Dapu (大埔鄉) is a rural township in Chiayi county. Mostly it's famous for nearby located Siraya National Scenic Area (西拉雅國家風景區), and Zhengwun reservoir. And - what's not mentioned in tourist guides - in this area specific flower can be found which according to traditional chinese medicine can be used in case of cancer. Our friends decided go there just because of this flower, and we joined the trip.
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Dapu in fact looks like any other small sleepy rural township in southern taiwan, except the fish restaurants densely scattered over small streets. You can see such fish signs everywhere in Dapu, it's a close proximity of reservoirs, which allows local people to do this business. Before going Siraya Scenic area, you can stop by and have a lunch in one of the restaurants.
Notice the elections advertisement right side on a pole. At the time I took the photo campaigns are heating up, and such photos are sticked at every possible places - even a smallest mountainous roads will have some face sticked to anything where it is possible to stick. Note also, how this guy keeps the hands - it's a traditional gesture for almost everyone on those advertisements. It means bai tuo bai tuo - please please.
Abandoned old house is a good place to park motorbikes.
Taiwan sometimes really is contrast country. You will and always meet those terrible driving style blue trucks along the island, but such a painting?
One of those restaurants are cooking fish just on a road:
Interior also is pretty common for small rural restaurants - round tables, easy chairs and big painting on a wall.
When you go to Siraya Scenic area, go check in at visitor center - entrance fee should be paid.
Small exhibition here - painted rocks.
Ask host to offer you their special Taiwan coffee - it's really fresh and good, and they are really proud of it and will be happy to offer it to try.
Zhengwun reservoir.
The Siraya National Scenic Area is located at the crossroads of Tainan County's Jianan Plain and the western mountains.
Because this extensive area connects high mountains with a plain, there are many intersecting streams and rivers. These result in great varieties of different landforms, creating a landscape that includes natural waterfalls and cliff-side springs.
The Siraya National Scenic Area is a major farm produce area. A large variety of fruits and other products grow year-round, making the Siraya National Scenic Area true to its name of "A Land of Abundance".
In recent years, under governmental direction, the agricultural products of all counties and towns have been integrated, promoting local special products in each area, "one specialty for each village or town".
Mountainous and lonely roads are also interesting to explore - it gives a feeling of how this remote area looks like besides traditional tourist routes.
That's the flower I talked before. It is said that it can cure cancer.
Closer look on 薑黃 - or, possible english translation may be turmeric (according to yahoo translator).
薑黃 can be found everywhere in this area, just park somewhere on a road, and you will sooner or later see it.
Careful driving is necessary on those mountainous roads, that's truth.
Interestingly enough, that Dapu outskirts have also such atypical to southern taiwan community of houses - mostly those are summer houses and owners come here to stay at weekends and holidays.
This house is on sell now - in USD about 30,000 as local man told us. Big advantage of this house of course is a beautiful view, clean mountain air and SILENCE! Yes, SILENCE what's absolutely is a deficit thing in Taiwan. If you plan to stay in Taiwan for a long time, remember that if you live in more or less big township (i am even not talking about Kaoshiung, Taichung or Tapei) you will never have silence. Never. Motorbikes are always awake, someone is talking loud, small blue spam-trucks are advertising something at 9 a.m at saturday morning and so on. Dapu is silent. But then again, be so kind and drive miles to closest 7ELEVEN.
but again - how about SILENCE, and such a view from your bedroom at morning?
However, surprise surprise! Blue trucks along with motorbikes like mosquitoes are also here. Everywhere in fact. Just not in cloud alike capacities like in a cities.
one more house from this community.
Sunset at Dapu outskirts are calm and warm. I would be happy to live here.
All the photos shows different places but interesting, I enjoyed the reading, thanks for the information!
Posted by: Samara Guanacaste lots Costa Rica | March 23, 2010 at 03:05 AM
It's interesting seeing the way they living, because they seem to have a peaceful life in that country so I don't understand how they living in those condition with few equipment and in those small houses, I'd like the life of then changing.
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