第五天 : Day 5 // Maokang Mountain

"Maokang Mountain" Means 'No-Cat Mountain'

Day 5 started off with a very relaxing morning and an afternoon nap, yet the day would prove to be one of my favorite days.

We visited Eslite Bookstore in Taipei, which I could practically live in since it was a beautiful bookstore with wooden floors and modern decor. There was even a fancy cafe/restaurant at one end of the floor. The bookstore was full of people sitting at tables and on the sides at the aisles reading. The best part is that the Eslite Bookstore is open 24/7 ! Guess I really could live there :)  

  Afterwards, we headed off to this restaurant called 12 Baskets, which serves congee and hot pot.

Originally I wasn't in the mood for congee but after tasting this pot of congee, I was in food heaven! This had to be the best congee I've ever had! 

How do I explain how good it was? I can't except that we all ate up our bowl of congee (which was a good-sized bowl) within 15 mins. They also had a station where you can make and mix your sauces, where I had 2-3 refills on. Delicious!

In the evening, Eric and I took the MRT to go see Maokong Mountain and ride the Maokong Gondola. "Maokong" literally translates into "No Cat" but it comes from the Taiwanese word "niaokang", which describes the eroded texture of the mountains from streams. The same term "Niaokang" also means "cat-scratched" (as reference to the mountain's terrain) and is rendered into "maokong" in Mandarin. 

The gondola ride was half an hour long as we sailed through the sky to get to the last stop: Maokong Station.

Glass floors! Yikes!

The sun was about to set.

What to do when you get off Maokong Station? Follow everyone else! 

We walked along the road, taking in the beautiful scenery.

We also found a stone pathway to follow...

...which led us here :)

Further down was "Maple Forest", though we didn't go farther down the trail since it was getting dark.

The sun setting. I loved the colors in the sky! 

The sign points down to the trail we were on.

Maokong Station.

Our destination: the sparkling lights in the distance

Many tourists come to Maokong to experience the "tea cuisine" and experience the little shops and restaurants along the way.

We stopped by a stall for Taiwanese Sausage and garlic. So goooooooood :)

It was so soothing to walk in the summery breeze after a hot and sticky day. There was a warm glow from the shops and colorful lanterns. I felt far removed from the hustle and bustle of Taipei and all I could hear were the singing melodies of the frogs and crickets. It felt peaceful and magical. 

We finally arrived to a well-known cafe that was at the very end of the road. 

It was a small little stall with tables that doted along the stone wall overlooking the city. We ordered our bubbletea and peanut butter toast and headed across the street and up the stairs to their upper floor.

This picture below doesn't do any justice but it was a beautiful sight seeing the city lights in the distance and just being able to stand in the quietness and revel in the beauty around.

Looking down to the cafe and out to Taipei. 

 After such busy days this week, it was so nice for Eric and I to relax and enjoy each others' company. We spent nearly 2 hours at that place (totally forgetting to go back to grab dinner) sharing hearts and laughing over the funny things from the week. Of course, it was also then that I realized today was the only day I completely forgot to spray on bug spray and of course we ended up in the mountains on this day. Needless to say, I got a handful of bites :(

Nonetheless, today was a beautiful day. If you are ever in Taipei, I completely, wholeheartedly recommend you take the Maokong Gondola up through the mountain scenery and get off at the very last stop. Take a deep breath of the fresh air, pause to listen to the sounds of crickets and stroll through the peaceful roads. Let them lead you to a cosy area and the lovely aroma of tea. I guarantee it'll be unforgettable. 

晚安