Leaving the Beautiful Island

So I left Taiwan a few days ago and ate quite a lot in the last few days before leaving. We ate with a lot of people at once and so there was a looooot of food. On the airplane back, I peeked out the window again to see the most beautiful layering of mountains I have ever seen. I don't think my photographs quite capture it, but I tried.

One of the last meals on the island! Some of the dishes were bought
from the market and some were cooked by my family.

so many layers of blue mountains! I did not even +saturation

the very northern edge of the island meeting the sea

Sunrise Spa

My family took a trip to the spa on top of the mountains! It was pretty nice and cool, so the warm water was very warm. After a while, my cousin and I would jump into the cold pool and freeze so much that I could feel my hairs standing up. 

Interesting statue

the view from the spa 

water massage thing

going home

And More Food..

We went to the mall alllllllllll day long.

grilled stuff!

fried tofu with green onion and radish soaked in soy sauce

xian cao, a type of jelly made from grass

Xue Hua Bing!! Like the kind at Cool Ice Taipei in Pittsburgh.
a mix between shaved ice and ice cream. Peanut, red bean and mango flavored.

Xing Yue Tian Kong

We went to this place called Xing Yue Tian Kong (Star Moon Sky) on top of this mountain. It was basically a touristy resort like location with both food and things for people to do. But most people go there for the very broad view from atop of this mountain.

This little piggy likes to play push with your hand

the piggy's home

day view. there's more to both sides, but I haven't yet made the panorama

Sunset view

night time view

really interesting bathroom. in front of the urinal is a glass pane
and behind it is a small sculpture garden

what the restaurant is like

a cat thing that is native to Taiwan

and of course there is food!

cross off pig! and interesting toilet!

Food Food and more Food!

So much food! After seeing the Snake Kiln, we went to this famous Pineapple Cake place.

pineapple cake: an essential Taiwanese snack

 Then we went to this Vegetarian Western Style Restaurant. They used a lot of cream and cheese and it was sooooo good.

Soup with puff pastry on top.

Rice baked with cheese

Then, another day we went to this other restaurant called "Under a Coconut Tree"

tomato and beef stew + rice

vinegar drink. sounds weird, but it's both sweet and sour

This was the most amazing dessert I've ever had
It's called: "Nai Lao" and it's like pudding but also very creamy

Pottery at Snake Kiln

We went to this kiln place that had a lot of pottery!

a wall made out of pots!



the snake kiln. very very long!



inside the kiln!

The Best Food In the World

Ba Wan!!!!!!! Meat in glutonous rice dough in gloopy sweet sauce. most amazing thing ever.