Boutique Ocean Inn

By the sea, meeting the hosts’ ideal life

Along the sunny lawn to Hualien Boutique Ocean Inn, you meet relaxation and tranquility accompanied by the sea sounds. Louis, the host, is standing on the slope and facing the ocean; seeing you come up, he graciously waves at you. The grey stone construction with the Coastal Range on its back displays a carefree and confident look. Behind the slope are three opened black glazed doors; outside the building is a corridor to the semi-outdoor area with a huge wooden table. Nancy, the hostess, is arranging the house there. Ten years ago, the two visited Hualien and Taitung with their families. Since then, they have been in love with this particular ocean. They, thus, started to look for lands, design and supervise at construction sites, spending time on forging their dream with anticipation. At their retirement, Louis and Nancy finally make it to merging the warmth of home with nature, painting this refined landscape—sharing the aroma of life around the large long wooden table and bathing in the breath of the sea. This is their ideal life and also is the soul of Hualien Boutique Ocean Inn.

After entering the building attached to the host’s host, it is a vast hall where you check in. With the pure music played, you can help yourself to the coffee or tea on the table, read the books on the shelves to spend the peaceful time or choose a sofa you prefer to chat with friends while staring the various layers of blue outdoor. The other part of this public area is the open kitchen where you can cook and share the food. In the refrigerator are the ingredients of breakfast prepared by Louis and Nancy, like the bagels and green onion pancakes chosen before your arrival. Jam, seasonings and various meat are also available. What’s better, a pack of beer or a bottle of red wine is on the host. You can create your composition of breakfast with a variety of choices. Can’t wait for the fun cooking time in the morning!

Three rooms: three ideal ways of a long stay in the East Coast area

Passing the public area with wooden table and full sea view, you walk along the grey stone corridor to the other house at the end of the slope. Three rooms are there: “Double Room: Xin She Rice Terrace,” “Split-level Quad Room: Wave Jumping” and “Heartening Quad Room: Brownie.” Named after the imageries of Hualien or the pleasant memories of the host’s family, the quality space is built with simple and natural materials such as wood, stone and bricks, which makes it a comfortable and pleasant stay. With the hope that guests can stay long on the east coast, the longer the stay is, the better discount is offered. It is also the regard the host pays to those who can fully relish this fantastic accommodation at a slow pace.

Opening the door of “Xin She Rice Terrace,” you are welcomed by a wall of French doors like a glass house. A delicate white bathtub in the open washroom immerses your body in relaxation and your mind in the boundless sea. A Soft white bed on the wooden floor lures you with the charm of downshifting travel pace. Back the door is the wooden stairs to “Wave Jumping.” In the room, the bed frames are made of cedar wood whose fragrance surrounds the ones staying inside. It is a room for friends and besties enjoying a vacation together and realizing the dream of living by the sea. “Brownie” is created out of the joy the host gets from the moments when the family stays together making dessert. It is a washitsu in simple and heartening Japanese style. The separate bath and shower can be shared by different people simultaneously. The host furthermore sets a round bathtub facing the sea, in which the affection of the night can be savored.

Preparing the heartwarming breakfast together, sharing the delicious meal with the sea view

“Good morning!” Upon walking out of the room, you are greeted by the host who is walking the dog. Following your friends and family to the cooking area of the kitchen, you heat the pan while others whisk eggs and bake bagels. After the messy but funny cooking time, on the white china plates are a smooth omelette with rosemary, solid bagels with jam and vinaigrette and delicious pan-fried pork chop. Sitting around the long wooden table facing the sea, you appreciate the food made by your hands, which satisfies the life with good taste and creates another kind of travel pace.

One afternoon during your stay, you follow the host and the doggy to take a walk on the path in the woods. The golden sunshine scatters and things in your eyes are turned into gold. You stare the figure of ideal life standing by the sea remotely, feeling satisfied. Staying here, you have no worries and trivia but the sunshine, grass and the natural living circumstance built by the pure love for the ocean. Hualien Boutique Ocean Inn plans a cheerful trip for the heart, accompanying travelers to experience the slow life during vacations.