Tainan: Day 1
After some failed tea shopping in Kaohsiung, I went to the train station and took the short trip north to Tainan. Tainan was Taiwan’s old capital and contains many of the country’s older buildings and history. According to Marshaln, Tainan should have offered a lot of good tea and tea stores, but I ultimately found this wasn’t the case. But I’m getting ahead of myself. First thing off the train I visited the visitors’ center and figured out where San He Tang, Yanqing Hao, and other tea stores were located: most were located in Tainan County rather than Tainan City, and those in the city were dispersed. Knowing this, I took a taxi cab to the City Labor Rec Center, my hostel, where I stayed in a spacious four-person room.
Hungry, I walked around the city at night and ate snacks, oddly enough I chanced upon several of the city’s sights, including the Chi Kan Lou tower, Shennong temple, Confucius Temple, and old South Gate. I snapped photos of them lit up at night, enjoying how they were all situated in their own parks rather than squished in amongst the modern buildings.
PHOTO (above): Chi Kan Lou tower
PHOTO (below): Statues in front of Chi Kan Lou tower
PHOTO (above): Japanese-era public building
PHOTO (below): Confucius Temple
PHOTO: Old South Gate
A recommendation from the woman at the visitors’ center had brought me to the path that led by all these paths; she recommended I check out this “old street” for its festive lanterns and things, and I had decided to walk the 3 to 4 kilometers so I could see some of the city. When I finally found the small alley, it charmed me with its dim lanterns lighting an inviting path into the darkness and the old façades. I walked alone on the path; the lack of usual bustling noise allowed the noise of families preparing to rest for the evening to creak into the otherwise silent night. Finally, abruptly, the alley stopped at the side of a tall temple hidden by the crowded buildings. Surprise! Here’s a dimly red, dimly lit brick and plaster wall of an old temple! I relished the experience.
PHOTO: Scenic alleyway
I took a slightly different path home and found a two tea shops, one that Puerh Teapot had listed and one that they did not. The first was a junk alley of a pu’er store containing all sorts of interesting teas, but all piled so high and crowding the room so much that browsing was difficult and asking to drink one was out of the question. In fact, the shop had no tea setup for tasting that I could see. The man and his wife grumbled a bit as I stumbled through their store. They were closing. I left and let them close. The second store had closed already, but their sign said “Like Water Teahouse” and “Tea Specialist” making me think that they might speak English. I figured I’d return.
Hungry, I walked around the city at night and ate snacks, oddly enough I chanced upon several of the city’s sights, including the Chi Kan Lou tower, Shennong temple, Confucius Temple, and old South Gate. I snapped photos of them lit up at night, enjoying how they were all situated in their own parks rather than squished in amongst the modern buildings.
PHOTO (above): Chi Kan Lou tower
PHOTO (below): Statues in front of Chi Kan Lou tower
PHOTO (above): Japanese-era public building
PHOTO (below): Confucius Temple
PHOTO: Old South Gate
A recommendation from the woman at the visitors’ center had brought me to the path that led by all these paths; she recommended I check out this “old street” for its festive lanterns and things, and I had decided to walk the 3 to 4 kilometers so I could see some of the city. When I finally found the small alley, it charmed me with its dim lanterns lighting an inviting path into the darkness and the old façades. I walked alone on the path; the lack of usual bustling noise allowed the noise of families preparing to rest for the evening to creak into the otherwise silent night. Finally, abruptly, the alley stopped at the side of a tall temple hidden by the crowded buildings. Surprise! Here’s a dimly red, dimly lit brick and plaster wall of an old temple! I relished the experience.
PHOTO: Scenic alleyway
I took a slightly different path home and found a two tea shops, one that Puerh Teapot had listed and one that they did not. The first was a junk alley of a pu’er store containing all sorts of interesting teas, but all piled so high and crowding the room so much that browsing was difficult and asking to drink one was out of the question. In fact, the shop had no tea setup for tasting that I could see. The man and his wife grumbled a bit as I stumbled through their store. They were closing. I left and let them close. The second store had closed already, but their sign said “Like Water Teahouse” and “Tea Specialist” making me think that they might speak English. I figured I’d return.