Zamora Family: 2010

It's a drizzly Sunday, a lot better than yesterday's weather though. We headed out to Beitou, north end of Taipei by MRT. Apparently, Beitou is famous for its hot springs and nature parks. It's here where locals and tourists come for a quick soak in sulfurous waters. I'd been here a couple of times, but that was long before blogging was devised.

Beitou MRT station to Xinbeitou. We love traveling by MRT - it's convenient, fast, clean, and it's a good way for people-watching. Besides, Vincents hates to drive on weekends.

The carriage has amazing colors and appealing art design.

CJ is amazed by how cool and unusual the train looks. He's a bit over the top most of the time - like mother like son.

As we walked along the Beitou park, we checked out the Public Library which is an unusual building (for a library) and is particularly notable because it's built from logs, uses solar panels, and has large, gently-sloping lawn.

This place is infinitely inviting - I wish I lived just right across the street, so I could hunker down for the whole day relaxing and reading books.

I saw this library once on Discovery Channel introducing Taiwan's architecture, and it was incredibly impressive. So I told myself I'd love to visit this place soon...

and here I am now.

We finally reached the Geo thermal park. It was this huge board walk that surrounded this thermal pond. The temperature sometimes can get up to 100 degrees. you are not allowed to touch it. It actually steams your face while you are standing there. It smells a lot like sulfur. In some parts it was even bubbling.

Duh!

When we walked towards the dead-end, we felt ourselves surrounded by warm, misty steam with strong sulfuric odor.

Beitou offers loads of bathing options - you can simply soak your feet in the roadside creeks which is absolutely free .... .

or you can check-in to glamorous private baths in classy resorts like this....

We prefer this one - quite liberating, close to nature, and it cost nothing at once.

Plum Garden

I remember the days when I used to pose for photos as Vincent's model - when he was so enthusiastic about photography, but I guess he's losing his touch now.

Beitou Hot Spring museum - primarily shows how hot springs are formed, and how they started during the Japanese era.

Historic public house bath.

Very classic background for wedding photos.

the interior

We took part in a county fair at a park right next to Beitou station. The atmosphere was absolutely vibrant- full of music and entertainment, flea market, snacks, and freebies like mugs, pens, fans, lollipops, packs of tissues, puzzles, and even books.