It is said that in ancient Chinese culture, clouds and rain symblized the mating of heaven and earth. A tale tells of the King of Sichuan’s odyssey to Wu Shan, or Sorcery Mountain, where once near the summit he closed his eyes and dreams of the Lady of Wu Shan filled his soul. She said to him, ”Having heard that you come here, I share pillow and couch with you.”

When the lovers later parted, the woman told the king: “I live on top of the southern slope of Wu Shan, on top of the high hill. At dawn I am the morning clouds; in the evening I am the pouring rain. Every morning and night I hover around these hills.”

Since then, the clouds and rain have been used as a poetic metaphor for sexual intercourse by many Chinese poets. Clouds symoblize the essence if a woman, rain that of a man. Chinese literatures have for a long time now been enriched with such thematic phrases as ”After the rain had come, the clouds dispersed,” and “The clouds grew thick but the rain never came”.

Whichever the day bestows upon the mountain peaks in Asia, clear skies and stunning views, or opaque clouds and frigid rain, the summits always draw. To some, even more compelling than a staggering panorama, is the sensual atmosphere found amidst the high altitude mists. Mountain mists are said to posses exceptional curative powers, due to their high concentration of qi.

“Qi is the life force or vital energy, the most fundamental of all Chinese physical and spiritual concepts. Qi is considered the basic force that animates all forms of life. The most potent qi, it is believed, rises in the atmosphere, and clings as mist to the mountains. The lengend of Wu Shan further reinforces the concept, suggesting that mists are the vital essence emited during the mating of heaven and earth on high mountain peaks.”

What began as a hot and sunny January afternoon, it turned dramatically foggy, as it often does in Taiwan and quickly. I went hiking in the mountains outside of Hsinchu, near a village called Neiwan. On a closed off trail, we trudged onwards and basked in the last of the afternoon sun atop great mossy stones amidst ponds of pristine blue water and gently rushing waterfalls. After some adventurous mid day snacks, a two headed turtle lured us into some sort of Taiwanese ‘believe or not’ museum.

To break apart the mixed emotions left from this freak attraction, a quick mention of lavender and I pressed my friends to take me to the nearby Lavender Cottage. Quietly tucked away unnoticed in the mountains of Neiwan, is what to me is the most beautiful place in the world. Mysterious, magical and right from a fairytale, this quaint little cottage is surrounded by lush foliage, tiki torches, and vibrant shades of purple that circle the cottage in the abundance of lavish bushes of fresh and dried out lavender. I LOVE lavender. A delicious menu, apart from all the lavender delicacies that the restaurant boasts, and seating throughout the gardens to enjoy it on, it’s romance to be shared by friends and families alike.

I recommend the lavender and lemongrass ice cream.

As Taiwan is situated in a collision zone between two tectonic plates, a unique environment is produced. Unique but dangerous, earthquakes are an unfortunate result of this placement. However, high temperature hot springs are another, more fortunate, result of this placement. All across Taiwan you can find range of hot springs, anywhere from dipping in a pool on the side of the road, or indulging in luxurious 5 star restorts. I prefer the in between. Milky sulphur baths to crystal clear eucalyptus soaks to bone chilling waterfall massages, for a mere $10 you can dip for hours. I went twice this weekend.

This time next week, Thailand..

Information and quoted texts in italics from the Insight Guide Taiwan – Discovery Channel.