Taiwan: Temple in the ginger garden

Temples in Taiwan are also good attractions for tourists. Taiwan has more than 5000 temples, including from single room shrines to many stories temples. All of these temples are active places for worship.

I have been to some Chinese temples in Thailand but never really get to know what do people do there. Here I got a chance to know more about Chinese temple

There are three main varieties of temple in Tawian: Buddhist, Taoist and Confucius temples- reflecting Taiwan’s religious make-up. I think this one is Taoist temple. Temples here are unique blend of Buddhist and Taoist belief- and the physical merging of the two temples into single structures since the widespread during the 50 years Japanese occupation of Taiwan.

Taoist Temples tend to be bright and colourful structures, with broad curving roofs and traditional symbols of luck such as dragons and carp.

While the temples do not have resident monks or nuns, they are often filled with devotees, and are used as the base for many ceremonies ranging from parades to exorcisms. Taoist ceremonies are as brash and colorful as their temples, with music, chanting and firecrackers. I have joined some ceremonies at this temple and everything was run by local people and temple's committees. They have a special calender which says when do they have a ceremony at the temple. It's usually once or twice a month when everybody gets together at night around 9 until 12 to pray. If it is a big ceremony then they will use a large oven which is usually located in the central area to burn sacrificial 'Ghost Money' as an offering to ancestral spirits.

Going to the temple the other day I got a chance to learn writing Chinese by brush. It's one kind of arts. I thought it was easy since I also write Japanese but to make your Chinese characters beautiful was not that easy like what I thought.



Traveling through Taiwan you will find temples at every turn, each one a unique place that plays a vibrant role in the life and soul of modern Taiwan.

Taiwan: Feeling Right at Home in a Homestay

Feeling Right at Home in a Homestay in Taiwan

It has been a while since I updated my blog last time. I also wanted to write about Chinese New Year here in Taiwan but I guess I was so busy traveling and spending too much time on eating so I did not have time to organize my photos yet...

Well, today I'd like to recommend those of you who want to come travel in Taiwan about where to stay. Not a hotel, not a hostel, not a motel or even a resort but it is a homestay where could offer you more than just traveling experience.

What I found it interesting when I traveled here is that in Taiwan, they prefer to stay in a homestay when they go for a trip somewhere.

For me the word "Homestay" means the time spent with foreign family or staying at somebody's home in a foreign family. But in Taiwan, homestays are Taiwan's version of the bed and breakfast. It is a great way to meet Taiwan's friendly people.

Not only meeting local people but what some homestay offers you is a cheaper price with even better quality than hotels.Another benefit is that most homestays are run by long-time residents of an area who can offer tips on attractions that are off the beaten path.

Why I introduce you about the homestay here is that I have experienced by myself. Even though I am not a guest but what I can feel is how friendly the people are and I believe that every guest who stays here would feel the same way even just for a few days.

I was with Jamie, our little guide today who showed me around her family's homestay.

--Jamie--Our little guide

In front of the homestay's restaurant is decorated with a colorful hand made mail box.

Another Building of the homestay

The homestay is modern designed with very cozy atmosphere. It offers you a great view and fresh air up on the mountain.

Here are some photos of the homestay...

Here is my favorite corner. Looking through the window on a sunny day would leave whatever in your mind behind and that's how you can feel relax... :)

It is interesting that the concept of homestay in Taiwan was new about a decade ago but it has caught on fast and Taiwan offers so many homstays right now so why don't you want to try to experience a unique culture of this country.

Check out this homestay website here www.130.com.tw for more pictures. If you have a chance to come by Jiang Ma Yuen (Ginger Garden) in the middle of Sanyi and Dahu, drop by here and will see you!

Taiwan: It's a strawberry season!

Strawberry lovers should not miss this one!

It's a strawberry season here!

Why would you miss a good chance to taste fresh and sweet strawberries.

No matter where are you now in Taiwan -- get in a car and drive to Dahu!

