit will be early in the morning, even earlier than 8:00, and when it's a bit cooler outside.  I loved each and every moment of today.  Nathan and Ally (and everyone who comes to visit), I can't wait to take you up Monkey Mountain!