OCT. 30: LUODONG

Tea and temples

Our last full day in I-Lan County includes the San Qing Taoist temple and tea at the elegant Yuan Ming Yuan tea house with a sweeping view of the city and water beyond -- and at night, one last family dinner with lots of little glasses of beer.

HIGHLIGHTS

* One last breakfast at the Park Bench.   * Mango and taro ice milk with peanut and cilantro outside the temple.   * Deep-fried bu rou (pork and vegetables) from one of Robbie's favorite shops as part of his culinary tour of the region.   * Getting lost in the rental van on the way to the tea house: Didn't we take that road before?   * J.D., J.T., Andy and Tim joining us for tea.   * A sumptuous dinner spread: sashimi, black chicken soup, red bean pancakes, scallops, soup with vinegar, spareribs and several big fish, among the many courses.   * Jennifer buys lottery tickets for everyone at the table -- we scratch until we lose.   * Learning about the Taiwanese custom of gam bei: If you say that when you're toasting someone, you have to down the entire glass. Olga becomes the gam bei champion thanks to Samantha's mother.   * Coffee, tea and sour plums back at Samantha's house.   * Olga's nighttime scooter ride with Robbie: Who says you can't love alternative forms of transportation?

Above, Donald learns how to flip the tea cup over for a perfect brew. Right, Jennifer blows a temple kiss. Below right, Bob finally finds an American-made car (a Ford) on the streets of Taiwan.

NEXT PREVIOUS BACK TO MAIN TAIWAN PAGE HOME