I'm actually pretty happy that I've made the right decision to procrastinate and only upload my travelogue now. Looking back at these photos did revive some of the fun times and also relieve my stress by being too studious. LOL 

Traveling to Bei tou (北投)

We took a bus down Jiufen (from Jinguashih) to the Ruie Fang train station, followed by a train to the Taipei Main station. We later switched back to the metro and jumped on track to BeiTou. We were originally heading for XinBeiTou but the nearest hostel I could locate was at BeiTou. We deposited our luggage at the hostel first before we headed back for the metro station.

Traveling to Xin Bei Tou (新北投)

Some Random Eatery

Sadly, the was our first stop after the Beitou Metro Station. So torturous, I hate to sit down before my adventures. But Mom was insistent on having regular meals, so I had to give in.

The Journey officially begins!
Beitou National Library (台北市立圖書館北投分館)

Thermal Valley (地热谷)

Bei Tou Hot Spring Museum (温泉博物馆)

There were a lot of these exhibits of the natural formation of minerals. Most of them are sulphur-containing if I am not wrong.

Tatami mat performance area

I wasn't quite sure how this space is utilized, but it's pretty so I took a photo of it anyway. HEHEE

The sun was super glaring! I've worn my sunnies almost all day today!

See! I told you! Another candid shot of Mom! I suppose Hot Springs have some sight-seeing architecture for their customers to relax btw, that pair of lovebirds keep photobombing! >:(

If you're wondering, where on earth is the bathing area, its actually at the basement. My camera died on me soon after this shot of mom and the photobombing love birds. It just looked like a drained swimming pool, almost as big as it I suppose.

Address: No. 2, Zhōngshān Rd, Beitou District, Taipei City, Taiwan 112
台北市北投區中山路二號
Contact Number:
02-28939981
Opening hours: Tuesday – Sunday from 9am – 5pm, closed on Mondays and National Holidays
Admission is Free

I've originally thought of dropping Mom at the public hot spring - Millennium Hot Spring (千禧汤), she'd even packed her swimsuit in! But my brain was under short circuit at the time of itinerary planning, I forgot that its summer! The weather was OMFG hot and sunny.
(The entrance fee for Millennium Hot Spring is only NTD 40, entrance will be even cheaper at NTD 20 with a student ID, lockers can be hired at NTD 20)
If uncomfortable with public hot springs, there are also many other private hotspring hotels that you can take your pick. We skipped the hot spring in this Taiwan trip as we've went to a hot spring hotel in our December trip, but I just wanted to try the public one. :(
**: Just a gentle reminder, hot spring bathing is not recommended for pregnant women, feverous and menstruating individuals and people with heart diseases.
You should also check out the other places of interest in Xin Bei Tou here.


Hostel Facilities: As advertised, they do have washing machines and dryers for hire (NTD 30), but since we were only staying there for 2 nights, we did not make use of it (still insufficient time for the clothes to sun). There are level toilets, female-only levels and a main refrigerator at its lobby. It also has a basement which served as a common room, but I have only stole a glance of it. Like, JVS hostel, there are also some free for use computers, I tried using it but faced some difficulties as they were all configured in mandarin. Our room was at the fifth floor, while they do not have elevators for humans, they do have a tiny one for luggages (though manual operation is required, its still an eye opener).
Our room was really small, its width was only perhaps that of a King-sized bed and its length maybe a quarter more than that of the length of the single bed. To the right is the bunk beds cornered, I've only slept on bunk beds once in my entire life and I was pretty paranoid of its creak and shake. Luckily for this hostel's, its backbone was still pretty stable. There's a small rack for clothes and a little table at the other end of the bed.

Hostel staff: There are a few hostel workers, at least one stationed at the lobby area at any time. Though I've never seen a repeated staff on duty. They also hold guided tours, I remember chancing upon some itinerary of theirs to "jiufen".

Hostel ambience: Though this hostel did have all the facilities running, I did not feel like I'm living in a hostel. I don't know whether its just me or the people lodging at the period, there was almost zero interaction with the other people. What's worse is that, I'll bump into them like in the toilet or something but they will just keep a straight face. It was definitely not as welcoming as the previous JV's hostel. I couldn't bring myself to talk to people with straight faces. I'm also not quite sure of the reason, maybe because the lack of a fixed host, such that the lodgers cannot "open up"?  

Location: This hostel is conveniently located in Beitou, near the BeiTou Metro Station, it wasn't difficult to find walking straight from the metro station. No tricky turns and maneuvers for our poor luggage wheels. I wouldn't say that its a short journey though, the walk takes about 5-8 minutes. Like Linjiang, there is a wet market in the morning, I can't express my love enough for wet markets, I feel so domestic!  

Overall rating: The hostel is clean and has adequate facilities. However, considering the price, room and the stiff air, I am unlikely to revisit this hostel again.