Kending/Spring Scream Music Fesitval

Kending, Spring Scream Festival 2013

To celebrate both Children's Day and Tomb Sweeping Day, my Chinese learning buddies and I took advantage of classless/jobless days to head down the coast to the land of the South.  Here, you can literally see the edges of the coast wrap around our tiny island body.  Kending is the closest town and it is mostly set up for the vacationist looking to catch a little R&R.  There's a killer long night market with yummy fried stuff, including the ever tempting "fried oreo."  And a pretty reliable bus to take you from the festival to the town for food.  There is also an amazing National Park with hikes that offer a great view of the coastline.  Kending is in itself a beautiful and fascinating place to spend time.  I recommend "bai sha" beach for swimming and snorkeling.  If you go, bring your googles because there are some seriously colorful fish down there! 

We were lucky enough to be there for the Spring Scream Music Festival which was both artsy and surrounded by nature, perfect. 

Southern tip of Tawian

Spring Scream Festival, day 1. Listening to Palestinian artists through a live feed, pretty cool. 

Having fun with Tiff's underwater camera! 

Tizzy Bac live! 

Hammocks, tents and an inflatable pool at the festival.  Love this chill, laid back vibe. 

Great campground in walking distance of the festival and near the bus stop to Kending.  Also, across the street from a beautiful beach! 

Getting our paint on in a messy, late night fashion. 

Van taxi rides/going to Bai Sha Beach and enjoying the ride with some Top 40 hits.   

Tina and me being mermaids for an afternoon. 

Our group at the campground, pre-festival

Getting a yummy dinner, day 3 when we're starting to loose steam and miss our beds. 

Strike a pose...baby unicorn it is.

Bai Sha beach, good sand, waves, music, food. 

Entrance/Exit of festival .

Alas, all good things must come to an end.    Once again, sacrificing a few daily comforts and conveniences to be outside more than inside, dance, and have adventures with awesome people was worth it!  

It took me a few days to come down from the Kending high.  Here's a little poem about that return to Taipei. 

The Return

The return from our 4 day trip to the beach,

where we felt the tide wet our legs and then recede,

has left me dried out. 

Like too much sun and salt and nudity 

has cured the muscle of my heart

into a swiveled, lesser form 

that will only be made blood filled and pumping

after the gradual familiarization with the land locked life,

or perhaps,  

by our imminent return to the place where time spins shells into sand.