A Pastel Afternoon at Shu Art Studio – My First Time as an Art Model

Last Saturday, I had a completely new and unexpected experience: I was invited to be a model for a portrait sketching session at Shu Art Studio 江書逸繪畫工作室 in Toufen, not far from where we live. The session was inspired by the works of Mary Cassatt, a 19th-century American Impressionist known for her soft and delicate portraits of women and children. The medium of the day was oil pastel, and I had the honor of being the muse for a group of adult art students.

When I first got the message from the studio, I honestly thought it might be a scam 😅. But the invitation was warm, personal, and even mentioned my desserts (which made it sound more real and sweet!). They even encouraged me to visit the studio beforehand if I felt unsure. After chatting a bit more and checking things out, I agreed and I’m so glad I did.

The session ran from 1:30 to 4:30 PM, including setup and breaks, so the actual modeling time was about 1.5 to 2 hours. There were breaks (thankfully!), but still—it’s not as easy as it sounds to sit still and be observed from all angles while trying to look “natural.” I’ve been on TV before, I’ve done a YouTube interview, and I’ve joined a few other events, so you'd think I’d be used to being around people or even in front of a camera. But this felt different... more intimate, and honestly, more intense. I kept thinking, this time all eyes are literally on me! 😅

I thought I was smiling most of the time, but based on the finished artworks… my face looked quite serious! Maybe that’s just my focused face? 🤭 Some students used pastels, while others used pencil to create black-and-white portraits. I ended up loving those simple, classic sketches the most. One of them especially stood out to me - it had this soft, quiet feel. The artist was a young woman who seemed pretty shy, and I felt like she didn’t want her work shared publicly. But she kindly let me take her sketch home, along with two other people. Now I have three beautiful portraits of myself, made by strangers with different eyes and different styles. It’s such a surreal and touching thing to keep.

The portrait sessions were broken into 25-minute blocks with 5-minute breaks in between. Surprisingly, just sitting still was quite tiring. I started feeling some back and neck pain from trying to keep a good posture and not move. There were also quite a few bright lights around, which made my sensitive eyes tear up a bit 😅.

The main artist who created the pastel portrait of me had studied in Spain before - which I found really impressive. His sister is also an artist and works with ceramics. We saw some of her handmade cups and plates, and they looked beautiful, really elegant and well-crafted.

My husband and son also stayed at the studio, since they didn’t have much to do on a hot afternoon. Our son was given some paper and pastels, and he created his own little artwork. I was a bit worried at first that he might cause trouble, but he actually sat quietly, didn’t bother anyone, and behaved really well. At one point, I even thought my husband and son had left, because it was so quiet and I hadn’t seen them for a while—but it turned out they were just exploring another room that’s actually dedicated for kids to make art. Such a nice surprise!

And that’s not the end! Shu Art Studio and I are planning another collaboration soon. Next Saturday, they’re hosting a small art talk event, and I’ll be preparing some cakes and cookies for the group of around 20 people. I love how naturally this is turning into a mix of art, people, and my favorite thing - baking.

If you’re around Toufen and feel curious about art (or desserts 😉), Shu Art Studio is a hidden gem worth checking out. I never expected to find myself sitting as a model for a group of artists on a quiet Saturday afternoon, but I’m really grateful I said yes. It’s one of those experiences that stay with you - not loud or dramatic, just quietly special. 

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A Hidden Time Capsule - The Japanese Guesthouse in Minxiong

Travel Date: 2025/04/05

After wrapping up our tour at the Suantou Sugar Factory (LINK), we still had a bit of time and decided to make a spontaneous stop at a nearby spot we’d heard whispers about: the Japanese guesthouse area in Minxiong.

And wow—what a peaceful, underrated gem!

Tucked into a tiny park with just five wooden buildings, the site was nearly empty - probably because it was the Tomb Sweeping Day weekend and most visitors were elsewhere. But that just added to the atmosphere.

Originally used by staff from the Minxiong Broadcasting Station, this guesthouse complex has been registered as a historical building since 2001. And it shows - the preservation is fantastic.

The architecture is classic Japanese: wooden lattice ceilings, stone foundations, sliding doors, and thoughtful details everywhere you look. It felt like stepping back in time - or into a Pinterest board, in the best way.

What makes this place extra special? It’s one of the few remaining two-story Japanese guesthouses in Taiwan. And this one’s in amazing condition.

We were lucky enough to get a little tour. The large building has been adapted into a kind of indoor village with cozy corners selling handmade goods, like natural shampoos and skincare, a boutique offering Japanese-style clothing rentals (even for pets, because why not?!). And upstairs? A restaurant tucked into one of the rooms, offering a place to relax after browsing.

I honestly think it might be the largest and best-preserved Japanese guesthouse we’ve ever visited in Taiwan. Super clean, thoughtfully maintained, and full of character.

If you're ever in Chiayi, don’t just stop at the famous tourist spots - places like Suantou and Minxiong have so much hidden charm. Taiwan is full of these quiet, historical corners. Exploring them feels like leafing through a beautiful old book—and finding a surprise story waiting in every chapter.

