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Feature: Lung Tung offers a `paradise': US climber

"Taiwan has a seaside rock climbing paradise, but few foreign climbers know it, so I have a book introducing the premier rock-climbing area to the world climbers," US climber Matt Robertson said.

Robertson has visited the summits of hundreds of mountains in his travels to 16 countries.

He relocated to Taiwan in 2002 after climbing the cliffs at Lung Tung (龍洞) in Taipei County.

Lung Tung comprises dozens of seaside cliffs along the northeast coast of Taiwan.

The crags offer endless adventure for climbers, he said.

"World climbers go to Thailand to climb, but the climbing area in Thailand is smaller and not better than Lung Tung," he said.

Robertson said he loves Lung Tung's wind, waves and beautiful ocean views.

"I feel very intimate with the nature," he said.

Robertson lives in Hsinchu, teaches business English in the Science Park and can be found most weekends at Lung Tung.

Born in Michigan in 1970, Robertson graduated from Ohio State University in 1993, then worked as a computer programmer and accountant in the US.

Working in the city of Denver, Colorado, allowed him to visit many of the region's climbing areas.

After six years of white-collar work, he decided to leave the business world to focus on climbing.

"When I spent my time climbing European mountains, a Dutch friend one night in an Amsterdam coffee shop first suggested to me the notion of living in Taiwan, promising I would find friendly people and good seaside climbing at a place with a funny name," he said.

The climber arrived in Taiwan in 2002 unable to speak any Chinese, but his anxiety soon eased as he found Taiwanese were very friendly to foreigners.

Three days after arriving in the country, he visited Lung Tung.

"I know I would spend a lot of time climbing here," he told himself when he first saw the cliffs.

After three years and climbing at Lung Tung more than 200 times, Robertson self-published his book in March. The book has detailed descriptions in both English and Chinese for 101 of the area's best rock climbing routes.

"When I was doing my book, I rushed to Lung Tung in my old car from Hsinchu anytime when I found I needed to check details of climbing routes I was writing about," the climber said.

Robertson encouraged people in Taiwan to enjoy the nature.

"I felt people here are too cautious with outdoor activities and too nervous about the danger, while activities such as rock climbing are not dangerous if people are well-prepared," he said.
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