Butterflies

 This past week was spring break in Taiwan! Spring break is really a four day weekend that they call tomb sweeping day. It is a holiday when people visit the graves or burial grounds of their ancestors. We spent this time doing some relaxing and exploring. On one of our outings we went to Yunlin County to see the butterfly migration. Every year in April and May the Eupolea Sylverster Swinhoei will travel from the southern part of Taiwan to Northern Taiwan and even to Japan. These butterflies are beautiful but I couldn't get my own picture so I borrowed one from the Internet :)
 

After watching the butterflies for a while we decided to check out a nature trail and try to see some wildlife.

 These plant were unique, the seed pods explode throwing seeds to spread them. We would take a couple and put a little pressure on them and release. With the release they would POP open and throw the seeds. I uploaded a video to YouTube and you can see it here http://youtu.be/Zl-f8Y4SLzA

 Nature time! 

 Check out that handsome fella! 

 We saw lots of beautiful flowers! 

 Here we are taking a moment to pick on Justin.... Trust me he likes it!

 

Our last stop was to a village that has been in the same family for so many generations that I can't even guess (but more likely that is because I just can't remember and I can't find that information on the Internet). Well Justin just came home and said that this family location was started in the 1800's

Anyway this place was very cool. Everyone here is family, and somehow they get along well enough to be neighbors. Many generations living together just like the ancient times. 

There are 17 rows of houses, kind of like duplexes, only with maybe ten units. There were two courtyard areas for the kids to play but they were really temple areas. I am sure that when one family has a fight or argument that everyone here knows it... Is that good or bad, I don't know but I am happy for them if they are happy, and everyone seemed to be.

The bricks used to build some of these houses are the original bricks that were made from mud, rice and grass (and whatever else was lying around unused).  It was pretty neat to be able to see something like this.