The square building as the playground for light and shadow
Entering Yilan Riverside House along the white cement trail, you find a pool where the fish swim freely in the water and the turtles stretch their neck to enjoy the warm sunlight of Yilan on the rock. A gentle breeze wrinkles the water surface, turning it into a naughty ballad. Time seems to stop here. The bar seats by the pool are the premium rest spot for you to watch the sunshine playing with the water, creating dreamlike reflections on the fair-faced cement walls. You pass by the studio of the host KK’s, as the hostess Ivy just rolls up her hair and concentrates on preparing the meal at the café with a smile on her face. “You’re here! Welcome!” She washes her hands and walks out from the half-closed door to greet you.
The Chinese name of the lodging, “Huashui (畫水),” literally means “painting on the water,” comes from the idiom “painting on the water and carving on the ice.” KK says: “The water in Yilan is a gift from nature. And we built Yilan Riverside House to retain and admire this gift.” This is how the Riverside House was born. KK’s ingenuity and creativity are the pen and ink that paint and build the house with an indomitable yet gentle character. He works his magic on the land of an irregular shape and viola – here is the house in the industrial style yet still bears a sense of warmth. The geometrical edges and corners are coupled with the softness of water, while the industrial metal elements match with the warm texture of wood. The different styles clash and generate the unique cosy space with an attitude.
The magic of floor-to-ceiling windows and water
The fair-faced cement stairs are flanked by the black walls, while the sunlight pours through the transparent glass ceiling. Stepping up and entering the rooms, you’d find the magic of floor-to-ceiling windows in the “Water Watching” and “Water Viewing” room. The fair-faced walls along with the wooden floor create a relaxing atmosphere, while the distant mountains and the surrounding Annong River make you feel like embraced by the water and pacify the turmoil in your soul.
Take another set of stairs made of thick iron chains and planks and push open the glass door, a space for you to chill and enjoy daydreaming is expecting your visit. The narrow space is charmingly planned and doesn’t make you feel crowded. You may select a cake of your favorite flavor at the café to go with the butterfly pea lemonade. The violet gradation and refreshing lemon aroma add an extra laid-back ambiance to the lazy long afternoon.
Behind the wooden door of the “Beautiful Water” room, the mountains and the Annong River form a landscape painting, revealing a little world in peace for you. Here you can relax and release all the burdens in several ways. First, soak in the bathtub filled with water and wash away the exhaustion. Then you may enjoy a session in the wooden infrared therapy box sitting inside the room. Close your eyes and feel the heat making your pores open and breathe again, while the negative energy dissipates as well. Or you may lie face down on the massage bed, while the aroma/massage therapist helps soothe the tension of your body, kneading along the muscle textures and tap dancing with fingers on your skin, any hidden spots of soreness won’t be missed. The massage bed is like a canoe, carrying your mind drifting in the surrounding scenic beauty.
Join hands with nature and draw a painting named life
As the morning sunlight streams in through the window, you squint your eyes and feel the warmth left by the sun on your cheeks, feeling like sleeping in for a little longer. After a good night’s sleep, a hearty breakfast at the café is waiting for you. Chicken club sandwich, soups, and salads served with side dishes like sweet potatoes and boiled eggs, along with fresh lemon juice or coffee, a good meal brings you the energy for a brand new day. Ivy insists on delivering a healthy breakfast to the guests, always spending a lot of time and effort to work on the menu. If you stay at Yilan Riverside House for a couple of days, you might have the chance to taste the breakfast in Chinese style like congee and stir-fried vegetables made by Ivy, who promises travellers the balanced nutrition and healthy diet.
Riding the bike provided by the lodging, you may admire the scenery of Annong River, which is like a landscape painting created by nature’s fine and subtle strokes. Sometimes, you pass by with other travelling bike-riders, exchanging big smiles brings you closer to each other. The lodging also provides barbecue equipment, so you may hold a barbecue party and enjoy some quality time with friends or family. Sitting at the bar seats by the pool, you savor the leisurely moment hard to come by while watching the children play in the sand or feed fish by the pool. The laughter here and there, just like the water splashed by the fish, is sparkling under the bright sun.
While sunlight glitters on the pool water, time seems to pass slowly here. Not in a hurry, you savor breakfast or afternoon tea, sit by the floor-to-ceiling window and watch the chasing of light and shadow, as the laughter of children is heard from time to time. The bustle and hustle of the city are left behind, all you take in is the clouds strolling through the distant mountains, and green grass and yellow flowers swaying by the Annong River. This is how life should look like. At Yilan Riverside House, don’t be chased by time, but halt your step and look at the trail left by time.
