September 29, 2008


  • Birthday Bliss

     

    For Linn’s final
    birthday in her 20’s I took her to Jiaosi, a town on the eastern side of Taiwan
    which is famous for its hot springs. When I say I took her, essentially I mean
    that she drove up to Taipei, I then drove same car down with Linn in it. With
    her birthday falling on a Friday, we headed to Shenkung for tofu at Mr Chen’s,
    and then through the tunnel that was recently opened, shortening the driving
    time from Taipei city to Yilan from just under three hours to just over one.

     

    I had already ridden
    the Suzuki down the week before to find a nice hotel for us to stay in, booking
    it and paying for it all in advance, so we got to our destination in the early
    afternoon, and then went for a walk, finding a nice place that runs close to
    the university and a golf course. We heard frogs, saw lots of fish and birds,
    as well as a load of spiders and stunning scenery on this 3 km walk through
    aboriginal territory.

     

    In the evening we
    headed in to Yilan for dinner at the night market. Linn found something she
    wanted, I found a veggie stand, and so we were both totally satisfied. Walking along the night market, there were the sounds of baby swallows, the parents flying in and out of the nest area with insects to feed their babies. So sweet! Of course, I had to stop to take a photo!


    We then
    bought a mango drink as we walked through the market area before checking out a
    bakery where I hoped we could find a small-ish cake. No chance of that, and we
    were both way too full for one of the larger ones, so we walked back to the
    car, and headed back to the hotel for a drink of wine and a hot spring.

     

    On the Saturday we
    headed out to a waterfall area, which was gorgeous, although Linn did not like
    climbing so much. We then went to look for some lunch, when it started to rain.
    So we drove a little further east where the skies looked blue and clear, which
    they were, and found something small to eat, before heading up to a lake for
    another walk. It was a small, narrow road around the lake, nestled in very
    peaceful surroundings in the forests and mountains, so Linn and I walked hand
    in hand in relative silence, listening to the bird songs and frog calls. As we
    were walking the rain started to fall once more, and so we headed back towards
    the car, buying some fresh pineapple from a local seller on the way. Delicious
    – I love pineapple season!

     

    Earlier that day Linn
    had spotted a veggie restaurant so we headed there for dinner, and delicious it
    was too. We got some ice cream and other goodies on the way back to the hotel
    before calling it a night, stuffed to the brim once more. One final hot spring
    before Z-time.

     

    The next morning your
    humble scribe had to return to Taipei for football, so we left after breakfast,
    and after having bought some local pumpkin that was grown in hot spring water.
    Apparently it was supposed to taste even better because of it, but we did not
    notice that. But I do make a great pumpkin soup, even if I say so myself!