There are bunches of strawberry fields here from Dahu and up on the mountain to Jiang Ma Yuen.

In January until March, strawberry fields can be spotted along the roadside in the flat patches among the peach and plum trees in the sloppy mountain. Picking the mouth-watering strawberry in the field is a breathtaking visual feast, with pink peach flowers and white plum blossoms stretching out from the tree branches to the spring sky all around you.

After writing about strawberry, now I have this song 'Strawberry Lover' in my head.

I wanna be a strawberry lover

Hot under cover

And rise in the fields

Reckless and free

High as no other

Strawberry lover

A sweetness revealed...

Well, it's my first time to pick up strawberries here. Since I am one of the strawberry lovers and where I live there is no place like this for me to pick up strawberries by myself so it's very special for me and hope it would be special for many of you too :)

There is a strawberry museum for you to explore. There are various menus made from strawberry for you to taste. And I bet it's something you might never try before.

Well, explaining about food, you cannot taste or smell from my blog anyway so why not come to try it here. Strawberries can be more than what you have imagined!

Taiwan: Ginger Garden

What else you can find in Ginger Garden--

--branches full of pink peaches and burgundy plums

It is not hard to work out the name “Ginger Garden” came from the place’s past history of producing top quality fresh ginger. Jiang Ma Yuen is located between Tahu and Sanyi,its entrance can be found opposite Lilin Primary School.

Fruit trees such as peach, plum, mandarin and top-grafted pear have been added to Ginger Garden over the past two decades, these fruits help increasing the farmers’ income and enriching what it has to offer to tourists. Visiting here in late spring early summer, or at the height of summer heat, its altitude of nearly 800 meters above sea level fosters temperatures that are comfortable and tempting.

I cannot see any peach or plum right now in January but if you have a chance to come in May, that will be peach season but when it comes to June, the focus shifts to plums. These 2 months you can see branches full of pink peaches and burgundy plums. Picking the fruits is one of the activities here. It is an absolute treat to pick the fruits in the aromatically fruity air and roam the mountain trails with leisure.

I don't really know whether the other part of Taiwan usually eat a lot of ginger or not but most of the meals here there must be at least one dish with ginger taste. Ginger is mostly used to accompany various dishes like pork large intestines with shredded ginger (this one is my favorite), ginger duck, Hakka savoury, sour and sweet (using ginger, wood ear and pineapple). Pickled ginger or young ginger salad also makes a nice entree. Moreover, fresh ginger also enjoys its prestigious status in its medicinal effect and the preserving of health. To have a bowl of piping-hot ginger soup after being out in the cold winds and rain is everyone’s familiar trick in bad weathers. It is also heavily used in the very fashionable herbal medicinal diet. Eating ginger is not only being healthy but I really enjoy various kinds of ginger dishes here. Maybe I have to learn how to cook before I leave :)

Here I have a picture of ginger duck hotpot which goes great with some beer. It's one of the most popular meal here in winter and you also can select what kind of veggie you want to put in your hotpot.

Taiwan: Jiang ma yuen

Let me introduce you to Jiang Ma Yuen

or "Ginger Garden" in English.

Before I came to Taiwan, I tried to search some information about Jiang Ma Yuen but they all were in Chinese so I think it would be nice if I am able to introduce this place to whoever want to come here and want to experience something that you should not be missed during your stay here in Taiwan.

Jiang Ma Yuen is located at the intersection of Tahu, Sanyi and Tungluo townships.

"Ginger Garden" already explains itself what this place is famous for. Of course ginger!

You don't have to be a ginger lover, I bet you will love the ginger products here.

I, myself, barely ate ginger but coming here drinking ginger tea, ginger milk or eating any kind of food with ginger just made me love it!

This place is also very famous for its strawberry. If you are here during new year or in the first few months of the year, pay a visit here to pick up some strawberries in the fields up on the mountain with a breathtaking view.

