Although we’re heading to Japan in a week, we couldn’t resist going away for a weekend trip to take advantage of the quickly fleeting gorgeous weather in Taipei. Philip had mentioned checking out Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan awhile ago, but I wasn’t so keen on it due to prior subpar tour group experiences. After a bit of research, though, I felt that this unique area deserved another chance, sans tour group of course.
A few hours by high speed train and bus brought us to the largest lake in Taiwan, whose surroundings were originally settled by the aboriginal Thao people. We spent a leisurely day boating around the lake and taking in aerial views of the lake from a cable car with a see-through, or ‘crystal,’ bottom. We dined on local food, which included a type of carp called President’s Fish and fresh bamboo shoots. Unusually, we all turned in early in anticipation of our sunrise bike ride the next morning.
The wonderful family-run inn where we stayed, Laurel Villa, offered a free sunrise bike tour of the lake to capture its beauty and tranquility before the other tens of thousands of tourists woke up. Oh my, was it worth it. In a world that seems to be shrinking, where every ‘local’ find seems Google-able, early mornings seem to be the only time where I feel like I’ve discovered a secret. It’s a special feeling.
We joined our guide and about seven other guests in the dark grey of morning and set out for the lake before the sun rise. A half hour later, we stood at the end of a pier and watched the orange glow rise behind the mountains…aahhhhh.
The crow of roosters reminded us to get moving to our next destination, the Sun Moon Lake Tourism Bureau Visitor Center, before the onslaught of tour buses. The visitor center was designed to incorporate the natural landscape into the architecture of the building and much consideration was given to the repurposing of soil and other ‘waste’ generated by the construction of the building. For me, the lines of the building really harmonized with the natural curves of the surrounding area, making my insides smile. Jules and Philip loved the large atrium, which produced the most amazing echoes.
After a hearty breakfast at the inn, which included the area’s famous Assam tea, we decided to visit one of the nearby tea farms, the Sun Moon Lake Antique Assam Tea Farm. Lounging with iced teas and snacks in the garden overlooking the rows of tea plants, we enjoyed yet another one of Taiwan’s gems.
