Our Weekend at Sanyi and Lavender Cottage

Temple in the Mountains

A spectacular view

The view from atop Lavender Cottage

This weekend was Tomb Sweeping Weekend where families reunite to clean their family tombs, burn paper money for good fortune and put paper money on top of the tomb and secure them with rocks which I think is also supposed to bring good fortune.

So after Boyfriend did that with his family on Friday he surprised me by taking me to Sanyi-the woodcarving village. He's been wanting to go there for some time and I've just been wanting to get out and see more of Taiwan!

It was very interesting! We didn't go to the woodcarving museum, but there were lots of stores and each store had statues big and small of Guanyin, Buddha, the God of War, etc, etc, etc. So Boyfriend bought me a Buddhist bracelet with the Chinese character for Buddhism and Guanyin on a lotus flower carved into each bead of the bracelet. Guanyin is the goddess of mercy and is a great goddess to me.

So then we went to this Hakka Lifestyle store and they sold this stuff with the brand name "Lavender Cottage" it was nice stuff and so Boyfriend and I each bought a sachet with fresh lavender to put in our apartments. Then we picked up a postcard and saw that this was actually a place nearby so we bought a postcard so that we could go there and visit one day. Then, we ordered some Hakka dough balls(I had mine covered with chocolate) and Hakka tea that is Green Tea mixed and ground with rice and red beans. It's called in pinyin Lei Cha (擂茶) and here is the wiki link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lei_cha

For some wiki info on the Hakka people go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakka

So then on our way home it was getting late and as we were driving home, I saw a sign for Dahu. I've been wanting to go to Dahu because they are known for their strawberries. So I saw the sign and said, "Oh, Dahu!" and Boyfriend said so spontaneously, "Do you wanna go?" and I said, "Now?! Are you serious?!" Apparently he was because that is where we went! Unfortunately when we got there everything was closed, but this stand that sold strawberry dumplings(but they stopped selling the dumplings for the evening..shame :( ) But after we had mentioned that I wanted to buy some strawberry wine (and the stores were closed) the guy at the stand went and found a guy who makes and bottles strawberry wine on his own!! So while we were waiting for him, the guy's mother or mother-in-law and this other woman and man were there so they asked if we wanted to try the strawberry liquor-50%. So we said yes. I took a sip and WOW!!! It may be strawberry, but that stuff was harsh!! My chest was on fire! So I decided against the strawberry liquor. When the guy came back he brought back another guy who must make the wine and two bottles. So boyfriend and i taste tested both wines and they were good! Super sweet like strawberry jam, but oh so yummy! Perfect mix with champagne and/or sparkling wine!

so after that we were back on the road and Boyfriend wanted to take me to a rest stop where they supposedly have a nice view of Taichung at night. But...not Taichung City like I thought...Taichung County..and well...much to my dismay the view was more of the parking lot and darkness in the hills...so not much of a view I'm afraid. But we did eat dinner there and saw the shark tank there which, doesn't it figure has sharks that are found where? Green Island which is where I'm going in May and these sharks are found in shallow waters by the coral reefs WHICH is where I will be snorkeling!!! Boyfriend loved teasing me about that because now I'm scared! I've never gone snorkeling before and this makes me nervous!

So then on Saturday, we got up late and decided to go somewhere else! We were going to go to Sun Moon Lake to admire the cherry blossoms, but it would have been 17:00(5pm) by the time we got there and that is too late, plus the 3 hour drive back. So Boyfriend mentioned going to this "Lavender Cottage" place so that is where we went!
Lavender Cottage
http://www.lavendercottage.com.tw

Little Blessing Cards people put on the trees and plants at Lavender Cottage

Lavender Ice Cream made with REAL Lavender....YUM!

Needless to say, this place was in the middle of the mountains and the drive was so beautiful and breathtaking for me (and a pain in the ass for boyfriend with all the winding roads up the mountain and narrowness). So then we got there and walked around and it was soo relaxing! We got to see many flowers and lavender and I even got to eat Lavender ice cream which was so good!

So then at night we decided to stay for the firefly tour which first started off as an informational thing where a guy talks about the firefly. Then he warns you that there may be poisonous snakes on the walk...Man! I'm just starting to become adventurous aren't I? snorkeling with sharks, walking around areas with poisonous snakes...this is a braver me than 10 years ago! That's for sure!

So anyway, the walk was beautiful!! When we got to a point to see the fireflies it was like we were in a fairy land. It was so dark, but the clear night sky(the clearest night sky I have seen in Taiwan and have seen in months!!!) and being in the mountains made it so breathtaking! The fireflies looked so much different than when I was a kid. It seemed so much more magical. And the sounds of the frogs and crickets made it so much more amazing!

This is the only video I could get of the actual fireflies. You only see a couple flashes from the fireflies in the beginning and then you hear me "Ssshing" Boyfriend because I hate talking on video because I always sound dumb! Which this time is no different-haha! I sound so ridiculous-anyway...here is the video:






So basically, that was my weekend...a lot more happened but I've typed enough here anyway. I did buy a scooter helmet though-it is pearlescent white with a black silhouette of a butterfly on each side and with a purple tinted long visor and the guy also threw in a mirrored UV short visor for free. So...I have scooter masks, I have a scooter helmet...now all I need is a scooter and to learn how to drive one!! So Boyfriend and I are planning on going next weekend to start comparing prices. :) Yay! I need me a scooter!

OK...talk to you soon!