Yehliu 野柳 Geopark; Dried Seafood (Taiwan)

Queen's Head Rock (image from Yehliu Geopark informational materials)

[ts]
Since we are not frolicking about the streets of Mexico City, but instead are back to our old routine (almost) in rainy Vancouver, I thought it was high time I get to posting about our visit to Yeliu Geopark in Taiwan eight months ago.

(In case any of you are wondering, the scratch on my cornea is now "very tiny". I have another appointment at the end of this week so the doctor could check if it has healed completely by then.)

Since we were kind of "lost" during our first few days in Taipei with regards to our daily itinerary, we did not get to go to Yeliu Geopark until our final day there. I'm just glad we didn't leave it out altogether! You'll see why.



[ts]
Getting there was a little exercise in faith.

The night before, JS and I had dinner with our cousin and having told him our plans of going to Yehliu, he pointed us to the bus station from where we would ride a bus.

By "pointed", though, I mean that we were standing about one to three blocks away from the bus station, and he literally pointed to the bus station building. It was hard to see, though, as it was far away enough and it was at night. However, it still helped as we at least had some information to go on. We probably received a bit more information as well, but I can't recall now.

So, on the day of, we rode the metro, got out of the designated stop, and walked towards that pointed-to bus station. After a few misses, we finally found it. Once at the bus station, the agents we asked for information kept telling us to go to the "other" bus station nearby. I must say, they were very vague and simply gestured with their hand. Exiting the main structure, we circled it a few times before figuring out where to go.

Once there, we had to figure out which bus to take. There was not a bus labelled "Yehliu", but after a few more times gesticulating, we found the correct bus to take.

So, we rode the bus. We told the driver we wanted to go to Yehliu and it seemed that he understood. After a while (perhaps an hour or so), it was time to get off the bus.


nondescript street corner

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We were dropped off in the middle of nowhere!

There was no apparent or discernable signage pointing to Yehliu. Hmm, are we at the right place? As you can see, there was nothing remotely "geo" about this street corner.

I decided to walk towards the more "sea"-like of the 3 directions.

After blocks and blocks, it really did become decidedly more seaside-ly, with more of a breeze in the air. Finally, we saw a sign aimed at tourists! Woohoo!

Then, finally, some actual water.


fish nets/baskets


I'm not sure if they're visible from this picture, but the boat had really cool lanterns/lights.

Yehliu 野柳 Geopark


[ts]
We were there! I was very happy as it was very windy. Nice counterpoint to the sun. We got ourselves a map and basically just followed the path.

Here's the write-up on their material:

Yehliu is a long cape formed by the Datum Mountain reaching into the sea. Rocks in this area were formed 10 to 25 million years ago. With the help of sea erosion and weathering, many fantastic geological works of nature had come into being, including intriguing stones in the shapes of candles, gingers, and mushrooms that become landmarks of Yehliu.

Their trademark rock formation, of course, is the Queen's Head (see first image of post).

Mushroom Rocks, Candle Rocks, Honeycomb Rocks, Ginger Rocks, Pot Holes, etc.


[ts]
The water is so nice. Look at the top right portion of the image: mushroom rocks!

(At least, I think that's what they were. I'm not exactly sure which formations are which.)


This looks like it had been machine-cut. Very straight edge. I don't know what that white thing is: litter?


Pot holes! I love the guy's pose up there. =)




They are like reverse doughnuts. See which things I'm referring to?

Why People Hate Tourists

The nerve of these people!

[ts]
Walking around the park, I decided that I should at least have one photo with the Queen's Head Rock. It's actually not that big, and it's not as interesting as the other formations, I thought. But, I wanted to do the touristy thing.

Obviously, there were other visitors who were even more "touristy". That's them right there, hogging the Queen's Head Rock. All of them wanted to take his/her pictuire with the Queen's Head Rock INDIVIDUALLY, taking several shots per person.

