On The Road... Taiwan: My Coastal Tour... Part 1!

My tour from Taipei hung in the balance due to the crazy weather, the uncertainty regarding the typhoon had been for nothing. My 'Asia Highlights' hook up had paid off, as a loyal customer I had booked a tour focussing on the northern coastal area not far from Taipei City. I especially wanted to see 'Jiufen Village', an area associated with 'Hayao Miyazaki's' own 'Spirited Away'. 

That early night had been worth it, well I was in better condition than the weather was as I waited for my guide and driver to pick me up from my Ximending hotel. A little diversion would need to be made towards the end of the tour, the advertised night market stop had to be altered. Nevertheless, it was time to leave the city behind us with a day of sightseeing, history and beauty to see and learn from. The drive out of the city to the first stop was about an hour, that gave me the perfect chance to talk about the differences between Mainland China and Taiwan that I had witnessed since arriving a few days previous. It was interesting to hear viewpoints from both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Arriving in 'Lianxin Village/Chuanwu' allowed me to catch a 'Beside The Sea' viewpoint with a rather rough '陰陽海/Yinyang Sea' where natural estuary waters meet with the ocean, causing something of a stir. I would soon see for myself that those waters sported a certain appearance. T, I wanted to know more about those 'Remains of the 13 Levels!' 

What were the '13 Levels? I wanted to know! The '三层遗址/Shuinandong Smelter' took ore from areas such as 'Jiufen' and 'Jinguashi'. Now, I remember how cold and hard-hitting those former levels looks as the rain really tried to fall. I would be able to see one of the main water sources for that formerly operated industrials plants. Taking a short ride to the top of that landmass allowed me to see the '黃金瀑布/Golden Waterfall'. The majestic waterfall lay at the top of that very high landmass, the water was believed to be toxic due to the high concentration of ore and other minerals. I learned that people believed activity from the nearby 'smelter' had contaminated the water? Now, all I wanted was to get a photo of that waterfall and of the vista! From that higher point, it was easy to see how the 'Yinyang Sea' got that 'two tone' shade with all of that matter flowing down from that not so 'golden' fall. I was determined to not let the weather impact my trip, I had made plans! The Japanese had left their mark, I was about to see! 

Those typhoon measures had closed the '新北市立黄金博物馆/New Taipei City Gold Museum' with the quickness. I was over those closures, I wasn't going to let anything more bother me, it was all out of my control. Now, that's growth for you! Right, that museum area was home to a former 'Japanese hangout' with a row of cute Nippon style chalets, now don't shoot me down for not detailing the traditional name for those houses because I don't know it! I got the sense that not everything that glitters is gold because my tour guide told me that all of the riches of this former occupied mine would go back to Japan. Now, there was a golden opportunity being missed from the top of that hill! Yes, I questioned why a cableway hadn't been built to connect the 'carpark by the ruins' with the 'Gold Museum' and 'waterfall' at the top? Apparently, the local government were required to get the opinion of the local people and they had flatly declined any such development! Oh, I found it funny because in the Mainland, no questions would be raised! 

Quite, I needed to remember that I was no longer in the Mainland during that 'Taiwan Tour' moment. Needless to say, it was refreshing to be on the island of Taiwan with an abundance of history and culture standing in front of me. After spending three days on the island before my tour took place, I had been questioning my future in the Mainland! Hearing the hushed debate about the cableway made me think again, there was dialogue and the people did things the democratic way. Now, I know where my bread is buttered more like 'where my cheque comes from!' Needless to say, I soon snapped out of that headspace. It was that fresh air, it had sent me all strange and I needed to sort my senses out before my time in Taiwan would come to an end. My morning had been nice if not a little damp, three places had already been clocked! I wanted to see more! As Jiufen grew closer, I was about to find out what the divine above would predict for me. Next time, I will try my best to not walk into anymore typhoons! It was tea time? Yes, T!

Was I looking for some divine intervention? Maybe, so! After driving around some pretty hair-raising twisting roads, I then arrived at the bottom of '九份老街/Jiufen Old Street' with a certain fortune telling moment on the cards. Jiufen's own '九份霞海城隍廟'/Jiufen Xiahai City God Temple' caught my eye for sure! Believed to protect the ancient village of Jiufen, I wanted to take a few key photos for a future blog post edition. No, temples had not been on my radar so it was nice to pay attention to Jiufen's own place of worship. Alongside my tour guide, 'Anita' read the writing on the papers that I chose, I needed to pick something out that corresponded with my chosen digits. She was honest by saying that even for a Taiwanese person, the writing wasn't standard because it was something other than normal script. Now, let me remember because it has been a whole minute since those wishes were read to me. Was I entering my 'settled era?' You know, I wasn't mad at what those temple generated results told me! J, I wasn't salty at all! 

Where was I? Yes, those temple predictions! Anita informed that the words were advising me to relax, for me to not make any hasty moves. I didn't need anything negative predicted, I didn't have time for that! If truth be told, I had already been thinking about life after my current employment provider! I had at least wanted to make the two year mark, returning to China for work had not been easy as the Pandemic had changed the landscape forever! Being informed that things would all work out if I stayed where I was, grounded I did feel because things had mellowed out since the previous working year. I breathed in the incense filled air with a sense of relief, I knew that no sudden diversions needed to be made! The temple felt calm, it shielded us from the rain shower that had decided to visit Jiufen. It was time for me to see the 'highly referenced' Jiufen Old Street, I would need another blessing from the gods in-order for me to scale those steep steps! My tour took another turn, it was at a pace I could deal with. Let's go, J! 

Those steps were no joke, the views and details of that steep incline impressed me much! I appreciated the rich red lanterns, I loved the contrast between the blackened bricks with the light wooden window frames. Many have said that 'Jiufen' inspired 'Hayao Miyakazi's' own 'Spirited Away' but he heavily denies that inspiration hadn't been taken from that Taiwanese spot. I for one didn't mind because I saw my own window into 'Spirited Away' because the style and feel of that main alley gave me a certain flavour. With every step taken towards the top, I felt like I had finally arrived in Taiwan! I had wanted to see the enchanted old street for the longest of times, booking this tour had been the main motivator to secure my route to Jiufen from Taipei. The route from Taipei to Jiufen really wasn't an easy one to workout, I needed to keep things simple. Was it tea time? Yes, I had a tea package included into my tour, I wanted to make the most of it! Making it to the top of the steps allowed me to see the full effect! T, I loved it all!  

After climbing another set of winding steps, I was able to settle into that teahouse. I was able to order a pot of tea and some snacks. Now, that tea had been served up good and proper, Jiufen style by the looks of it! I needed to pour my own hot water into a tea pot, there I infused my own tea leaves for my brew. The snacks were sweet and light, I wasn't hungry and that I was a good job because my night market stop was about to be switched up. It was immense to see the view down onto those buildings, centred by the steps it was nice to see the greener views before the rain brought on the clouds. I wasn't mad that the those views were covered up for a moment, it was all about the mood and I loved it! It was time to move on, I was ushered under a covered walkway, flanked by sellers of goods of all kinds. I bought a sweet treat as we walked back towards the van, I was able to try a curry puff like snack for free! Jiufen had been a treat, short but sweet, I adored that misty situation! Heading into the rain, Keelung was the way to go! Bye! 

Rain On Me!

Desperately Seeking Adventure