Escape to Paradise: Xiang Xiang BNB, Penghu's Hidden Gem!
Escape to Paradise: Xiang Xiang BNB, Penghu's Hidden Gem!
The [Hotel Name] Review: Where Dreams (and Maybe Some Dust Bunnies) Live
Okay, folks. Buckle up. This isn't your sanitized, algorithm-driven hotel review. This is real. I’ve just wrestled with my luggage, navigated the labyrinthine hallways, and emerged, blinking, victorious from the belly of the beast that is… the [Hotel Name]. And I'm here to spill the tea, the coffee, the… well, everything.
First, the Essentials (and the Not-So-Essentials):
Accessibility: Let's start with the basics, shall we? They CLAIM to be wheelchair accessible. I saw some ramps. I didn’t test them. I’m a fairly able-bodied human, and frankly, after the flight, I just wanted a bed. But hey, it’s a start, right?
On-site accessible restaurants/lounges: Didn’t scope these out fully. Too busy trying to figure out which elevator actually worked.
Wheelchair accessible: See above.
Internet, Internet, Internet! (aka My Digital Lifeblood):
- Internet: They have internet. That's good.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!: YES! Praise be! This is a HUGE win.
- Internet [LAN]: I suspect it was there. I didn't hunt for it. Who uses LAN anymore? Am I old?
- Internet services: Standard stuff, I guess. I just wanted my Instagram to load.
Things to Do (or, My Quest for Relaxation):
- Ways to relax: Hmm. The brochure mentioned a spa. Let's get to that…
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage, Spa/sauna, Spa: YES! I needed this. I’m a stress ball of a human, and the thought of a scrub-down to oblivion was heavenly. The massage? Pretty darn good. Not the best I've ever had, but good. And the sauna? Steamy! Glorious! But…
- Sauna, Steamroom: Here's where things got… interesting. The sauna was great. The steam room? Let's just say the tiles looked like they hadn't been scrubbed since the Titanic sank. I may have coughed. A lot.
- Swimming pool, Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor]: I saw a pool. It looked… refreshing, but I didn't have the time for a swim. Maybe next time.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Spotted a gym. Didn’t venture in. I'm on vacation, dammit.
Cleanliness and Safety: The Era of Germophobia
Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Hygiene certification, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: Okay, they're trying. There were hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere. The staff seemed to be diligently squirting stuff on things. The room…well, it felt clean-ish. But don’t think I didn’t find a stray hair in the bathroom. Minor imperfections, but noticeable.
Canteen: The food was… fine.
Rooms sanitized between stays: Yep, I'm sure. I hope.
Safe dining setup: More like "safe-ish" setup. The tables were spaced out, and the staff wore masks. Mostly.
Anti-viral cleaning products: Hope so. Would've been nice to know.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Looked clean-ish. Again, I'm trusting.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Feed Me, Seymour!
- Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, Poolside bar, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant: Okay, so the dining situation was… complicated. They had a website that showcased five restaurants. I found two open. One served the most mediocre Pad Thai known to man. The other was… fine. The poolside bar was tempting. But I was already feeling the effects of the Pad Thai.
- Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Bottle of water, Coffee/tea in restaurant: The breakfast buffet: this is where the experience went from "meh" to "slightly chaotic." The scrambled eggs looked suspiciously like a science experiment gone wrong. The coffee was… well, it was coffee. I filled up on pastries and moved on with my life.
- Room service [24-hour]: Thank God! I ordered a burger at 2 AM after I was unable to sleep. It was… edible. A small victory.
- Bottle of water: Yes! And it was free.
- Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service: Nope. I had no idea.
Services and Conveniences: The Extras (and the Not-So-Extant):
- Air conditioning in public area, Daily housekeeping, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Indoor venue for special events, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Safety deposit boxes, Smoke alarms, Terrace: They had all this stuff. Mostly. The air conditioning in the lobby felt like a blizzard. The elevator was… temperamental. My luggage was safe. And they had a terrace, which I never used, because of the relentless heat and the amount of effort it took to get there.
- Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Currency exchange, Doorman, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Invoice provided, Meeting stationery, Outdoor venue for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Standard stuff. I needed cash.
