Leaving the B&B was difficult because our host, Frank, kept bringing more and more fruits for us to try. We had plums and mangos from his garden as well as local lychees, peaches, and bananas. Then it was time for photographs in the garden.
When at last we managed to say final goodbyes, we drove through the Taroko gorge. Our first stop was at a traditional paper mill. This paper mill is one of the few remaining manufacturers of hand-made paper in Taiwan, holding a respected position as a traditional craft industry. We were shown how high-quality handmade paper is created. We then tried our hand at creating paper fans and scrolls using a technique similar to stone rubbings.
Next, we stopped for a snack. Mangos are in season, so Danny asked if we’d like to try mango ice. We, of course, said yes. Danny drove to a non-descript looking shop. Tristan and I were both expecting a scoop of ice in a cup. Instead, we were served a mango extravaganza of fresh mango, mango ice cream and mango ice. It was fresh, juicy, and delicious.
From there we drove a short distance to Sun Moon lake, a favorite vacation spot for the Taiwanese. Because I’m tired, here’s the abridged version of what we did there. First a gondola ride with stunning views of the lake and forest. Next a stop at Wen Wu Temple which overlooks the lake. A boat ride on the lake, stopping at another temple and a shopping area. While Tristan and Danny climbed to the temple, I remained below and listened to a band play and sing folk music. Danny told me the leader of the group had a won an all-Taiwan competition several years in a row. I believed him. Though I didn’t understand the words, I got the emotions of every song.
We arrived at our ultra-luxe hotel, the La Lu around five and have been enjoying it immensely. The architecture, building materials, and decorations are simple and elegant. We had tea in the bar, took a zillion photos of the flower arrangements, hotel design and the fabulous view. The many-course dinner in the Chinese restaurant was delicious and introduced us to several new foods.