Kenting:
Tropical Taiwan at its Finest
I have been to Kenting three times now within the last 6 months, and I still love it there.  There's not much more to do than to hang out at the beach and visit the national park, but hey, that's perfectly fine with me.
Kenting is the epitome of tropical and it's beautiful waters are worth the long trip from Taipei.  It's like being in a different country.  Coconut palm trees swaying next to the bamboo.  Banana plants dot the background.  Bright flowers bloom year round...and who can forget that beautiful water, so blue.

The first time was during a typhoon to the south in the Phillipines during the aforementioned "Tour from Hell".  I mostly got rained on, hiked up to the national park remembered I didn't have any money to get in so I took panoramic shots of the coastline and hiked back to town in the pouring rain, part of the walk barefoot because it was so wet.  I took pictures of the high stormy waves and went to Water Space, the indoor waterpark, and ate at Warung Didi which is my current favorite place to eat.
The second time was to get my cell phone charger (which was merely an excuse).  The weather was beautiful but I left me swimsuit in Taipei.  I still stood at the edge of the beach letting the waves soak me and soaking up the sun.
The third time I went was partially with my school for two days during Thanksgiving break as a treat from my boss.  We stayed in the Yo Ho Beach Resort and visited the Taipei Oceanography Museum and Aquarium, the biggest one in Asia.  Then when everyone else headed north, I stayed in Kenting for the rest of the weekend, soaking up the hot sun (it was in the upper 80's at least!) and hanging out at the beach. 

When I travel south I listen to three CDs: Steely Dan's greatest hits, Zap Mama (either A Ma Zone or Sabsylma), or Bossa Nova by Ana Caram.  They all set me in the right mindset for my journey and provide the perfect background music to match the scenery.  Especially "Babylon Sisters" by Steely Dan, "La Garota de Ipanema" by Ana Caram, and "Yepe" by Zap Mama.
Here I am standing outside of the National Oceanography Museum and Aquarium outside of Kenting on November 29, 2002.  And yes, it was warm enough to wear shorts on that day.
"It's everything they say, the end of a perfect day with lights across the bay..."
  - Steely Dan's Babylon Sisters

I took this beautiful picture outside the Yo Ho Beach Club on the outskirts of Kenting during a sand volleyball game I was playing with my coworkers.  You can see the net on the right-hand side, tied to a coconut tree.
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