I waited alongside them and, of course, they expected me to wait until their ENTIRE group finished. Whatever. I lost patience and decided to just walk away and explore surrounding areas.

That was when a bunch of them started yelling at me. I didn't know I was the object of this cacophony of sounds at first. Finally, I looked back and they, as a united group, were SHOOING me away! I wasn't really near them at this time, as they had to gesture wildly to let their intentions be known.

Apparently, they wanted me out of there as I was visible in the background of their photos.

Wha--?! You people are insane.

Back to the rocks and such



Close-up of rock surface.


The green is so nice.


A closer look at the bi-colored rocks.



[ts]
Looking back at my Yehliu pictures, I realized that I didn't really capture a lot! So, these are some random links I found of Yehliu Geopark photos. I've included keyword searches on Flickr as well.

Click on them: Geological weird stuff are very pretty.
http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=582440
http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=yeliu&w=all
http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=all&q=yehliu&m=text


We didn't even really cover a lot of the park. There were so much more that I didn't get to see! But, JS decided it was time to go. [sigh]

On our way out of the park, we saw this.



C'mon, people! These rocks weren't waiting here for millions of years to be your personal ashtray!

I've scanned some informational material about the different geological formations at Yehliu Geopark. Click image to enlarge:


Outside the park

I guess these are to prevent flooding?

Dried Seafood


[ts]
Beside Yehliu Geopark, there was a covered structure filled with booths/stalls selling dried seafood. I guess these are the specialties of the area. It looks like a sanitized version of what was there before, I assume.

The above would be dried fish or squid snacks, differently prepared and flavored.


Here's a closer look. They're formed into these "flakes" or strips for easy snacking.


There are also dried little shrimp and dried little fish.


Dried little fish.


Fish floss!

They even had these machines making fish floss! Fish floss is like pork floss, but made from fish. (Yes, I know, very helpful.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pork_floss
Chowtimes.com: Pork Floss


Our loot.

We bought a whopping 8 bags of dried fish snacks to take back to Vancouver. You better believe I made sure to double or triple bag them. I didn't want to take any chances! Fish-smelling clothes in the the luggage would not have been fun at all.

Links
Yehliu Geopark sites
http://yeliou.northguan-nsa.gov.tw/
http://ylgeopark.org.tw/flash_intro/YAW.html
Wikipedia: Yehliu

Taiwan trip 2009
Taiwanese Bakery Goods (including ChiaTe Bakery)
Dan Shui 淡水, Taiwan (including food)
Taipei Quick Eats: Mos Burger, Hong Ya Breakfast, Ay Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
Taipei Convenience Store Foods
Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 (Taipei, Taiwan)
Breakfast Buffet at the Shangri-La (Taipei, Taiwan)
Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup, 4 versions (Taipei, Taiwan)
Yehliu 野柳 Geopark; Dried Seafood (Taiwan)

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Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup, 4 versions (Taipei, Taiwan)

beef noodle soup at Yong Kang

[js]
Thinking back on our visit to Taipei last March, I can't believe how unprepared we were for that trip. We had no game plan: basically, we boarded a plane in Vancouver and landed in Taipei. We had a hotel booked and we knew we had a wedding to go that week -- but that was about it. We had no itinerary planned, didn't even do any research whatsoever.

So, we wandered and meandered through the streets of Taipei. Of course, we had to have (Taiwan) Beef Noodle Soup! We tried several beef noodle shops; this is their story.

Food Stall at Taipei 101
[js]
Our first day in Taipei, we went to Taipei 101. It is apparently the big tourist-y structure to see, but I was unclear what it was exactly that we should see there. I figured it was a big building -- and I feared it would be just another big mall.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taipei_101
Taipei 101



[ts]
Just to show how beef-noodle-crazy the city seems to be, here's a funny statue in Taipei 101.

The cow is eating noodles in soup made from himself!

