Terezka Explores Taiwan: Nature and famous places around Yingge with Horace and Dustin

On 9 o'clock has begun another day full of new things to see, eat and enjoy :-) Mr. Horace and English teacher Dustin has picked up in our apartment. Our first stop has been the Shilin park among the river, later we've seen Chiang Kai-shek's Official Residence in Shilin, after we've been to Shihmen Reservoir to observe the beautiful view and we've finished our day with some observing Tzushr Temple and Old street in Sansia.

Tropical tree, Geena and me

Shilin park and later Chiang Kai-shek's Official Residence are an interesting places in Taiwan that should be seen by a tourists, who come here. The park is full of tropical trees, which grow widely. You can see there a lot of kind of small animals like birds, butterflies, lizards or small spiders (very small and not dangerous :-).Somewhere you will see a modern art or Japanese art. But when you know, where to go, you will enter Chiang Kai-shek's Official Residence. It does not look like as a typical art of Taiwanese people. but still it's interesting. Later you can see some typical homes of Taiwanese people - richer one or try another typical food (taste like a cream, but it's tofu, with an ice, sweat beans, peanuts or potato jelly - pink one).

Interesting nature is everywhere

Chiang Kai-shek's Official Residence

When you have a cool guide like I've had, they will find for you a place, where you can see a beautiful view of Taipei city or the mountains, that are typical for Taiwan and are covered with trees. The name of this place is Shihmen Reservoir. This reservoir functions are generate electricity, supply water, prevent of floods or just simply be a wonderful tourist attraction. You can also catch some fishes there, but you'll probably need some permission.

After you climb to the top of the reservoir, where is some kind of rest temple, you can see and enjoy an amazing view from dam. There are also some interesting plants or animals. What has catch my eye was pommel tree or some kind of tree, that smells like perfume, when you squeeze its leaves. From the animals you will see there a lot of butterflies again. On the Taiwan island there are about 400 kind of butterflies active during a day and almost 4 000 butterflies, that are active during the night. Wonderful right? :-)

After climbing down, we've been token to the famous restaurant, where we could try local fish prepared on four different ways. One was a soup, second was fried with some sauce, third was just simply fried and the last one has been naturally prepared - all has tasted great. I just love fishes a lot!

Me, Geena and the view from Shihmen Reservoir

Rest Temple

After a great lunch, we've gone to see a very famous Tzushr Temple in Sansia. This temple has a long history. It has been rebuild almost three times, due to some wars or misunderstandings. The temple is made from stone and the roof is made from wood.

Infront of the Temple

First, there are some rules, how to enter Temple. In the first instance you should turn with your back to the Temple and see how God sees you. On your left hand are doors with the Dragon and on your right are doors with Tiger. You can enter only through the Dragon doors, because the Tiger would eat you and it brings no luck. You can not enter the middle, because only God can enter this door. The entering doors always guard Door God, that protect the Temple from the evil.

In the front of the Temple there are always two lions. One should symbolize a male lion with a ball under its paw and the another one symbolize a female lion with small lions under the paw - take care about the family. These symbols of male and female are quite old. In the modern history both lions are the same, because women has the same rights like men. The lions on this Temple are special, because they are made form one stone and in their mouth are a ball of stone and when you move with it, it makes a sound like a lion :-)
When you enter the Temple, you can not stand on the threshold. It's very inappropriate to God. You should overstep it.

Lions with two lioness and a ball inside his mouth

Symbol of piece nad safe

When you enter this Temple, you can find there a God of Sun and the God of the Moon. Very interesting are also the stone pillars that are hand carved or the pillars generally, where you can find 100 birds on it. Another interesting story is about the elephant with the glass on its back. Elephant means symbol and the glass mean piece and safe. So there are a lot of symbols of piece and safe, because the Temple has been rebuild many times.
The symbol, that you can see almost in all Temples is a stone dragon in the middle. When the dragon has three fingers on the top of the envelope it means, that the Temple has been built by people. Four fingers indicate it has been built by government and five fingers symbolize the king (the most common).

After an interesting Temple, we've been on the close bridge and relax. Our way to the car has been through the Old street in Sansia.This street is a mix of European and Chinese culture. You can find there everything - from the food, to the clothes or some kind of drugstore.

Old street in Sansia

Woow, a lot of new things. I feel very good about all the stories I've heart today. I hope you enjoy it with me at least with some pictures ;-)

Other pictures:
Shilin park, Chiang Kai-shek's Official Residence