Taiwan Travelogue #2: The Town That Inspired Miyazaki and a Foot Massage Problem
Even a chocolate body part souvenir.
A Bus to The Mountains
I read that an old mining town in the mountains of Taiwan, Jiufen, inspired Hayao Miyazaki and his team to create set designs for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away
animated movie. So, you can bet I wanted to visit.
Apparently, it also draws everyone else.
It was packed!
It’s better to go at night because the lights sparkle and give the tea houses and streets there a kind of magic—that also looks more like Yubaba’s bath house in Spirited Away—but we saw rain in the forecast and took the trip during the day instead.
We had a lot of fun making and pouring our small cups of tea, and then we were told we could take the remaining generous amount of loose-leaf tea in the bag home.
The view from the tea house was lovely, too.
Good and Not So Good Surprises: Shaved Ice And an Annoying Foot Massage
One of my favorite treats was shaved ice, with mango and pudding on top, to be precise. It tasted sweet, delicious, and refreshing in the summer heat.
It was fresher than the shaved ice I’ve had at Taiwanese restaurants in America.
Needless to say, this was indeed a good surprise.
My wife and I found a place to get foot massages, and I was unpleasantly surprised that the lady greasing up and rubbing my feet kept talking most of the time.
She talked for a long time about the U.S. election and asked me which candidate I supported. I didn’t know what to make of her.
This type of thing never happens during my massages, so it was pretty darn strange.
I couldn't understand Chinese, but another employee yelled at my masseuse, and the two of them fought a little.
Later, I could smell liquor on my masseuse's breath. I can see why drinking at a massage job is frowned upon—you could end up talking too much!
I can’t remember if the massage was good or not.
I do remember the masseuse coming up to me afterward, making excuses for her (supervisor, most likely), who kept yelling at her. The whole time she’s talking to me, I’m smelling her breath and trying to decipher what kind of liquor she must have been drinking—was it beer? Wine? Whisky?
I guess we’ll never know.
*WARNING* A Human Body Part Dessert Below!!!!
Who could forget passing by a shop selling Taiwan's number one souvenir?
It's more like the most embarrassing!
I’d say a penis shaped chocolate is most definitely a funny surprise.
Maybe a good surprise for the right tourists?
This sign was out in the open on the touristy shopping street, in full view of everyone, from adults to families with kids. I have no idea if it’s really as popular a souvenir as they advertise, but it certainly grabs your attention.
Please share any tips or ideas for places to visit or things to do in Taiwan if you’ve been. I’d love to try them next time we visit.
Who knows what could happen?
Until the next adventure.
Take care and be well!
Wow! Sounds like quite the trip (and that foot massage!) It must be so cool seeing what inspired Miyazaki!