the Calla Lily fields of Zhuzihu

blue skies, sunshine, and a field of flowers surrounded by mountains - Zhuzihu was my destination, viewing calla lilies my goal. wednesday morning I got myself into a funk over the internet and politics. but the weather was too beautiful to mope. I grabbed my camera and my selfie stick and managed to navigate my way into Yangmingshan National Park by bus. [expat win!]

the little village of Zhuzihu is tucked between volcanic mountains in Yangmingshan, and is a famous spot for tourist to visit and - you guessed it - see the calla lily fields. there are walking paths that lead between fields and over waterways. there are farmers who let you pick your own lilies for a few hundred NT, or stands selling them along the road.

I ended up inside a garden restaurant where picking was not allowed. this meant their fields were full of flowers, ripe for photo opportunities. [and also, some weird knock-off Cheshire Cats. oh, Taiwan.]

most of the photos I've seen of the lilies at Zhuzihu were taken on misty or overcast days. I'm realizing now that these photos are almost blinding because the sun was so bright. but... just another reason to go back, right?

I wanted to be sure I made it back down the mountain in time for yoga class, so I couldn't stay as long as I had hoped. but I was proud of making my way up there myself. it was a lovely little solo adventure, and a perfect way to spend a spring afternoon.

how to get there

I took the S8 [ 小8 ] bus that leaves from Shipai MRT all the way to Zhuzihu [ 竹子湖 ] but you can take any bus that goes to the main visitors center in Yangmingshan and transfer to the S8 or S9 [ 小8 or 小9 ]

my only regret? that Morgan Freeman wasn't around to narrate my selfie-taking.

Singapore // the houses of Emerald Hill

Emerald Hill is a charming residential area tucked behind one of the busiest neighborhoods in Singapore. just off the crazed Orchard Road shopping zone with its mile of mega-malls, you can find the gently sloping Emerald Hill Road.

I'm still reeling a bit from my recent food allergy revelations, so today we're going to take a nice quiet photo-filled stroll through this neighborhood.

most of these beautifully preserved and restored homes were built between 1900 and 1925. in case you didn't know, Singapore is stuffed full of this kind of gorgeous architecture. yes - there are skyscrapers too, but hidden in little pockets all around the city you can find colorful gems like these.

most of the buildings are still residential, with a heavy Chinese influence and obviously quite a bit of wealth. but a few homes closest to Orchard have been converted to shops and bars. don't you just want to curl up here with a bottle of wine and enjoy the scenery? that definitely would be my recommendation for a lazy afternoon. [unfortunately we visited around 10am and these cute cafes were not yet open.]

Emerald Hill makes for a quiet break from the bustle of the Orchard Road shops - and is a treat for architecture enthusiasts and color lovers alike. you can find this street just off Orchard, almost directly across from the Somerset MRT station.