2016 Taipei 

24 Hour Layover

I arrived to my hotel a little after eleven. The hotel isn't much but the room is modern, clean. I was still awake so I took a quick walk around. I slept well but was still up at six. I decided to check out a temple that's recommended by Trip Advisor. It's called Longshan. I took the metro there. The stops are in English so it's really easy to get around. 

Inside the place was jumping with chanting and bells and gongs. 

I kind woman saw me and started explaining that today was an important day, the end of a lunar cycle. People were chanting together. 

After I took the metro to a place called Beitou Hot Springs about a half hour outside downtown.  The springs are natural. The public springs had five different pools. Three were hot, the hottest way above my comfort level. I was the only white devil there. The rest were over 60.  Most people ignored me but a couple people said things to me in their language. I just nodded and smiled. 

The rest of the morning I spent walking around an outdoor mall. The local museums didn't excite me. 

I have to check out by two so I'll head back to grab a shower and rest. I'll take the public bus back to the airport to save some money.