The other side of the mountain

Meilune mountain that is. We live right at the foot of Meilune San and yet, we have not been up to it until today. Because it is so close to home, we have been putting it off. Not anymore. We decided to hike it today and see what local folks like about this little mountain, about the size of Mt Tolmie in Victoria with similar elevation.
Weather today is ho hum....25 degree and partially cloudy, typical fall/winter weather on this tiny pacific island. Perfect weather for hiking......

We hiked up a little trail to the west side of the hill, and right in front of us is the magnificient Central mountain range of Taiwan which separates the west from the east. The tallest peak of this mountain range is over 10,000 feet and partially covered with snow in the winter. It is this incredible structure which separates Hualien and Taitung from the rest of Taiwan. This is what keeps Hualien so green, so beautiful, so clean, and so livable.

In the video below, that lone white building from a distance is the Meilune Hotel, actually it is called the Parkview hotel of Meilune. Our new home is just across from it two blocks from the ocean. Hualien's one and only golf course wraps around the hotel.

Half way down the other side of the mountain is a beautiful trail which opens up to some green space and it is a popular area of the park as local folks walk their dogs, hike, run, and bike their way around the trails. Local elderlies walk these trails early in the morning and young lovers are seen on the weekends doing their rendezvous......

Part of this mountain belongs to the military and off limit to the public. This is a very strategic spot for national defense as it is the highest point west of the Central mountain range and east of the Pacific. Despite the recently established relationship with the mainland, Taiwan is still very defensive and stands ready for any military threat from the communists.

Taiwan still has compulsory military service for its young male population, which is to be slowly switched over to an all volunteer military by 2014. This could be one of the reasons for any well to do Taiwanese families to emmigrate since becoming one of the Asian tigers.