We visited Sun Moon Lake once again, this time during the winter season in the middle of January, just before going to Poland. My husband had to attend a company event there, and since there was also a Year End Party in Taichung that evening, our son and I went along with him. I didn't really have to be there, but I felt it would be too difficult for me to travel from Shanhua (Tainan) to Taichung all by myself. The activity planned for them was biking around the lake, but it was challenging with a child. So in the end, we rented a scooter and followed them around. Spring season was starting to show, with some cherry trees and trumpet trees in bloom. We also had the opportunity to see some bald cypress trees.
Along the way, we passed by Ita Thao village and stopped to find some millet wine, which my husband wanted to bring to Poland. After trying the wine, I found the taste to be really unpleasant. It tasted like vinegar to me. However, the millet wine popsicles were much better. They had a nice balance of sweet and sour flavors. We also tried some aboriginal dishes, although I'm not sure of their names. One of them was sticky rice in tubes, which I had tried before and wasn't a fan of.
I also got a chance to ride a bike for several kilometers, as one of my husband's coworkers was experiencing some pain. It was quite fun, but I didn't want to ride for another 15 km to the end, so we decided to tow him with the scooter. It was a crazy idea, but luckily we arrived safely at the Shuishe Visitor Center. My husband wasn't the only one who didn't join the bike ride; some people definitely don't enjoy that kind of activity.
The Year End Party was nice as well, although my friend wasn't able to attend. She didn't even know about the event because her husband was working that day. It seems not everyone was able to leave their jobs on time to join. It's a pity because we don't have many opportunities to meet up.
See also: Sun Moon Lake
Sun Moon Lake (日月潭)
Sun Moon Lake is located in the mountains of Yuchi Township, Nantou County. It's the second largest lake in Taiwan and the largest semi-natural lake and power generation reservoir. The lake covers an area of 17 km2 and has a maximum depth of 30 meters and a maximum width of 4 kilometers.
The name "Sun Moon Lake" was first mentioned in 1821 in the "Haihai Diary" by Cao Shigui. In English literature, it was commonly referred to as "Lake Candidius." The name was officially given in 1873 by missionaries who came to teach the Thao people in the Sun Moon Lake area. Sun Moon Lake is one of the eight scenic spots in Taiwan, designated in 1970, and the Sun Moon Lake National Scenic Area was established in 2010.
The lake holds significant cultural and historical importance for the indigenous people of Taiwan. In the middle of the lake, there is a small island called Lalu, which served as an ancient settlement of the Thao tribe. The island was previously known as "Guanghua Island." In 1978, a Matchmaker Pavilion was built on the island, where visitors would come to worship the Matchmaker God and seek blessings for their marriages. According to legend, the Thao ancestors discovered the lake while chasing a rare white deer. The beauty and abundance of fish in the lake prompted the Thao people to resettle in the area. On Lalu Island, there is also a marble statue of the white deer.
Another tourist village you can visit is Ita Thao, located on the southeast shore of Sun Moon Lake. It is the end point of the Sun Moon Lake Mass Swim event. In Ita Thao, you'll find numerous food stalls and a night market. Some popular aboriginal dishes here include boar meat (山豬肉), sticky rice in bamboo tubes (竹筒飯), and millet wine (小米酒).
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