The Queens Head

Today was a very hot and sunny day with lots of umbrellas involved. Back in America I would always wonder why I would see some people around with umbrellas, especially on campus. They use the umbrella to protect themselves from the sun because they do not want to get dark. I think this is fascinating because its the opposite trend in the US. But just like yesterday at the National Palace Museum and today at the Yelui Geology Park there were alot of Chinese and Japanese tourist so it was very crowded. Because it is near the seashore which contains limestone, alot of the bedrock is subject to marine erosion forming some pretty creative statues. The most famous of its creations is the Queens head from one of the broken mushroom rocks. Honestly I would prefer to call it a pharaoh because it looks like an Egyptian queen to me.

You have to look at it sideways because I couldn't figure out how to rotate it.

Mushroom Rocks in various eroding processes, from no neck to middle neck

Sea Urchin Fossil in the rock bedding 

Then we visited the Fisheries Research Institute where we got to see alot of different fish. I even saw a fish like Finding Nemo! These fish are False Clown Anemonefish and they live in a symbiotic relationship with Stoichectis kenti a type of anemone. 

I also learned that all these fish preserved are actually the real fish, with modifications. (This explained the odd smell) For example the teeth here in this whale are real with its original bone structure intact still. Particular to Taiwan, we learned that shrimp is their main catch and that bottom trawling which drags a net along the ocean floor only catches roughly 20 to 30 % of the desired product, making it very destructive to the environment. Did you know Octopuses are attracted to light and that because they only live for 3 to 4 years their stock is not in danger of over exploitation? I found this very interesting. This institute also focuses on uses for the by-catch from the fisheries to make cosmetics or even seaweed ice cream. 

Lastly, and the most exciting part of my day was making dumplings. Alison was very helpful and seemed like the master of dumpling making. I admired her skills very much. Dumplings are soooo delicious and now I hope I can maybe make them for my family one day :) 

I hope Heng-An Ling feels better and heals soon.