Yesterday was Dragon Boat Festival, an excuse to be a shameless tourist and also a day off of work. Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar and it commemorates the drowning of a famous poet in a river in China. After he drowned the people threw rice dumplings into the water to keep the fish from eating his body and raced out in boats to try to rescue him. Thus began the tradition of eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats on this day.
With my day off work I wanted to get a little taste of culture, but all of the races in Taipei and near me seemed to be only in the morning. As I am living a lazy life, waking up before 10am is a daunting task, so we decided to travel a little further is Hsinchu where we would be able to watch some races in the afternoon hours when I am conscious.
We arrived at the site of the festival with perfect timing - a round of races was just beginning. Each race was between two teams traveling about 2000 meters through the water. The boats are shaped like a dragon with a head and tail. They have a drummer up front, and all the rowers paddle to the beat of the drum in one fluid motion. Another team member is positioned on the head of the dragon and when the team reaches the end of the course this person has to grab a flag from the water. The first team to get the flag is the winner.
The races were right on the coast, and nearby there is a 17k bike path that runs along the water. So after enjoying the races and feasting from the food tents, we rented bikes and hit the road. My bike cost 60NT ($2US) to rent for the entire day. You could get single bikes, tandem bikes, and even these things that looked like golf carts but had four sets of peddles. It was a hot and humid day, but Hsinchu is known as the windy city so we were constantly being blown with a refreshing breeze. The path was gorgeous, we could stop at the beach, we saw some windmills, and it was a very enjoyable day.
Katie, Me, and Clare at the races
Dragon Boat
Two boats from farther away
The drummer who sits at the front of the boat
After the race they get towed back to the start. It's like a lazy mans crew.
This man was fishing near the races. The water looks like the Baltimore Harbor. Not sure I'd want to eat anything he caught.
Jarred, Katie, and Clare biking
The 4-person bike all the Taiwanese were driving. I found out the ride bikes like they ride scooters. Scary scary.
This little lobster bike man marked the entire path.
Me and Clare while taking a break.
At the beach
The wind was super strong and at times made it really hard to bike. But also making it a perfect place for windmills.
Dragon Boat Racing
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