Sixth stop: Yangmingshan Flower Clock
We didn’t have to wait long. Just a short drive from the visitor center was Yangming Park, and that’s the next stop.
Our tour guide parked the car at a very optimal place near the entrance, and once we got off, we as a group walked towards the main attraction of the park – the “flower clock”.
The park’s nice, by the way. I was supremely glad that the place wasn’t commercialized nor made like Jiufen was, it’s a perfect serene park. It’s also cool at the place. Sun was out in full force but the winds and general climate at the area was gentle and nice. The park was like a serene garden suitable for weekend walks.
Once we got to the main attraction of the park – the flower clock – a lot of people were already there, either lining up for a tripod shot for a group, or looking for that nice ‘gram selfie. We waited for a bit for the larger group to finish their business, and once they cleared out, our group took our turn with the pictures. Our tour guide was all too helpful, volunteering to be our picture guy. Each of us handed our phones to him, prepped and ready for that 1-2-3, me included.
After we got our turn on the picture carousel, Xiao Hei told us we have 30 minutes to go around and enjoy the park to ourselves, and we were to meet up at the car park later. I for one could not be more excited to go around and do shit. For the past few stops, the rain and the vastness of the places prevented me from seeing way more things. And now I get to roam around, walk more and see more. Also, I’d want to be away from the group for now – one of the couples were in a passive-aggressive prickly mood with each other earlier (basically the Trump-and-Melania holding hands shit), and man, mood killer right there. Do your discreet hand-swatting somewhere else.
So I went up one of the stairs to the right, as I saw that direction had a big building nestled behind the trees. I just went shot-happy over there.
There’s so much roads and walkways of various forms and either stones or asphalt. Very conducive layouts for joggers, leisure walkers, and people looking for a good respite from the city bustle. You could do many private Zumba groups in here without interference. Wide, breezy and smells really clean and good.
To be fair, the main big sight here is the flower clock, but the area surrounding it is as great an experience as its marketed attraction.
Once I got my fill of the area, I went down the high area towards the parking lot, but I kept snapping more shots along the way. It’s also great that the place has barely any “tourist stores”, just makeshift stalls near the entrance that sells food and drink for tourist and local alike. I did buy one glass of fresh coconut water. There’s also a helpful sign along the trail that had a picture showing a lot of places that can be seen from afar.
Once we all gathered in the parking lot and got accounted for (and finished their drinks), Xiao Hei got us back in the car, and drove out of the park. And soon, out of Yangmingshan. We were on to the next few big stops – all in Beitou. Time to see more!
Briathrail // Albert 2MNG 
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