Thanks for reading! Have you ever discovered a lesser-known historical gem while traveling? Or maybe been ghosted by a cat like we were? 😹 Let me know in the comments!

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Sweet Memories and Sugar Trains - Revisiting Suantou Sugar Factory

Travel Date: 2025/04/05

This time, we revisited a place we first saw about four or five years ago - the Suantou Sugar Factory in Chiayi. And wow, let me tell you… it has changed a lot! Before we dive into the new, I’ve included a few old photos from our first visit - see if you can spot the differences as we go.

Established in 1906, Suantou Sugar Factory was once a powerhouse - literally the third-largest sugar factory in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation era. But like many things in life, it didn’t stay sweet forever. In 2001, Typhoon Nari hit hard. Severe flooding damaged the equipment beyond repair, and that was the end of sugar production here. Sugar crash, literally.

But fast forward to today, and the whole site has transformed into a cultural park! The old factory buildings now house museum-style exhibits - while the machines no longer run, the explanations are thorough and engaging. They even have slabs of molasses on display to show how sugarcane turns into the sweet stuff we love.

Outside, you can ride a charming mini sugar train, admire Baroque-style architecture, and stroll past Japanese-style dormitories still standing from decades ago.

One of the highlights? The renovated train station - now a cheerful sky-blue, with an outdoor sugarcane patch beside it. Info boards show how sugarcane grows across Taiwan, like a living science fair.

While wandering the park, we stumbled upon the Japanese-style dorms. Some are clearly aging, but their nostalgic charm is still very much alive. And then... enter the orange cat! He meowed at us, stared like he had a secret, then trotted down a path... only to summon another cat and vanish. No petting, no farewell. Honestly, I felt played. 😂

Some dorms were marked “available for adoption” (yes, really—for buildings!). We were too late, though. The signs were still up, but it’s not a small commitment - there are rules, high renovation costs, and short usage periods. But hey, maybe someone out there with a love for history (and deep pockets) will give them a second life.

We wrapped up our visit at Jieshou Hall, once used for cadre training and even served briefly as a presidential office. It’s tucked into the far end of the park - a nice historical surprise to end the visit.

But the day wasn’t over yet…

👉 Next stop? A hidden gem not far away - one of Taiwan’s rarest Japanese buildings still standing tall. Stay tuned for part two! (LINK)

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Flower Fields, Rouyuan & Surprises in Yuanlin, Changhua — A Laid-Back Spring Trip in Taiwan

Travel Date: 2025/04/04

While holidays usually mean road trips and exploration, let’s be real - traveling during a public holiday here is practically an extreme sport. Crowds everywhere, traffic jams, and oh - some places even jacked up their prices by 900%. Yes, you read that right. That’s not a price hike, that’s an Olympic-level vault. 😂

So instead of fighting the big crowds, we decided to go a little off the radar - south to Yuanlin, a lively city in Changhua County.

Yuanlin might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Taiwan’s travel spots, but it should be, especially if you’re a foodie. It’s the largest township-turned-city in Changhua and is well known for its vibrant night markets and street eats.

Naturally, our first mission: rouyuan (Taiwanese meatball). And let me tell you, Yuanlin’s version is in a league of its own. If you’ve tried royuans elsewhere, ike Hsinchu, you’ll notice a big difference here. The texture, seasoning, and overall flavor were totally unique and super satisfying. Highly recommend making a pit stop just for that.

After filling up, we continued our journey toward the hollyhock flower fields. Spring in Taiwan is just chef’s kiss - flowers in bloom, mild weather, and those clear blue skies (on a good day, anyway).

We’d been warned by the rouyuan shop boss that parking near the flower fields could be a nightmare. But guess what? We found a spot right away. Must be good flower karma.

And in true Taiwan fashion, where there are flowers, food is never far behind. Around the field entrance we found sausages sizzling on the grill, filling the air with that mouthwatering smoky scent, and egg tarts in all kinds of flavors, including some pretty creative ones I hadn’t seen before!

The hollyhocks were absolutely gorgeous - rows and rows of colorful blooms you could walk between. They’d also added a few cute props like swings and garden arches - perfect for some spring-themed Instagram photos.

It was the perfect place for a slow stroll, though the fresh air was a little interrupted by a common seasonal twist: Tomb Sweeping Day. We passed by quite a few small fires and grass burning along the way, which is part of the tradition here... but yeah, the air quality didn't get the "spring breeze" memo. 😅

We tried to squeeze in one more stop before heading to parents-in-law' place - a visit to see the pink shower trees in bloom. Unfortunately... we were a bit too early. The trees were mostly in bud stage, so it ended up being more of a scenic preview than a full bloom moment.

But hey, that’s the fun of exploring during the seasons - not everything is always picture perfect, but there’s still charm in the surprises along the way.

So that wraps up this laid-back little adventure. Nothing too fancy, but a lovely reminder that even small cities like Yuanlin have so much to offer - especially when you’re willing to take the slower, scenic route.

Thanks for coming along! If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to drop a comment below. If you’ve got any hidden gem suggestions for spring in Taiwan, I’m all ears!

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