[js]
It's a cow in its own broth, complete with noodles and vegetables. I guess they do take their beef noodles quite seriously.


I don't know what this food stall is called. Please refer to its name in the photograph.

[js]
There was a Food Court in the basement of Taipei 101 and we decided to eat first before going on our way. I must say, food courts in Taipei are a different animal from food courts in North America. It seems to me that they still serve "real food", only quicker, not mish-mashed corn ingredients masquerading as food.

[ts]
By the way, Taipei 101 is just a big mall. There's the observatory, but it was teeming with scary, unruly tourist groups, so we didn't bother. Therefore, our visit there was very short.



[js]
We bought a bowl of beef noodle soup from the stall pictured above. We piled on the pickled mustard greens on our noodles and away we slurped.



[js]
While the beef noodle soup was better than average and had a healthy portion of bok choy, the broth here had a hint of that "Chinese medicine" taste which we both didn't particularly care for.

[ts]
Also, I wanted even thicker, even QQ-er noodles. ("QQ" is Chinese for "chewy". It's true. I don't lie.)

Onward we go!

Unknown Restaurant


[js]
Our second day, we finally got one of those free maps being given out by Metro Taipei, the subway system.

Metro Taipei

(We tried buying a real map at 7-11 or any conveniece store but were foiled by the Chinese-only maps and by the fact that the booklets were always covered by a plastic wrap and hence unviewable for those not buying. We bought a couple but they were pretty much useless.)

One of the places the Metro map suggested to go to was the Ximending 西門町 area, which was a "fashionable" part of town, full of "youthful lifestyle." We also saw the little letters on the map telling us that one of the streets was the "Street of Beef Noodle."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ximending

We're not exactly sure if we got onto this street of beef noodle but we did end up in a beef noodle shop with no name.



[js]
TS put up two fingers to indicate that there were 2 of us going to be eating. When the owner/waiter never returned with the menu or anything else for that matter, we were starting to get antsy. Were they going to let us order or are we supposed to just sit here?



[js]
After about five minutes, we had two steaming bowls of beef noodle soup. Apparently, TS's peace sign already signified our order of two bowls!


Ooooh, pickled mustard greens, so plentiful!

[js]
I loved the fact that they had a big container of the pickled mustard greens on the table. In Vancouver, most beef noodle joints are very miserly with their pickled mustard greens. In Taipei, it seems they just give it away.



[ts]
I can't really remember how this tasted exactly, except that it was very good. Umm, yeah, that's about it: it was very good.

(But, again, "skinny" noodles!)



[ts]
We went into the restaurant via a side alley entrance, and it was only after eating that we discovered their "kitchen" outside the other door.



[ts]
We looked around a bit, trying to see if they had some sort of signage, but it seems that they didn't. So, I took a picture of the street sign to take note of the location.



[ts]
If you ever wish to visit them, that's where you go. =)

Yong Kang Beef Noodle 永康牛肉麵

Since 1963

[js]
For our 3rd taiwan beef noodle experience, AL -- the bride whose wedding we were attending -- took us to her favourite beef noodle place.



[ts]
It was a busy place; full house!

There was another place a few doors down that supposedly won the title of "Best Beef Noodle Soup" in Taipei's annual beef noodle soup contest, but AL scoffs at their "win". She thinks they might've bribed the judges or something, teehee. She's bitter that Yong Kang did not win. I must say, though, that when we walked past the other restaurant, only about 30% of the tables was occupied.



[ts]
We sat at a communal table. That's a portion of our table. The little plate of noodle-like items in the background is tofu.



[ts]
Tofu "strings"/"strips." Simply marinated. Very nice and refreshing. This was served room temperature or cold.

Oh, typically, beef noodle places (and other places as well) in Taipei have several "side dishes" on offer.



[ts]
Marinated lotus root. Again, very nice and "refreshing", as it was also served room temperature/cold.

In general, most of these items are generically called "marinated". At least, that's the translation I see often.



