Au Revoir Taipei
It was the last day at Sun Moon Lake. The rain hadn’t let up, so probably good to leave since there was basically nothing to do but laze around the hotel room. Not a bad thing since I was leaving Taiwan altogether.
On the way back to the train station we stopped by the Sun Moon Lake Antique Assam Tea Farm. It was an old black tea factory that you can look around. This place had all the makings of a large production tea factory. However, most of the machinery was no longer used. Tea was still farmed there but probably milled at another location on the farm. The part you get to visit was the old part as well as the shop to try and purchase tea. I haven’t been a real big fan of drinking tea. But after this trip I think I am becoming better at tasting the differences and learning to enjoy it. Black tea was more bitter compared to green tea yet more refined. The flavor was more full than others. Note that I only know green, jasmine, oolong, and chrysanthemum teas. I can definitely see myself drinking this more and more. Maybe it’s the age. Older I get the more my palette changes. Whatever happened to just liking Sunny D?
Well, soon enough, it was off to the train station. Had a quick bite at Mos Burger, because you know, I’m crazy about rice. And a burger made of rice was one step closer to my own Willy Wonka story. Once we boarded the train, within an hour we were back in Taipei.
Nothing much to do but wait for my flight. I packed and had dinner at home with Vicky and her mom. Dessert was provided by a brief stroll to the markets next to National Taiwan Normal University. Gotta love the goofy English direct translation of things. Anyways, the area is full of shops to eat, drink, and hang out. People generally hang out outside in the small grassy area next to Shida Road. Mainly students but there are some older people playing chess there. Makes for the perfect setting to snapshot in my mind. Taipei isn’t all hectic. There are areas of peace and calm. A place that will stay dear to my heart. It’s how I first met Taipei and now where I’m saying goodbye. You’ve filled my belly like I never imagined you would and shown me sites I never thought I’d see.
Don’t ever change Taipei. Let’s record the last of 2012 into the books and prepare for the future. Happy New Year and goodbye.
It would have helped if we went on the tour to find out what this was used for. The cool thing was they let you come up close and personal with them. No fear of personal injury here.
Again, not sure what this was used for, but doesn’t look operational any more. Another area they let visitors walk through.
Nothing like meat, fish, and veggies to prepare you for a long flight home. The thing to note here was that pictured here wasn’t beef and onions. This was I believe ox and something like a shallot, that’s got the texture of garlic but taste of an onion. And that’s not broccoli either. One day I find out the English or at least pinyin names of them.
This was in Guting and not at Sun Moon Lake itself. Just so happens this was the best place in the area and named after the place we just came from. Coincidence or destiny. I had tried the black tea and now in milk tea form. Good taste. The black tea isn’t masked by the milk, and they use the high quality milk brand, which makes this the best in the area. I did of course have it with boba. They had two types, brown sugar and honey. Last night so I tried out the honey. Too sweet for me. I ended up only drinking the milk tea. No complaints. $40NTD
This place was nice and rustic. Outside the purchase area was this greenage that added color to this dreary day.
A sign at the entrance of the tea factory.