Sun Moon Lake

So farewell to our Florentine fantasy villa, on a lovely day, but one on which we couldn't tarry as we were off to possibly Taiwan's best known tourist site, Sun Moon Lake.

Now let me make an observation at Sun Moon Lake at the outset. Like many hyped places, it was a disappointment. Not that it wasn't worth visiting, just that it didn't live up to the hype. I guess for starters, it is a huge lake, which means you can't see its full majesty at any real point. And we probably saw it at its best with clouds on a blue sky and very hot, and midweeks so not heaving with tourists.

Our original plan for a hike up a mountain for a view was stymied at the visitor centre when it was suggested we really needed climbing equipment and rain was forecast later so it would be too dangerous. So that really left us with hikes around the lake.

A wedding venue. I think the happy couple are meant to be in this gilded cage

Yes, a frog statue. Water level low, as you can see the bottom ones aren't often above the surface.

 So after a very hot walk, we decided to take the cable-car over the side of the lake for a better view, and for want of a better thing to do.

I think its fair to say Clarissa is the more photogenic of my two companions.

 This is the rather strange end point of  the cable-car. Well there was a further point, going to a theme park run on behalf of the local aboriginal people. It didn't look much fun, so we just returned.

The theme park

After that, well it was another Buddhist temple. A very pretty one in a very pretty setting.

 Now off the temple there was a hiking route. Up a mountain. So of course off we went.

But we didn't get all that far.It seemed less than well-maintained. So we went back for another walk along the lakeside.

I think this is a Black-crowned Night Heron. In case you were interested.

Our hotel was, well, eccentric.  A bit like a misplaced Swiss Chalet.

Best part was the garden - mad but brilliant.