Lavender Forest (薰衣草森林台中新社店) @ Taichung City in Taiwan

With plenty of days at Taichung City, and the use of a rental car, I expanded my search on Google Maps, and chanced upon a place on a hill that's about an hour drive away from Tea Way Hotel.

Lavender Forest! Just the name itself already has a psychological impact for sleep-deprived me and I am so imagining myself being able to relax and expunge all negativity from my deeply complicated mind. 

Entrance fee per adult was just NT$200 and in exchange for the payment, you would get two tokens of NT$100, which can be used as cash for use within the attraction, including for food and drinks! Worth it right?

To enter, visitors would have to walk through the welcome canopy known as Lavender Rites. Made up of metal arches that didn't seem to be covered fully of flowers; I thought it was just a feeble attempt to make visitors feel special.

Until we noticed the red button at the start of the first arch. Once activated, a blanket of mist "cleaned" us as we walked underneath; invigorating us, in addition to giving us a shock in the beginning!

Well, pay NT$200 and get NT$200 worth of tokens; how the attraction earns would depend on how much you spend in the two select shops within the attraction, where there are numerous natural products like shampoo, shower gel, essential oils, soaps, aroma bags. 

As it was just the start of our visit, we decided to pop by after we were done checking out Lavender Forest. Furthermore, my luggage space was already quite limited, and not to mention that pricing wasn't exactly wallet-friendly. 

Lavender flowers are purple in color; so I shall assume that everything purple would likely be lavender in a place that is named after the flower. Turned out the above was spur flower. Oh well, thanks for the information panel to correct my ignorance. 

Given that we were up on a hill, and isolated from the bustle of city life, it just felt some comfortable as we walked along the paths of Lavender Forest. Maybe it also helped that it wasn't crowded, and every one was just peacefully enjoying the air and the nature surrounding us. 

House of Wang's Family; the land actually belonged to Mr Wang but he kindly allowed the founders of Lavender Forest to use and develop it into the attraction we know today.

More photographs.

Herb garden; which I realized is quite the norm for such attractions that pivoted into selling natural products for hair, body and face. Oh, didn't know there's a sweet lavender! 

Some stuff looked kind of edible and while we will horse around; the typical Singaporean soul in us would be very kiasi (afraid of dying). We can pretend but will not do.

Flowers always make me happy. I always like to ask friends the following question; between sight and hearing, which one would you forgo if there's a need to give up either one. No prize for guessing what my answer would be.

The hobbit house

For kids only! 

Finally, the lavender fields! Planted by volunteers, this was still the start of the lavender blossoms and I wondered if more flowers will sprout, resulting in an environment filled with the faint scent of lavender. Frankly, you can't smell it unless your nose is super near the flowers.

Photospot to lock in your memory. 

Spending our token on lavender ice cream in a cone! The cost was NT$120; so forked out an extra NT$20. Menu as appended above for your reference! 

Also got the hot lavender pomelo vitality tea at NT$130, which did a great job in perking up my sleepiness! Being immersed in such nature did help in mind relaxation. 

Finding a spot for us to rest, and enjoy our lavender ice cream. Of course, one for each of us even though the ice cream had just that faint lavender aroma.

We were, however, consoled by the beautiful sight above us, where towering trees would naturally shy away from touching each other; in a phenomenon known as crown shyness.

What's with the big orange?

Likely part of a promotion. 

Washroom with handmade soaps that you can purchase from the select shop; good to be able to try before buying even though I wonder if there's any inconsiderate person who will bring back the soaps!  

Continuing our way. There was actually a firefly trail but only during the months of April and May (I was there in January). Not that I would go on a firefly trail when it's typically at night, and going down the mountainous road back to our hotel would have been a freakish experience. 

Forest Museum - I am not into museums to be honest, preferring the great outdoors where there are plenty for us to be grateful and happy for, and I don't have the brain capacity to soak in more information, when it is more reserved for work stuff.

Chairs for those who just want to stare at trees blankly.

I prefer to be on the move, and we have plenty of trees in Singapore!

Only bad thing? It's bloody hot where we live.

Translated as "hugging nature is like hugging your mother".

Thing is; I never quite hug my mother as an adult. 

Another house.