[ts]
Steamed spareribs with rice "powder". The rice "powder" is ground-up rice with various added flavorings/spices. It comes in a mini bamboo steamer with a handle. This was served piping hot, of course! The "unknown restaurant" also carried this item; we just didn't order it that time.



[ts]
You may be wondering, "Why is the beef noodle soup so pale?" Well, in most places, beside the dark "hong shao" (紅燒, aka "red cook") beef broth, they also carry a plain clear broth. I was very curious about this plain clear broth after seeing it on various menus.

I asked AL: "What does the plain one taste like? Should I order that instead?"

I should say that when I asked this question, I was very much visibly torn and confused, with my heart yearning for the hong-shao noodle soup, yet my curiousity incredibly piqued by this clear broth.

AL did not help much. "It's just a clear broth. If you want to find out what it is, why don't you just order it, then."

She led me astray!!!!!

I mean, it was all right and all, but obviously, it wasn't that rich, complex hong-shao type broth I was looking for. I looked enviously at both AL's and JS' bowls of hong-shao beef noodle soup all throughout the dinner, feeling quite sorry for myself.



[ts]
That was what I was missing! Look at that hong-shao goodness! The broth, so dark and rich! So flavorful! I still get sad thinking about my plain broth. [sniffle]

Yong Kang Beef Noodle 永康牛肉麵 website

Food place at "The Mall"


[js]
Our last day in Taipei, we were too lazy to venture too far out of our hotel. Our hotel is situated beside The Mall. Like every department store, it has a food court in the basement. We've eaten at several other food stalls in The Mall, but this time, we chose the Taiwanese place.

The Mall

[ts]
I must reiterate that as JS has mentioned, eating at these food courts is nothing to be ashamed of! ;) Actually some of the food places in these food courts are full-fledged restaurants. This place was kind of a restaurant.

Oh, if you go to "The Mall" website, then select About > Floor Directory > B2, this is the 6th item on that list of stores/restaurants.



[ts]
That teensy-teensy, tiny spoon was adorable!



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Once again, we decided to get some sides.


Bamboo shoots.


Pickled vegetables.


Tofu and various vegetables with these small fish.


What do we have here?



[ts]
Look at that goodness! I don't exactly know what type of vegetable/herb is in this. The filling also had mung bean threads/noodles, and possibly chopped tofu.

It was so very, very good. In fact, after eating this one, we ordered yet another one. (You may remember this type of "bing" 餅 from our Chinese "Stuffed Pancakes" post.)

What am I forgetting? Oh yes, the beef noodle soup!



[ts]
Lookee here...



[ts]
Our order sheet. We were quite happy to see they had "knife-cut" noodles.



[js]
Lo and behold, our bowls of beef noodle finally had these more rustic and chewy noodles. That was one thing I was missing from all the other beef noodle soups that we tried.



[ts]
Finally, my QQ dreams were fulfilled! These noodles were so nice and chewy.

All in all, we didn't eat any awful bowls of beef noodle soup during our trip.

(Believe it or not, we still have some posts still to write from our Taipei trip from oh, about 7 months ago!)

Links
About Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup
Wikipedia: Taipei 101
Taipei 101 official site
Metro Taipei
Wikipedia: Ximending
The Mall

Taiwan trip 2009
Taiwanese Bakery Goods (including ChiaTe Bakery)
Dan Shui 淡水, Taiwan (including food)
Taipei Quick Eats: Mos Burger, Hong Ya Breakfast, Ay Chung Flour-Rice Noodle
Taipei Convenience Store Foods
Shilin Night Market 士林夜市 (Taipei, Taiwan)
Breakfast Buffet at the Shangri-La (Taipei, Taiwan)
Taiwan Beef Noodle Soup, 4 versions (Taipei, Taiwan)
Yehliu 野柳 Geopark; Dried Seafood (Taiwan)

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