Taiwan: Princess Coffee, Taiwanese Food & Hot Springs Along the Rift Valley Route

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Below is a visual journey of our visit through the Rift Valley in Taiwan, with some scrumptious food shots woven into the breathtaking nature shots en route.

 

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

People were up early and out harvesting from the ocean.

 

Towering over Chinese tourists visiting the “Water Running Uphill” attraction that we’ve blogged about before.  The next photo is a spoiler.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

I was discussing the optical illusion with Hui-chen and I took this shot to demonstrate how the water is absolutely not running uphill.

Water Running Uphill?

Compare this virtually identical photo taken in 2008.  Too many people, and a bit boring after a few minutes, we headed out to our next destination, the Sansiantai.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Lush with vegetation, this area is very obviously volcanic.

 

 

 

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Tidepools abound and if you look closely, you can find all kinds of interesting creatures.  Notice the driftwood.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

One rounds the corner and gets a glimpse of the bridge.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Yes, John and I both stood in this place and had our photos taken, just like a local.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Hui-chen pointed out this fruit (which I believe is from the saw palmetto).  I had never seen this before.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Now for some closer shots of the bridge.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

This is the view from the top of the first arch.

 

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The “3 fairies” as they are called in Chinese, are those peaks we see in this photo.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Believe it or not, there are people down by that tide pool.  Btw, I was using a polarizing filter on these shots, and occasionally I got my big fat finger in the frame too.  Just so you know.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Offshore we could see rain falling.

We got back in the car and drove north, taking the Rift Valley route instead of sticking to the coast line.  It started to rain, and as we gained elevation, the visibility decreased significantly with the rain and fog in the mountains.  So there aren’t any photos from this part of the trip.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

After negotiating several tunnels and climbing up, we came to a senic overlook and stopped for a few minutes.  This is Yuli, down in the valley where we are headed (telephoto shot).

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The sky had decided to clear up a bit for us.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

That is Yuli in the distance.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

If you’ve never been to the Rift Valley of Taiwan, I highly recommend it!  We were very happy we took this route because the scenery was unbelievable.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

These food shots were taken at the Princess Coffee, a shop we saw signs for on the highway.  Waffles, believe or not, are a staple Taiwanese food.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Similar to the billboards, this is the sign inside the Princess Coffee shop.  Notice that “Princess” is wearing aboriginal clothing.  Hui-chen talked with her, and it turns out that she is not aboriginal.  Her husband is, however. Go figure!

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Here is Ms. Princess with a shop employee, working some kind of black tea.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Outside the shop we saw some coffee beans drying in the sun.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Taiwan sits on the Tropic of Cancer, and there at least 3 different markers that commemorate it’s location.  This is the second marker that I’ve personally seen.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

You can click on this photo and visit the Flickr page where you have to option to view the larger sizes (under “Actions”).  This park has some very well done documentation.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Some scenic spots in the Rift Valley.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

All around the park were these signs, explaining various aspects of astronomy.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The weather was kind of strange.  As you can see, the dark clouds were threatening rain, but the high mountains kept the clouds from freely moving.  So, in places it was clear, and other places dark.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

On of the plaques that explain about the meridian, but only in Chinese.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

I like sundials.  I have one at home but I have yet to install it on the roof.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

I stepped back and took this overview shot from the center of the park, looking towards the road.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

 

Let’s take a look at where we stayed in Ruisui.  We stayed at a hot springs hotel (again).

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

I don’t know why, but they put the commode in this little room by itself!

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The sink is over here.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Behind the sink is the shower.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Past the shower (on the left) the room opens into a small courtyard, with an open roof in the center.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

This is our private hot spring tub.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Directly across from the tub is this little sitting area for tea.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

This is a better view of the tub, taken from the tea area.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Later we went to a Japanese style place near the train station.  This is their menu on the wall.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The food was better than I expected, given how the place looked and where it was.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

A staple: miso soup.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Fried noodles.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Fried rice.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

fried Spinach.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Grilled Mackerel.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

Grilled chicken.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

After dinner, we retired to our room where we spent the rest of the evening in the hot spring tub.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

I can’t think of a better way to spend an evening with my wife.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

At night, this courtyard takes on a very nice perspective.

John Visits Taiwan, Part Four

The next day, we set out for Taroko Gorge – photos to follow in an upcoming post.

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