Good to know that this is a cedar tree, that's endemic to Taiwan. According to the informative panel, cedar wood is known for being resistant to termite erosion! Note: resistant, not termite-proof.

Wishes on plaques hung on the railing. Back when I was younger, when I am more idealist and maybe more religious, I would have purchased the plaque, write down a wish and be hopeful. Now that I am older, I do understand that all these are merely a means to make us feel better. 

Platform of the house that we will be stepping into soon.

Dream Dancer's House - the naming was a bit strange as there's no dance studio. Instead, it was more like a post office, where you can pick a postcard, pay the postage, write down what you wish to pen down, and select a box to deposit.

But I don't quite understand the different post boxes; unable to send, see you next month and see you next year. For the latter two, I presume the postcards would be sent out later. But for the first one, do I still need to pay the postage? 

p.s. decorate your postcard if you are artistically challenged like me.

Another postbox outside, and it's unlocked.

So, what's the purpose of this postbox? 

Let's go for forest bathing! 

Similar to Alishan! 

Personally, I enjoy the forest bathing but Alex's liking for it was much deeper. I knew he likes trees, but I didn't know he loves being surrounded by them so much! Look at that happiness on his face! 

Eh, lyrics from Coldplay, I think.

Notice something strange?

p.s. not the loving couple on the top left. 

 

A mirror in the middle of nowhere! Just thinking if it's dangerous for wild animals since I recall that there is a corresponding increase of bird fatalities whenever a glass building is built, as the birds will just fly into them, hard. 

More photographs as I got bored. 

The end of Lavender Forest; this was so unassuming that I think anyone would have just walked in without paying the entrance tickets. p.s. locals from the same district actually get in for free. 

Signage pointing us to go right! 

Secretive moon bay terrace as there was absolutely no one around! I can so imagine a halloween night where scare actors are stationed here to hype up the thrill and excitement.

Hike up via another route.

Climbing up what appeared to be a hill with flowers beautifying the hike. Given the lack of tall cedar trees along the slopes, photographs taken were also a lot brighter.

Swings made from wood! Impressive. 

Maybe should have one at my workplace. 

Wishing tree where you can write your wishes on the ema plaques and hang them around the flourishing tree with many extended branches! How did some of them ended up so high up!? 

Gosh.... the idol obsession.

I couldn't never get the obsession.

To make your wish come true, you have to put the ema plaque in your palm, repeat the wish three times in your heart, hang up the plaque at the wishing tree and finally, ring the bell at this viewing platform! Bet some people would skip a few steps if they never read! 

I didn't buy the ema plaque; I didn't have any wish. 

Yet I still wanted to ring the bell! For the fun of it.

Whole place felt like we were in Japan! I should organize a trip to Japan soon given that I have only been there once. But, the airfare is just so expensive!!! 

So comfortable we were, with the spectacular view in front of us, and a temperature that wasn't hot, yet not freezing cold; that I think I could just sleep without a care for the work that was piling up back in Singapore. Maybe I should have just made a wish, and be hopeful for a windfall. 

My gosh; this felt so fairy tale like! 

This photograph of Alex is just so nice right?!

I think he should put it as his profile pic! 

What insect is this?!

A kind of earwig?

I am very very sure this is sakura tree! According to Google, there are three distinct features; "a v-shaped cleft at the tip of each petal, flowers that grow in clusters on long stems, and horizontal striped markings on the tree's bark". 

Another lavender field, with flowers that appeared to be more, and taller! Again, the aroma was pretty faint and I guess we were too accustomed with the concentrated smell from artificial lavender fragrance.

Alex was totally shagged out! 

Looking for a full meal? You can definitely have your fill at Lavender Forest but not for us. We already had lunch at Tou Ke Shan Mushroom eatery, and I am saving stomach space for Hanxi Night Market later! 

Returning back to the select shop we went in earlier, and spending some time to decide if we should purchase more souvenirs for family and friends, despite the lack of luggage space! p.s. the ema tablet cost just NT$30; that's less than S$1.20.

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Address

No. 20, Zhongxing St, Zhonghe Village, 

Xinshe District, Taichung City, Taiwan 

Map

As above.

Website

https://www.lavenderforest.com.tw/en

Floor Plan

As above.

Entrance Pricing

Adult - NT$200