Eat Your Way to Happiness at Wulai Old Street, TW

The choices are endless!

That's what I keep telling myself whenever we go out to look for something to eat. Taiwan is no doubt a foodie's paradise with diverse variety of local delicacies available from hawker stalls to sit-down restaurants. I thought I've seen it all in Taipei only until we traveled to Wulai because it definitely has a lot more to offer. We were fortunate that Full Moon Spa Hotel was just a few steps away from the Old Street where you can find souvenirs and local Aboriginal street delicacies.

The wild mountain boar sausage is a must-try in Wulai and the perfect snack while exploring the town. There are several stalls in the Old Street that sells this delicious, plump and juicy delicacy but there's one at the far end of the street that people patiently line up for.

I'm loving the variety of drinks you can find in Taiwan. We always frequent the nearby Family Mart because of this addicting and perfectly sweetened Strawberry Yogurt drink.

The search for the authentic Aboroginal lunch brought us to this family-owned restaurant still along the Old Street. Food may look simple but they were exceptionally tasty and really affordable!

Stir-fried Wild Mountain Boar

4 Kinds Mushroom

Before going back to Taipei, we noticed several people lining up to this stall. And when there's a crowd, the food must be good! Waiting time under the blistering sun takes about 15 minutes but these crispy on the outside yet tender and oh so tasty wild boar ribs is definitely worth the time and calories! It was indeed a perfect ending to our yummy sweet trip in Wulai, Taiwan.

Pamper and Relaxation at Full Moon Spa, Wulai TW

I've always considered myself as a budget traveler. I prefer traveling on low season when airfare, hotels and even attractions offer great deals and discounted rates. I also make sure that the location of the hotel I choose is near the places I wish to visit and accessible by public transport. Save for very rare indulgences, I'd rather save money to fund my next trip rather than booking a 5-star accommodation. As long as the room is clean, has a bed and a private toilet and bath, I can live in a 12sqm room (the smallest room I've stayed in Macau) and I really won't mind.

For my recent Taiwan trip, we thought of splurging a bit when I came across Full Moon Spa in Wulai, New Taipei City. There are several accommodations in the village offering cheaper rates but I fell in love with the rooms in Full Moon so we both agreed on spending more for luxury and comfort. Besides, having your own in-room bathtub with hot spring water sounds delightful.

The dining area also serves as the lobby, adorned mostly with wood giving the place a warmer and homey ambiance. You can opt to seat outdoors to enjoy the scenic view of the natural landscape.

We booked a cozy Luxury Double Room with a four poster bed, LCD television with cable channels, mini refrigerator, complimentary coffee and tea and most importantly, a jacuzzi tub with hot spring water -- the main reason why we chose Full Moon Spa amongst other hotels in the area.

Full Moon Spa provides two complimentary entrance coupons to their sauna and separate men and women public hot springs per guest. The public pools are equipped with massage jets, the areas are spacious and not too crowded. But since I'm not comfortable being naked in public, this cypress-made bath tub is really the best thing for me to enjoy Wulai's famous hot spring water.

The package we availed with Full Moon Spa came with complimentary dinner. The staff asked us if we wanted a seafood or a beef set meal upon check-in and since the description were a bit vague, we opted to get both. Dinner was average, I wish we could've spent the money in more delicious food from nearby restaurants if it wasn't included in the rate we paid in the hotel.

Full Moon Spa may be pricey compared to other hotels in Wulai but the topnotch amenities they offer make it quite reasonable to pay TWD4500 (Php6750) per night in a Luxury Double Room. The location is also a plus factor with its proximity to the Old Street, perfect for those late night cravings. Above all, soaking in Wulai's famous hot spring in the comfort and privacy of your room is worth every centavo. Looking forward to coming back to Wulai soon!

~o~o~o

Full Moon Spa
No.1, Ln. 85, Wulai Street, Wulai District
New Taipei City 233, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Tel.: (8862) 266-17678
Website: www.fullmoonspa.com

Taiwan's Best Kept Secret: Wulai Aboriginal Village

The side tour to Wulai Village in Taipei County is probably the highlight of our recent Taiwan trip. This mountainous village located in Northern Taiwan is populated with mostly Aboriginal people from the Atayal tribe. The name Wulai is drawn from the abundance of hot spring in the area, its Atayal translation. Taiwan is known for its hot springs but Wulai is among the popular ones because of the water's quality -- clear, colorless and odorless containing lots of minerals and natural ingredients said to be best for the skin and effective in relieving muscle and joint pains.

The Wulai Atayal Museum is a four-storey building, which exhibits the history, culture and rituals of the Atayal Aboriginal tribe. Entrance is free of charge and and all displays have English translation.

The town can be easily strolled by foot but we chose to take the Wulai Log Cart to see the famous Wulai Waterfall located 1.6km from the cable car station for experience sake. Fare is TWD50 (Php75.00) for adults and TWD30 (Php45.00) for kids, one way ride only.

The colorful electric-powered log cart trolleys can carry about 10 passengers comfortably.

The 80-meter high scenic Wulai Waterfall is one of the popular attractions in town. The water falling down the cliff offers a majestic view to the tourists from the observation deck.

We usually wait at the hotel lobby on times we arrive before the check-in time but Wulai seemed to be an interesting place that we went ahead and explored the town with just a map on hand. The few hours we spent trying out the local street food and taking the hike with the crowd to the log cart station were the best welcoming moments and one of those times that we didn't mind choosing walking and getting lost over a comfortable bed with soft pillows.