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Updated Thursday, March 16, 2006 0:00 am TWN, By Monideepa Banerjee, Special to The China Post

Chiayi Farm

Among the various fun-filled activities, grass skateboarding is the most popular. As the skateboarders glide down the soft grassy field, shrieks of laughter reverberate in the air, especially when they go overboard and topple over.

Nearby, would-be archers practice their skills in stern concentration. Kids can have a gala time trying out the numerous activities in the playground area, leaving the parents with some free time to spend in solitude.

But be forewarned, on popular holidays, like Chinese New Year, the grounds near the lake side are completely occupied by colorful tents that, in my opinion, add warmth to the serene backdrop.

The flurry of activities - as families indulge in barbecuing, singing, dancing, playing catch, running with their dogs, or sipping tea quietly - fascinate me nonetheless. I am not a ‘camping’ person, but I do admire the spirit of these people who find pleasure with such bare minimum.

After a bout of boating in the lake, in which I packed in a lot of laziness in me, I went for a nature ramble to exhaust some it. The walk to the top of the hill was tiresome but the panoramic view of the lake and hills from up there was worth the hard work. Afterwards, I visited the Bird and Butterfly sections.

Though I could hear their musical notes, the birds preferred to stay hidden behind the thick foliages. The butterflies, however, posed beautifully like some trained models, satisfying every one.

In the evening, with the day tourists gone, the farm becomes very quiet. Sitting by the riverside, we watched a somber sunset as gray clouds hover overhead. The lights from different cottages and restaurants gave it a kind of mysterious feel and we slowly retired to our room. The pervading silence seemed to grow with each passing moment seeping contentment through our veins.

How to get there:

Driving from Taipei - Take Freeway 1, exit at Chiayi, change to County Highway No 159. Then take Provincial Highway No. 18 and change to Provincial Highway 3. The farm is on Provincial Highway 3, near kilometer marker 350. Look for the Chiayi Farm signpost.The farm has both accommodations and camping facilities. For more information call

02-27056181 or 05-2522250.

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	Taiwan has its fair share of farms that offer a peek into its verdant countryside and the natural bounty that the land hides so skillfully behind its urban gloss. In the past decade, the government has expanded the infrastructure and included these farms in the list of possible tourist ... Enlarge Photo


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