Taiwan

Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple in Tongluo, Miaoli county, Western Taiwan

If you happen to be driving from Tongluo (銅鑼) - small rural township in Miaoli county in Western Taiwan to Sanyi township, a place worth to visit is Jiouhua Mountain Monastery and Temple - place that reveals a real heart of contemporary Taiwanese religion and gives you insight in a spirit of Western Taiwan. You will not find this place in tourist guides, while everyone who lives on western taiwan knows this place. Students come here to pray before exams, some people come here several times per year to pray - and - eat "good" noodles. What's "good" noodles? Stay with me, you will see. Now, we did not arrived yet, there is a place to visit before.

Don't miss the turn, it shows just a turn to Jiouhua mountain:

 

Soon, after you turn right following this road:

...you'll stumble upon interesting place. I would call it tea shop, but it's something really unexpected here.



and the nearby shop, where you can find a snacks and nuts (at least at the moment, we were here - may, 2009).



At this moment, the tea shop seemed to be closed, but i was so interested about it, that one of older woman went out and then after a moment a woman - owner appeared in a door, and opened tea shop just for us. She told, that they are usually open in november only, when Chrysanthemum full blooms - in fact that's what Miaoli and Tongluo is proud of - Chrysanthemums, and their blossoms. Owner told us that it is worth for them to be open just at this time of year. Nevertheless she is so warm and welcome to us! After short chat, we decide to try Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and what else she can make for us. I took a walk in garden while snacks where preparing:





In november, when Chrysanthemum blooms, they also offer bicycles for rent.







Here's what we've got. Chrysanthemum flower tea, coffee and really tasty honey cake - seems warmth of welcoming hosts are transforming in their snacks also.



Aroma & taste is very special - you need to try it, it can not be described and photo can not pass aromas...

For the temple itself - in fact the tea shop already made my mood good for all the day, it turned out as a very big place, surrounded with a supplementary small business - there a lineups with noodles sellers before the temple you buy it, and then give away, and then they cook it and you eat for free. That's the idea.



When you approach the temple, monks chants are heard already from a distance, and here is what opens to your eyes once you arrive:



Singers are two monks in black, standing with faces to temple:







I noticed that here prayers were older man and woman, while "good" noodles - those were eating everyone - small and not so.

According tradition, you need eat those noodles and luck will be with you - those are good noodles.

Let's try, here you see the serving room, a really big place:

Of course signs of "no photo" are everywhere, but I still wanted share this to world - so, I did it for YOU:





Serving "good" noodles for everyone...



Choose your seat...



... and enjoy your meal - especially recommended before important university exams!

Fengchia road park in Taichung, Xitun district - full insight with pictures

If you consider Taichung as a place to live in Taiwan - that's good choice indeed (read what Michael Turton says about choosing a place where to live in Taiwan), then one of the best choice are district around Fengchia university. It's vibrant, nice, lively and there is a biggest (as far local newspapers say) nightmarket in whole Taiwan now (yes, bigger than the Taipei ones).

And if there is another post in the blog related to this night market, here I would like to specially share the insights about the Fengchia road park.

There is an inside trail, going around the park, making it popular place at morning, when much people are running there (I must start do it - since monday, i guess).

... where benches are installed just for you to enjoy the ice crea,. Only thing that, women - young and not so, here does not enjoy the sun at all - they use the umbrellas, as my wife says - more white is more beautiful. Well - who said infrared sauna is good business? Not in Taiwan.

Also a tennis court here:

In the park, you can enjoy not only ice cream. Picnic with friends in a middle of working day is below. Is that because of crisis that everyone are forced holidays?

and then allow me abuse you, and your internet connection with flora pictures I admire...

This shop, facing the park, as I had watching it grow already second year in row, soon will start place the items they sell on the street, since it's all crowded inside shop outside shop & beyond.

Everyone knows about Google Ads, Yahoo Ads, and similar. That is Pay Per Click marketing. Fewer people knows about Pay Per Car Ads:

FuYi Lu flower shop in Taichung, Xitun district

Taichungers - those who like flowers - there is a nice and not expensive flower shop at FuYi Lu, in Xitun district. Much choice, and actually you need go to the Tianwei. FuYi road is not a most attractive in district, looks somewhat this:

Those are pictures I took in the flower shop inside, some are really nice and colorful (I hope)?

Shop is located at Nr. 323, drive slowly, it is easy to miss it.

Pretty much choice there.

Lao-Ban (a boss), is not happy to be photographed. Do I looked like paparazzi?

Tianwei Flower Gardens: Flora Paradise of Formosan Island

Tianwei Township (田尾鄉) - are located in Changhua County, Western Taiwan. Locals like to call it Flower Factory of all Taiwan.
And seems, that they are not far away from truth, as once you visit the area - you will find that flowers, trees, and other vegetation here are made really with factory approach. There is retail, there is wholesale, seems the local people took all the Taiwan's approach to sell IT, and applied it to flowers.

I had been told, that very early in morning, cars are sent out from Tianwei to all Taiwan markets, flower shops and houses, with a fresh deliveries. Wonder, who grown up those flowers you buy in small shop near your nightmarket?

Think Tianwei now.

It's worth to visit at any time of year, and even if you are not a flower retailer. you will enjoy the stay her. District has a main street, where all retailers are located:

The main street in Tianwei looks like above, and nearly 99 % of houses are in flower business - they had stacked up the yards with the flowers, decorative trees, garden design elements and every imaginable thing you may need for your flora addiction. If you are considering a restaurant opening those trees are a good idea, and can be from there. This is why, the motels and hotels always have nice palms and trees in correct rows - they are buying them pre-grown there.

You can rent such a bicycles - walk can be a bit too long, since distances there are quite large, from other hand,driving a car will not give you the full feeling of beauty here.

Nostalgic picture from Tianwei district, also on main street.

Another home/business in Tianwei, selling various plants.

I took pictures inside of this shop

Also, it is important to note, that you should not stay on main street all the time, take your turn to farmland inside, to get such a views:

If at first there is no much differences with other farmlands on island, then soon you will find out, that there is a "tree & palm" factories:

Taiwan is high tech country, so high tech, that you will see such light bulbs hanging over some parts of them. No, it's to make the view fantastic at night time - and it really is - imagine so much lamps, in farm at midnight. What they do, is speeding up the growth, by making "day time" longer. Nothing personal dear flowers, just business. Anyone wanna call green peace?

somewhere hidden in those small farm roads, are even such nice restaurant: