Day 12 (1/9) The fish are a-bitin'

Sometime last night my uncle had offered to take us out today, so we all piled into the car headed for Yilan. It was about a 45-minute drive, during which we took a 13-kilometer tunnel through a giant mountain. It was pretty cool at first, then got kinda boring.

First on the agenda was the National Center for Traditional Arts. It's a large plot of land: part museum, part historical building recreations, mostly gift shop.


My eyes are actually open here, it's just the Asian in me.


One of only a handful incidences of Engrish I've seen so far.


Some old proverbs about eating.


Two things about my father: He actually grew up in one of these types of houses in the countryside before moving to the city. He also takes horrible photographs.

Next we stopped at what was billed as a spa. We paid our entrance fee and walked into a large room with three heated pools of knee-deep spring water... filled with tens of thousands of little fish.

The family. You sit with your feet in the water and let the fish nibble away... a bit of gentle exfoliation, I suppose. Your feet are supposed to be smoother after your 'treatment session.'


The expression says it all.


It's definitely something new, something different... takes some getting used to. Doesn't hurt one bit, but it does tickle like a mother.


And it's only feet, too. If you dip your hand or anything else into the water for whatever reason the fish won't come... I tried.


Some typical Taiwanese side dishes from dinner.