We decided to "squeeze" in a half-day excursion to "hot spring" at Beitou, which was about 30mins train ride from Taipei. It was doable becos we purposely booked our flight late pm. We wanted to experience the private bath experience as compared to the public pool in Japan. Taking simple cleansing lotion and off we started on our early morning journey. We passed by a small breakfast eatery besides Cosmo Hotel to fulfill my wife's craving for nice and economical breakfast that her brother has brought her to try before.
The journey to New Beitou was smooth. We have to make a change only at Beitou and I read that there supposed to be a "pick up" shuttle to send us to "hot spring" hotel. Reading from the guidebook and internet, there were several recommended ones to try and we decided on a 5-star one called Spring City resort (we like "Spring" theme for this trip, I guess). I rem watching a show about hotspring hotels in Taiwan and the importance of visiting reputable ones to ensure quality experience. As usual, we decided to walk to find for the pickup transport and we missed it and only saw the van driving past us. As determined as usual, we walked to the hotel. It was a cool 30 mins walk and luckily it was still early morning.
The hotel gave us a modern feel and we were ushered to a private room for an hour experience. Didn't want to stay long as it was not advisable to immerse in mineral water for long anyway. There was a warning sign next to the bath tub and made me feel uneasy and more conscious when playing with the hot spring. It was interesting to have such artificial way of hot springing where there were separate taps for water and spring water. I liked to put the hot towel on my forehead like the japs and this time I did it quickly to adhere to the guidelines of not hot springing for a longer than recommended timings. It was really a hot feeling but we felt relaxed after the hot springing.
After hot springing, we went to Thermal Valley and the hot spring museum to understand the hot spring culture in Beitou. Along the route we chanced upon a public hot spring bath and also a natural hot spring river. We saw two pairs of couple - one young and one old and my wife thought it was an interesting scene to capture. I felt so too.
After hot springing, we went to Thermal Valley and the hot spring museum to understand the hot spring culture in Beitou. Along the route we chanced upon a public hot spring bath and also a natural hot spring river. We saw two pairs of couple - one young and one old and my wife thought it was an interesting scene to capture. I felt so too.
It is good to travel with loved ones and there will always be fond memories to talk about and to laugh about. Being a "difficult" traveller, I am amazed how my wife love to travel with me. Looking at the two couples, I can imagine how much things we can talk about when we go traveling at old age. It is the things that we do together that make our lives fun and memorable. Things that we try together and things that we may succeed or not that piece the happy family puzzle together.
As how "difficult" traveller could I get, we were "hot" again carrying our backpack to the train station. I rem there were two different stations and it would be important to get to the right one especially with our heavy backpack. After sweating out buying my doeraemon buns and my wife's delighted goods, we went searching for the station and finally got there after sweating profusely on my back. A bit pissed off but we managed to cool down on our journey. I must rem to get to the right station next time when I bring my wife and family to Taipei again. Heh.
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