Tuesday, May 19, 2009

19 May 09 – Day 3 (Taipei)

It drizzled in the morning when we went out. Visited the Tienhou Temple, which was near our hotel before leaving for Xinbeitou via MRT. Got to the Xinbeitou Station and asked for a tourist map from the counter. Headed to the Hell Valley to take some photos before going to Puchi Temple. It was small and simple. As the drizzle got heavier, we went to Peitou Hot Springs Museum.

Puji Temple

An uncle soaking his feet in the hot spring

You can see the steam if you look carefully

Some pictures on Peitou Hot Springs Museum :



One of the stained glass windows in the museum


Steam coming out from under the ground

By the time we were done, it was around 11.30am and as the drizzle stopped, I psycho SWT who didn’t bring her towel to go to the Peitou Public Outdoor Pool. The session we went to is from 10.30am to 1pm. Quickly got changed, put our stuff in a locker, rinsed ourselves before going into the pool. There were three types of pool: cold, warm and hot. We started with the warm one before going to the hot one (40-42 Degree Celsius). While in that pool, an uncle chatted with us and I let SWT did most of the talking. Got out of the hot pool, then to the warm pool before going to the cold pool. Took shower, got changed and left the place around 12.45pm. Ate lunch at the Xinbeitou MacDonald till 2pm before leaving for Danshui.

We wanted to visit Pali first and so asked around for directions. Was told to take Red 26 to Fisherman’s Wharf to take a ferry from there to Pali. So did as told, saw the Lover’s Bridge and took some photos before crossing it to get the ferry tickets. Bought round trip ticket for ferry from Fisherman’s Wharf to Pali to Danshui and paid NT$120 per person. By the time we got to Pali, it was late afternoon and Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology was some distance from the pier. So we decided to drop that and walked the Old Street instead.

Toy Shop in Pali

Dog in a Pali Shop

Ate yam balls with dou hua in a shop before going to Danshui. Walked the Old Street, bought the 阿婆铁蛋 and鱼酥 and ate阿给 and 淡水鱼丸 before continuing with the street. Finally took the ferry back to Fisherman’s Wharf. We didn’t get to see the sunset coz the weather was cloudy so we saw the lighted up Lover’s Bridge instead. Took Red 26 back to Danshui Station where we bought Mister Doughnuts before heading back to the hotel.

Grass Jelly with Yam Balls

Dou Hua with Yam Balls

Ah Ge - Dong fen and meat wrapped in beancurd skin in sweet and spicy gravy

Danshui Fishballs

Fried Mushrooms

Lighted Lover's Bridge

Thoughts: I enjoyed the hot spring very much but I don’t think those that like cleanliness would want to go to that Peitou Public Outdoor Pool. It was worth visiting the Puchi Temple, which is simple, Japanese style temple. Peitou Hot Springs Museum is also worth visiting to understand how the area developed into the current hot spring hotspot.

In my humble opinion, there wasn’t much to see in Pali or probably because lots of shops were closed during my visit. I probably would have done better to skip Pali and focus on Danshui Old Street instead. The weather wasn’t good during my visit so didn’t get to see sunset on Lover’s Bridge but the lighted Lover’s Bridge was lovely. Danshui Old Street has lots of good food to eat and buy.

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