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A
life without adventure is nothing at all
By Mark Payne Translated by
Crystal Kuo
So said renowned American author
and educator Helen Keller. At Taiwan Fun, we
share this sentiment and if you do, too, keep
reading. Taipei and the surrounding area offer
a wealth of opportunities to satisfy the quest
for adventure. This month we will look at some
of these options: river tracing, bungee jumping
and rock climbing. We'll also mention a few
reputable organizations which can help you expand
your horizons, break free from the humdrum of
everyday life and get your adrenalin pumping.
River
Tracing
River tracing originated in Italy and came to
Taiwan in 1981. The sport itself is a thrilling
mix of climbing and trekking in white water.
The basic technique consists of being able to
walk on slippery rock, traverse white water
rapids and go up or come down waterfalls and
canyons. It offers the participant a great challenge
in addition to enjoy some of the most beautiful
scenery Taiwan has to offer.
Obviously, the Hualian area
offers some of the best locations for the budding
river tracer but there are some great areas
in the Taipei area, Wulai (along the Nanshi
River) being the most notable and only 45 minutes
away. The sport requires great coordination
and teamwork-a novice would definitely not be
able to traverse rapids alone. This makes river
tracing a great social activity, ideal for groups
of friends and company trips, too.
This is an activity where, at one moment, you
could be at the top of a 20-foot canyon, and
the next diving into a lovely pool at the bottom
of a waterfall. Although you don't need strong
swimming skills to take part, it is a sport
in which you will have to wear a life jacket
at all times. Joanna Lai, who recently went
river tracing for the first time said, "I'm
not a particularly good swimmer but had a great
time and felt completely safe. I was with experienced
instructors and had my life jacket." Other
equipment you will need include a helmet, special
footwear with felt outsoles and a harness.
But don't let the need for
equipment put you off. Organizations such as
FreshTrek, XHZ Adventure Training and The Taipei
River Tracing Association can take care of this
for you. If you are looking to challenge yourself
with an activity that offers a diversity of
experiences and sights, river tracing could
be for you.
Bungee
Jumping
The history of bungee jumping is a long one.
It originated amongst the tribes of the New
Hebrides, where tribe members would throw themselves
off huge bamboo towers as a rite of passage
to manhood ( in England, we would merely get
drunk). Modern bungee jumping, however, was
started by the Oxford University Dangerous Sports
Society in 1979, when four members, clad in
traditional top hat and tails, threw themselves-attached
to rubber cords-off the Clifton Suspension Bridge
in Bristol.
The sport really took off in New Zealand in
the 1980s and has since become a worldwide phenomenon:
Every day, with thousands of people throw themselves
headlong off bridges, cranes and other assorted
high platforms towards terra firma, only to
bounce back up at the last minute (due to the-thankfully-elasticated
rubber ropes one is attached to). There are
many places in Taiwan where one can indulge
in this crazy activity and many organizations
can make it possible for you. According to Mr.
Lee of the Taiwan Bungy Jumping Club, "Everyone
should do at least one bungee jump in their
life. It's an unforgettable experience."
The Taiwan Bungy Jumping Club
do a lot of jumps in the Taoyuan area and is
one of the best organizations around. However,
for a very different thrill, they also conduct
jumps inside Taipei's very own Living Mall.
That's right folks, you can jump headfirst toward
unsuspecting shoppers and diners in the food
court of this mall. This is an exciting, unique
experience that can be enjoyed (if that's the
right word) whatever the weather is like. The
cost of this thrilling piece of urban daredevilry
is NT$2,000 and the price also includes a certificate.
Rock
Climbing
When we see Tom Cruise hanging off the side
of a mountain at the start of Mission Impossible
2, we know that rock climbing is an ultra-cool
thing to do. The act of climbing itself, meanwhile,
is something many of us enjoyed as children,
whether scaling trees, walls or climbing frames.
It is an activity that challenges and excites,
while the feeling of satisfaction in reaching
the top is hard to beat.
Rock climbing is an exciting
sport which requires coordination between mind
and body. And, although you may think that you
have to be incredibly strong to participate,
the key skills are a calm mind and a good sense
of balance, which makes it accessible to most
people with a reasonable level of fitness. For
beginners, the rush of reaching the top of the
rock is amazing, while experienced climbers
relish in finding new and increasingly challenging
climbs.
There are some great areas
around Taipei where one can pursue this sport-Beitou
and Longdong (Lungtung) being particularly noteworthy,
if a little challenging for novices. There are
also some gentler climbs on Yangmingshan such
as DaPau Yan or "Big Cannon Cliff"
which are suitable for beginners. Of course,
this is an activity in which safety is extremely
important, as is having the right equipment.
This is why we would recommend beginners contacting
a reputable oranization to help get you going
and make sure you are safe.
One such organization is XHZ
Adventure, based in Xindian. They organize regular
climbs as well as hold free indoor training
sessions every Tuesday. Another great place
to learn the basics is Y17 Youth Activity Center,
which has a great indoor climbing face. You
can take a beginner's course here on Saturdays
for NT$2,000 ( for 2 or 3 sessions) from 7 to
10 p.m. and they will supply all the equipment
you need on a rental basis. On the whole, Taiwan
is a barely charted territory for rock climbing,
which makes it an ideal way to explore the great
outdoors and challenge yourself.
River tracing, bungee jumping
and rock climbing are three great ways to satisfy
your quest for adventure and Taiwan offers some
great locations in which to pursue them. But
always be sure to be safe. We recommend that
you have the right equipment and expert supervision
at all times (the organizations listed below
can help with this).
Let the adventure begin!
Organizations
FreshTreks: 237, FuXing South Road, Sec. 2,
11F-1
Tel: (02) 2700-6988/1509
www.FreshTreks.com
Taipei Bungy Jumping Club:
Tel: (02) 8666-6019/ 0937-085-481
www.bungee.com.tw (Chinese)
XHZ Adventure School: 1, Alley 60, Lane 16,
ShuangCheng Road, Xindian
Tel: (02) 2215 9019
Y17 Youth Activity Center: 17, RenAi Road, Sec.1
Tel: (02) 2343-2388 (ext. 8903)
Taipei River Tracing Associaion
Tel: (02) 2594-2180
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