南園人文休閒客棧
This resort located in the outskirts of 新竹 has everything designed in traditional Chiness style from buildings to gates to ponds and bridges. It used to be a retreat for 聯合報. But after it ran out of business, the garden was enlarged and a residential building was added to accomodate tourists.
The residential building has only 20 rooms of various sizes. The rooms are very comfortable with a mix of modern and retro design. The staff and service made us feel exclusive and special, like the whole resort was serving the dozen of customers. But it also means that it is expensive! About 13,000NTD for a night! 3pm was the room check-in time. At 4pm we went on a tour of the garden. 6pm was dinner and there were only about twenty people eating and staying for the night there. After dinner there was another night tour of the garden which I went with my dad, but it was the same garden so nothing more interesting other than changed lighting.
I think if you like to see traditional buildings designed according to 風水, that's a place for you. I like how small-scale the lodging is, and that we could just relax outside without getting bitten by mosquitos. It was surprising that I didn't see any mosquitos there.
六星集Spa新竹會館
The next day we went to a foot-massage place next to Hsinchu science park. The place has a Bali style design. I asked for a male massagist and I think he made the loudest noise hitting my legs. Every punch he took at my thigh was pretty loud, but with a tempo too! It was also my first time to this kind of place.
Both of these places are hidden in mountain roads or small alleyways that, if you're not a local, you wouldn't know about them. But they're more interesting than the average tourist attraction spots!
