This morning we were informed, much to our chagrin, that most attractions including the Beitou Hot Springs were closed Mondays - and I was hoping to see if I fitted in with what one reviewer referred to as ‘all the old people with their flasks and snacks’!!!
It was Birthday Boy’s choice to visit Marshal Zhang’s former residence.
Thankfully it was open today! It was built in the 1920’s Japanese colonial period. It was known for its hot spring and was once used as an entertainment hub for Japanese Kamikaze pilots during WW11.
We commenced our visit with a foot spa - very welcome after our sightseeing tour of Taiwan - the sulphur water appears clear as one enters but once agitated it, it turns to a creamy consistency.
There were 3 pools each a little warmer than the next.
After some time relaxing there, we had a browse around the gardens which are planted in Japanese style.
From the gardens, the view of Beitou was impressive.
Lunch was next on the agenda.
The restaurant overlooking the gardens
This was fine dining at its best! Marshall Zhang maintained a modest and humble approach to his longtime confinement (40 years under house arrest imposed by Chiang Kai- shek in retribution for his capture in 1936. The Marshall forced Chiang Kai- shek to join with the communists against the Japanese) and this Zen like mentality enabled him to live to over 100 years. The restaurant researched and studied Marshal Zhang’s eating behaviour in an attempt to decode his secret of longevity. The chef’s philosophy is ‘creativity in cooking, complicity in taste and Zen in presentation’ incorporating the Zhang philosophy.
A number of options were available - Birthday Boy chose the Young Marshall’s menu!!!!
and I chose the Vegetarian Course
Both menues consisted of 9 courses - fantastic.!
A selection of the courses presented
After lunch, we returned on the No.230 bus to the MRT station, where we took a taxi to our hotel, collected our bags and taxied back to the MRT. Here we took the Red line to Tapei and then the designated Airport MRT, which was well signposted but with no exaggeration c.2 km away and we were still in the station!!! There are two types of service - ordinary and express. The express is c.40 minutes (we took it on the way in) and the ordinary c.1hour we took on our return. (We must experience all types of train - you understand!!).
We were staying overnight at the airport as our flight to Xiamen departs at 08.45. I’d advise anyone with an early flight to stay at the airport. The airport hotels are quite expensive but we stayed at the Ibis (ok for an overnight), one stop further on on the Airport MRT and it is only a short taxi ride to the airport.
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