Land of the Hot Springs

I am feeling a bit deprived of fun lately. My class is working me pretty hard, and I often find myself studying and trying to finish up homework until about 2 or 3am, then going to bed, then waking up in time for my 10am class.

I had been hankering to go out and explore Taipei more, especially with the decent weather we've been having, so I went up to Beitou on Tuesday to check out the newly renovated Taiwan Folk Arts Museum, perched up in the lush hills, which was originally built by the Japanese as an officer's club and used by kamikaze pilots during the Second World War. This itty bitty island in the Pacific is actually host to some of the best hot springs in the world, and the hills of Beitou are well known for the many natural hot springs and hot springs resorts. I remember spending time up here as a child, occassionally boiling eggs in the sulfuric pools bubbling from the ground, and once during the Lantern Festival, my brother and I paraded through the dark hilly streets carrying round red plastic lanterns lit with a long red candle.

A few weeks ago, my Aunt sent me an email with photos of the new branch library in Beitou. The library looks like it was ready built for a cover spread in Modern Architecture magazine, and I've been itching to check it out since it is right in my 'hood. The building is supposed to be one of the greenest in Asia.

Here's a great article about the Beitou branch library and green buildings in Taipei: http://www.culture.tw/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=242&Itemid=157

Here are some photos from my afternoon in the land of the hot springs: http://picasaweb.google.com/heebyjeany/Beitou