228 烏來 Wulai

Everyone in Taiwan had off February 28th in observance of Peace Memorial Day.  This marks the date of the 1947 massacre by the Kuomintang (KMT political party) that began a 38-year period of brutal martial law called the White Terror.  The KMT is the political party that towards the end of the Chinese Civil War retreated to Taiwan, which had been under Japanese control since the First Sino-Japanese War until the end of World War II.  In Taiwan, the KMT established administrative control as the Republic of China.  For much of Taiwanese history, the 228 event was censored, but since then it has been acknowledged openly by the government, so people can freely reflect and discuss.  Having a Monday off early in the beginning of the school year reminded me of MLK Day in the U.S.  Both commemorate tragic eras of national history, but usually I go snow skiing in the U.S. and this year I went hiking among waterfalls in Wulai, near Taipei.

Rice steamed in bamboo husks,
traditional to the indigenous tribe that lives in the area

Eggs hardboiled in the hot springs