Datong District

On the day of the trip, I departed from Yuanshan Bus Station on the Kuo-Kuang Ferry. Heavy rain was falling in the north, and I was quite worried about the sea conditions before the trip. However, after exiting the Hsuehshan Tunnel, the sun shone brightly, dispelling the gloom. After disembarking at Wushih Harbor Bus Station, I exchanged my tickets at the ticket booth and prepared to board the "Blue Whale" ferry. The navigation crew was very professional; although we didn't see any whales or dolphins, we did see flying fish along the way. The visitor center on the island offers purchases, stamp collection, and the opportunity to write and mail postcards. Simple snacks are available, such as tea eggs, popsicles, and a few other snack options.

The ferry itinerary was well-arranged, the onboard guide was very attentive in explaining the Tamsui River and the riverside scenery, and the weather was sunny that day. The journey was truly enjoyable and well worth the ticket price.

It was a trip for just my mother and me. I really wanted to go to Jiufen, but the more I researched, the more I realized that waiting in line for buses and arranging taxis would be difficult considering my elderly mother was with me, so I booked this tour. This was truly a great choice! It was a mixed tour with about half Japanese groups and half English speakers, but the guide spoke both English and Japanese fluently and was very attentive to each group. When you participate in a tour like this, it's really reassuring to be able to ask questions in Japanese. The map the guide gave us was easy to understand, and there really were cats on the path that was marked as a place where you can meet cats! (laughs) We had tea at Shuixin Yue Tea House as an option, and our reservation was for 6:00 PM, which was just the right time to see the beautiful sunset... It's May now, but we were lucky enough to see the sunset and the lantern lights before our 7:00 PM meeting time. I wonder if the lights will be on in June and July when the days get longer and we won't be able to get back from the tour...? But! When I think of Jiufen, I usually picture the night view with its lanterns, but the view from the terrace while enjoying the breeze was truly beautiful, and I realized that Jiufen is also lovely in the summer. I would love to book this again when I come back to Taiwan!

The shop is spacious; the masseur said the first floor and basement together cover 300 square meters, and the decor is very grand. The masseur is very experienced, pointing out areas of discomfort while massaging. Although I was in excruciating pain at the time, the masseur told me to take deep breaths and bear it. After the massage, I felt much more relaxed. The masseur is very kind, especially focusing on the uncomfortable areas, and I felt much better after the targeted treatment.