With the higher elevation area on the mountain, GInger garden creates its own market segment to its counterparts in the plain area by offering sweeter strawberries thanks to its purer water source and temperature differences between day and night and the longer strawberry season because of its lower average temperature.

I think I have to go take some photos of the strawberry fields now. Today I only have some of the scenery photos that I took from different places in Jiang Ma Yuen.

Here is some info. of how to get here...

Exit No. 1 National Expressway from Miaoli interchange. Taking Tai-Six Provincial Highway, passing Kungkuan and Wenshui and turn in to Tai-Three Provincial Highway southbound. After Tahu approaching Lilin Primary School, get on No. 130 County Road just beside. This road takes you up to Ginger Garden. Keep driving west takes you to Sanyi. If you exit No. 1 National Expressway from Sanyi interchange, follow Tai-Thirteen Provincial Highway northbound. It takes you to No. 130 County Road after passing Sanyi’s Woodcraft Street.

It's cold here...

Even in the height of summer heat, it will still be quite cool in the mountains, particularly at the lookout when mountain breezes come. A light jacket will come in handy especially staying overnight at the hostels located in 800-meter high mountain areas, where fog and winds frequent.

See you in Jiang Ma Yuen!!! :)

Taiwan: Lavender cottage

Lavender Cottage

~Where two girls have their dreams fulfilled~

-A place where you can enjoy your private moments without much disturbance-

The owners are 2 girls who have dream of owning a restaurant. They started with the first one in Taichung County 8 years ago, the second one in Hsinchu 6 years ago and the third one newly opened in 2008 in Miaoli.

This is where I had a chance to visit.

Miaoli is a small city so operating a lavender cottage here helped improving the quality of Miaoli's overlooked tourist industry. The lavender Cottage helped attract more business investors and boosted the county economy.

The lavender cottage in Miaoli incorporates the famous Sanyi wood sculptures and Hakka style architecture. I never been to the other Lavender Cottage but visiting the one in Miaoli, I feel that they adapted their own unique theme with the local resources and become a good neighbor to the natives.

Make a wish and tide it on the tree up on the hill.

Inside the restaurant with a very cute waiter costume. He said he is an angel... LOL

The meals were good with reasonable prices.

What the logo says...

"We are happy and we want you to be happy too"

It's lucky to be in the right place, doing the right thing with the right people.

PS. For those who are planning to visit Hokkaido after May 2010, they are planning to open a new Adagoi Lodging there :) It will be a home of lavender!

Hello Taiwan!

Hello Taiwan!

In December the weather is pretty cold here and it was raining on the first day. I arrived around 6 PM which was already dark. I had a warm welcome by AIESECers as soon as I arrived and then we took a bus from the airport to Taipei. The express airport buses cost around NT$120~NT$150 depending on the bus company and it is operating a service every 15 minutes. The airport is about an hour away from Taipei and there are freeway buses to many cities, picking up and dropping off passengers at most of the five star hotels. Our bus stopped at Taipei Main Station which is connected to an MRT line. It's very convenience to go around Taipei by MRT and it will be another option to go to he airport in the soon future.

I was greeted by a very warm family on the first night and had a great meal at the restaurant near by their house with a surprised earthquake while we were having the meal. I didn't expect that everybody would run out of the restaurant but they did. The earthquake was quite strong but only for a few seconds so we were fine and finally finished our meal.

We took a walk around that area and found this chain pearl milk tea shop. There are everywhere in Taiwan and seems like it's pretty famous here.

A night in Taipei...

The way they drink tea here...

Local breakfast: some sticky rice with some veg. and pork inside.

Side dish with some fried egg with spicy sauce.

The memorial hall where is located within a walking distance from the place I stayed.

View of Taipei 101 from the memorial hall.

The marathon in Taipei city

Walking around the city in the morning...

In front of Taipei 101

A little bit of shopping in the afternoon...

This is only the beginning of my 4 months here...