That is how the place was named after the 原住民 there saw bubbling steam coming out from a place and deem the place urai (or poisonous in their native language). Nowadays tourists throng the place for its famed hot springs and aboriginal culture.
We happened to see a tour package being sold at the bus station when we reached the Xindian MRT station. It cost us NT600 for a day tour including a mini bus to 內洞 where there is a climb up with the 導遊 to see the famous 瀑布, and then a performance by the aborigines. The climb was quite a work out but before that we were advised to get some food to toughen our stomach and muscles.
This group of "picnic aunties" (as SL LLG called them) seemed to be very "ex-pe-ren" as they got tonnes of sausages, fruits and noodles during a stopover and they were having a palace feast when we finally had a break halfway our climb. Well, we were discussing that should the bus break down and we were trapped in the mountains, SL LLG and I would have no qualms robbing these aunties of their food to stay alive! That was especially since SL LLG and I shared only a sausage and a stick of three small lean meat!
In one of the mobile toilets, there was a sign on the door
"請輕聲關門"
I almost died when I saw the English translation -
"Please close the door with a soft voice"
Unfortunately I did not take a pciture of it!
The waterfall which was part of the rewards for the climb.
As the climb got higher, many started to stay put and only a few tough ones (including two of us) stayed ahead. Eventually, the 導遊 declared that we should begin our descent and start bringing those who stopped halfway waiting down. After a few inquisitive questions by another Taiwanese female 導遊 who asked where we were from and so on (SL LLG said that he would have no problem accepting her as his gf if she only slightly indicated interest), we were shuffled on the bus to watch tye aborigine dances.
Now, there were only four of us who signed up for this dance performance. Besides SL LLG and me, there was also this Taiwanese young couple sitting in a big hall. Accoridng to the Guide Book, the dance comprised of a few performances and it always ended with a marriage dance. So we knew we would be called. After all, what was the chances we wouldnt since there were so few of us! So I told SL LLG, if we got called, he would go up and dance and "marry" one of the girls while I will take pictures! We agreed with this arrangement.
Who would have thought that when the dancers came in, they chose all EXCEPT SL LLG! What was that supposed to mean huh, I asked SL LLG later. Looks like even if I wanted to be left on the shelves, I couldn't! As for you, look like they found your face too unmarriageable! Of course, he felt very very b!tched.
Though later, he was called into the dance, but that was because they wanted to take pictures of us and then charged a hefty sum. This they did, and the Taiwanese couple knew too well, so they must have expressed some displeasure when they sid 500 NT at first, only to quickly dropped to 300 NT. We were happy that it worked out this way.
When it was finally time for us to go, we went to queue up for the famous 山豬香腸. It has more 野味 and some people may not like it.
Notice how the seller looks like a mascot to the 山豬香腸! Ok, very bad.. Haha
Then we went for dinner - the place was famous for their bamboo rice. After some walking and picture taking of the picturesque place:
We decided that we should do our hot spring. It was an all-men indoor one and since I had gone onto one many years before when I was in Taiwan, I had to teach SL LLG the etiquettes of it - first de-robe down to your birthday suit. Then scrub yourselves real clean before going in. Try various pools of different temp to improve the health enhancement effects, and of course dun stay too long in a hot one or we would have problem having babies!!
There was nobody there when we entered so I took a picture
We had the whole place to ourselves for half hour before an ang moh came in next and he plunged straight into it! No no.. he did not bathe. tsk tsk
After the whole experience which causes SL LLG to eat back his previous avowment - "I don't foresee myself going to Taiwan hot spring more than once", made during the beginning of the trip. He was so enamoured with the whole experience that he looked forward to the next one when I told him Beitou also has hot spring. I was incredulous that in all his past 3 times to Taiwan, he had never been to a hot spring before! Now he's a hot spring convert!
Back in the hotel, I asked, "SL LLG, if you were the emperor what would you do to China", to which his most earnest and quick reply was "Education and decentralization. That would make China a most agreeable country to govern compared to other dynasties. What about you leh?", he asked me.
"Well, first I would make sure that they pump hot spring water into my palace everyday. Then I will ask the court girls to dance while I soothe my muscles. Then I would order the finest food to be sent to my table after the soak and sleep on silk beds that shall be made by a thousand delicate hands"
He almost died.
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