Diving into the culture (潛入台灣的文化). Part 2

The second stop was – Guguan – traditional hot springs

第二站—谷關—傳統溫泉.

Lots of countries have very old and honorable history of creating and developing hot spring culture. In Europe it is, for sure, Hungary and its Karlovy Vary. In Russia – it is Caucuses area. In Taiwan – it is Guguan.

很多國家在發展溫泉文化都擁有很古老且代表性的歷史。在歐洲也是一樣的，匈牙利的 Karlovy Vary、俄羅斯則是在 Caucuses 地區、台灣溫泉則以谷關聞名。

Although I thought that our trip will include only visiting hot springs and not for a long time, Chia Yee persuaded me to go to the beautiful “shaolai” trail that leaded us to the nice pavilion in the summit of the mountain.

我本來以為我們的行程只是去泡個溫泉，不會耽誤很多時間，但是嘉怡說服我到美麗的捎來步道走一走，走著走著我們就到達山頂一個不錯的涼亭。

The start of the trail was so excited

Suspension bridge over the rough river

To tell the truth I expected (as I was promised) rather slight slope. It was not slight. Not at all!
說實話我以為這步道不會很陡(有人這樣告訴我的)，可是這步道一點都不好走，陡得不得了啊！

 

 

As the result we reached hot springs hotel(four seasons hotel) quiet tired.

結果我們抵達四季溫泉館時簡直是虛脫了。

Outside it is european style

But not inside...

 

African? Asian? Who knows, please, contact me

 I’m a Russian – I love hot water, I love saunas and other kinds of spa relaxation. And I was very happy to spend more than three hours lying in pools with different varieties of hot water aromatized with flowers and herbs and very pleased to find there even a sauna. Actually it was closer to the Turkish hamam with some very special Taiwanese features.

我是個俄羅斯人—我喜歡熱溫泉、桑拿浴還有各式各樣的桑拿。我很開心因為我能享受到格式風格的溫泉—有芬芳的花香及草藥的溫泉池。在那裡我還可以找到桑拿室。我覺得這桑拿有點像土耳其的“hamam”,再加上一些台灣特色。

 

 

And I give some swimming classes to Chia Yee. The pools were not really suited for that, but we managed to do it. And she swam!

我也替嘉怡上了一堂游泳課。溫泉池不是很大，不是很適合游泳，但她做到了。她真的游起來了！

It was the one we swam at

I had some discovering about Taiwanese nature.

我對台灣文化有了很大的發現。

- Taiwan people really enjoy hot springs. It was a great surprise for me as I thought before such time spending is only for northern people. For sure not for a tropical island. I was mistaken! Taiwanese are very proud of their hot springs and took care of them, developing the culture and service.

台灣人很愛泡溫泉。我相當驚訝的因為我本來以為只有北部人才泡溫泉，熱帶島嶼的人不愛 ，但我錯了！台灣人非常驕傲於他們的溫泉並保護得很完善。

 - You can hardly find such an exotic spa-peeling anywhere else except Taiwan as “kissing” fishes. It is really amazing! Nothing compare! None of the fashionable spa resorts I visited before can be better “kissing” fishes! And I want to say that those fishes loved me more than anyone else, more than Chia Yee – while she had only three or four fishes, my legs were almost covered by them.

除了台灣，您大概再也找不到一個這麼好在異國去角質的吻魚了。真的是太棒了！筆墨無法形容！沒有任何一個新潮的溫泉館能跟它媲美！我還想說那些吻魚實在太愛我了，甚至超越嘉怡—她的腳只有2-3只魚靠過去，而我的腳周圍幾乎都是吻魚。

   

Happy and relaxed

    

And the last stop was Lavender Forest.

最後一站:薰衣草森林

I call it Asian Grasse. Hence people didn’t make perfume there – it is fragrance’s abode

我叫它亞洲格拉斯(法國南部的一個小鎮，又稱香水之都)。雖然那裡沒有人製造香水—可是它確實是香氣瀰漫的地方

Very small, lovely and picturesque village in European style but so special. 

 

Only in Lavender forest you can find classical merry-go-round like in the fairs of the past and in front of it Japanese style restaurant with Teddy bears as the symbol. 

 

 

Teddy bear!

  And on the background of all this – valleys of flowers, lawns and tortous trails. They managed to combine incongruous and did it in such natural way so it looks charming!

一個小小的、可愛的歐洲式小村莊，可是卻很特別。只有在薰衣草森林您才能找到古典的旋轉木馬及日式的餐廳—小熊為象徵。遍地山谷的花朵、草坪及蜿蜒的小路。他們成功把所有的不協調結合得如此自然又迷人！

You can’t find a place like this anywhere else in Taiwan and in the whole world.

您在世界的任何一個角落在也找不到像薰衣草森林的地方了。

We spent there only two hours but it is hardly enough. I could spend even more wandering in the shops, tasting the fragrances, looking at hand-made designer bags and other accessories, sampling aromatic verbena tea with cookies.

我們只在那裡待了兩個小時，可是時間已經綽綽有餘了。我還在香舖之家徘徊了很久，聞一聞那裡的香氣，看著擺在櫥櫃上手制的設計包及其他飾品、香包、茶、餅乾等。

So much choice - so hard choice!

 

 

And it is only a shop – there were so many lovely and interesting places for relaxation, studying, entertaining and tasting. For example, we found a whole house dedicated to show how different flavors and DIY’s can be used.

薰衣草森林是個可愛有趣的地方—您可在那裡放鬆心情、讀本書、消遣、吃東西。我們發現一間屋子展示各種香氣及DIY用品。

The doors are always open. If not - we will open them

 

 

Moreover it is almost the only place where you can taste lavender ice-cream! It is more than simply delicious.

那裡應該是你唯一可嘗一嘗薰衣草口味的冰淇淋吧！好吃！

 

You can also ring a bell...

... clean yourself with lavender...

... and make a wish!

  We have spent three amazing days discovering not-common sightseeings of  the Central Taiwan and now I can say for sure – six weeks are not enough to understand all the variety of faces of Taiwan life style – our way of learning Taiwan is far from the end.

我們度過了奇妙的3天發掘了中台灣。現在我可以很肯定地說六個星期是無法了解台灣的真面貌—我們要認識台灣是永無止境的。

There are still so many things to try, experience, visit and learn.

還有很多事情等著我們嘗試、體驗、參觀、學習。

Written by Olga.

奧利嘉撰寫