Hiking in Jhirben

Okay, so Rebecca and I decided to go hiking in the mountains (about 20 mins away). Well, as ambitious as we are and how good it felt to climb all those stairs (1800+ on the way up and we still needed to walk down afterwards), today, the day afterwards- it is hurting. My calves are in PAIN!!!! Today I think I look like an old cowboy walking around- haha. Well, it was beautiful and we got to see a great view at the top- a view through the mountains, into the valley, into Taitung city, and then to the ocean. Very nice.

The highlights:
- We tried to hike up a river, but the water was too high (with all the rain lately), so we went somewhere else
- We were walking down the mountain and we saw wild little monkeys in the trees above our heads (I don't know their official name) and they were kinda scary for them being so little. One monkey, when he saw us stop and look at him, grabbed the tree branch and started to shake it with all his might- rustling all the leaves- I think he was trying to make himself look bigger than he was. Well about that moment, Rebecca suggested we pick up a rock to throw at the monkey's in chance they charged us... later we discovered that had picked up this big rock (about the size of her fist) and I picked up this little rock (about the size of two fingers)... we had a good laugh over that ;) She would knock out the monkey, and I would would just daze it... but I say- enough for me to get a head start on running away- GOOD ENOUGH!!
- Afterwards, going to a Japanese style hot spring- so beautiful and relaxing- to soak our weary legs. Pampering ourselves!!