The Chuan Du Spring Resort in Beitou Hot
Spring in Taiwan doesn't look like much from the outside. But every room is
equipped with a stone hot spring bath. The hotel is a bit dated but convenient to the Metro—a two- or three-minute walk—which is very
good for getting around Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. The
flight is about two and a half hours from Okayama Airport in Japan.
This is our second getaway to Taiwan
from the chilly January winter in Japan. The weather was a balmy 20
C. when we arrived at the Chuan Du the evening of the January 7, 2019
at around 8pm. It was rather late so we just had a bite at the Burger
King next door to the hotel and soaked and relaxed in the hot tub.
We hopped on the Metro to go into
Taipei to pick up some tickets for the high-speed train to Tainan
City next week and do some sightseeing and lunch in Taipei. The LongShan 龙山 [Dragon Mountain] Temple is one of the oldest temples in Taiwan.
Built in the 18th Century it is also one of the largest
ones. Unfortunately, urban development has surrounded the temple and
spoiled the view from outside. But what you can see of it is
spectacular. It has one of the most ornate roofs I have seen thus far
in “China”.
 |
| front main gate of LongShan Temple in Taipei City |
(I don't want to get too political
but I should mention that the Taiwanese do not consider themselves a
part of Mainland China. This has to do with their history of the
Civil War between Chiang Kai Shek and Mao Tse Tung in the 1940s after
Japan was defeated and driven out of China and Taiwan. The Mainland
Government, however, considers Taiwan a part of China. As a result,
of course, this causes political tension in the region.)
THE SACRED
 |
midrange detail of the fantastically
carved roof ornamentation |
 |
| dragons, dragons everywhere |
So, back to the LongShan Temple. The
details in the carvings (lots of dragons as the name implies) can't
be described in words. It must be seen to be appreciated in full
although photos can give you a good idea. Inside, the temple precinct
is very spacious and it was crowded with people, even on a week day.
Unlike austere churches the temple is a lively and upbeat place. Worshipers burn incense sticks and bow and make wishes for good luck
and prosperity. There is no atonement for “sins” here, just
hopefulness for a better life in this world. People also bring gifts
and offerings to the temple—beautiful flowers abound as well as
more humble gifts [the Taiwanese equivalent of a bag of Doritos isn't
out of place]. We saw a young couple offering a large freshly picked
(or bought) white radish. We committed a faux pas by sitting on a
stone railing (apparently it's disrespectful) and an angry guard came
and shooed us away from the railing. Embarrassing!
 |
roof ornamentation is especially effective
against the open sky |
 |
this is where I got shooed
and embarrassed |
 |
| inside the temple precinct |
 |
| after the shooing |
 |
| gifts and offerings from worshipers |
 |
| young couple offering a "daikon" a large white radish |
***********************************************************
THE PROFANE
From the LongShan we walked a couple of
kilometers to a shopping district where we had lunch at what has to
be the most unusual restaurant in the history of eating out. I had read
about it some time back on the web and there was a full page ad for
it in the aircraft travel magazine. The name of the restaurant is the
Modern Toilet and its theme is scatological [toilet] humor. I had the
Vomit Spaghetti and Turd ice cream. One sits on toilet seats and the
food is served in various toilet themed plates and cups, etc. A.'s
sweet and sour fish came in a toilet bowl shaped dish. It's all great
fun and the food is neither “crappy” nor the service “shitty”
as a sign says—quite tasty in fact.
 |
| turd ice cream |
 |
| Vomit Spaghetti |
 |
| Sweet and Sour Fish |
 |
| "I wondered what that smell was." |
 |
| the band played The Diarrhea Blues and the toilets flushed on . . . . |
The Chuan Du Spring Resort in Beitou Hot
Spring in Taiwan doesn't look like much from the outside. But every room is
equipped with a stone hot spring bath. The hotel is a bit dated but convenient to the Metro—a two- or three-minute walk—which is very
good for getting around Taipei, the capital city of Taiwan. The
flight is about two and a half hours from Okayama Airport in Japan.
This is our second getaway to Taiwan
from the chilly January winter in Japan. The weather was a balmy 20
C. when we arrived at the Chuan Du the evening of the January 7, 2019
at around 8pm. It was rather late so we just had a bite at the Burger
King next door to the hotel and soaked and relaxed in the hot tub.
From the LongShan we walked a couple of
kilometers to a shopping district where we had lunch at what has to
be the most unusual restaurant in the history of eating out. I had read
about it some time back on the web and there was a full page ad for
it in the aircraft travel magazine. The name of the restaurant is the
Modern Toilet and its theme is scatological [toilet] humor. I had the
Vomit Spaghetti and Turd ice cream. One sits on toilet seats and the
food is served in various toilet themed plates and cups, etc. A.'s
sweet and sour fish came in a toilet bowl shaped dish. It's all great
fun and the food is neither “crappy” nor the service “shitty”
as a sign says—quite tasty in fact.