- Contactless check-in/out: I think they were trying. I had to sign things.
- Convenience store: Located in the lobby, it had all the overpriced snacks and drinks you could desire.
- Dry cleaning: I didn't need it, but it was there.
For the Kids: Tiny Humans, Big Chaos!
(I don’t have kids. I'm just judging what I saw).
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: Pretty standard stuff. I saw a few screaming toddlers. You know the drill.
Access: The Entryway to… Well, Everything!
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms: Security seemed… adequate. There were cameras. There were fire extinguishers. It felt safe.
Getting Around: The Art of Not Getting Lost
- Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: The airport transfer was punctual, which I appreciated. Parking? Seemed easy.
Available in All Rooms: The Nitty Gritty of the Room Itself
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens: Okay, the room itself was… fine. It had everything you'd expect. The bed was comfy. The blackout curtains were a godsend. The mini-bar was absurdly expensive. The Wi-Fi worked. It was clean, mostly. The view? Okay, I was facing the air conditioning units of the building opposite. Not the most glorious view, but, hey, it kept me cool.
The Quirks, The Imperfections, The Stuff They Don't Tell You:
- The Elevator Saga: The elevators. Oh, the elevators. One worked. Sometimes. The other one… well, let's just say I learned to pack light. It’s those small imperfections that make a stay memorable (and give you something to talk about on social media). This is why I give the hotel a solid 3/5 in the accessibility department.
- The "Hidden" Spa: It was hidden. Literally. I wandered around for a good 10 minutes before I found it. I'm not even joking. Had it not been for a hotel staff member, I would have surely missed the spa.
- The Mattress of Mystery: The mattress was firm. I prefer a soft mattress. I almost went to the front desk
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to embark on a whirlwind of a Penghu adventure at XIANG XIANG BNB. Let me tell you, just finding this place was an adventure in itself. Map apps? Bless their hearts. Sometimes they just lead you the scenic wrong way. Anyway, here's the (highly disorganized) itinerary, fueled by copious amounts of questionable coffee and a burning desire for some serious island vibes:
Day 1: Arrival & Utter Bewilderment (and the BEST fish ever)
- Morning (or, whenever I finally manage to drag myself out of bed after the red-eye flight from… well, somewhere):
- Fly into Magong Airport (MZG). Honestly, the flight was fine, until I realised I'd accidentally left my favourite sun hat on the seat pocket. Cue internal scream. Airport pickup arranged (thank god!), courtesy of the lovely (and patient) staff at XIANG XIANG.
- Check-in. OMG, the BNB is even cuter in person! Think breezy, pastel colours, and a balcony that screams "sunset cocktails are a MUST." Except… I was so flustered from the hat situation that I actually forgot where my suitcase was for about 10 minutes.
- The Great Penghu Orientation Debacle (Part 1): Attempt to figure out how to operate the AC (which, naturally, seems to have been designed by someone who actively hates tourists). Eventually, surrender to the heat and decide to embrace the "humid tropical paradise" vibe.
- Afternoon:
- Lunch. Found a local place (thanks, helpful guide at the BNB – who, BTW, is a lifesaver). The menu was entirely in Chinese (classic), but I managed to point at a picture of some kind of fish. BEST. FISH. EVER. Seriously. Flaky, perfectly seasoned, and probably sourced from a mermaid's tears (I'm convinced).
- Explore Magong City. Wander aimlessly. Get delightfully lost. Stumble upon a temple with WAY too many incense sticks (smells amazing, though). Take approximately 200 photos of brightly colored buildings.
- The Great Penghu Orientation Debacle (Part 2): Try to book a scooter. Fail miserably because my Mandarin is basically non-existent and I'm pretty sure I accidentally promised to bring the shop owner a pet unicorn.
- Evening:
- Sunset on the beach. Found a quiet spot. Swear I've never seen a sunset that glorious. Drink a beer while contemplating the meaning of life and the whereabouts of my sun hat.
- Dinner at one of the restaurants recommended nearby XIANG XIANG. I might have accidentally ordered the same fish dish as lunch. No regrets.
- Collapse into bed, exhausted but euphoric. Realize I haven't unpacked. Decide to deal with it tomorrow (or, more likely, the day after).
Day 2: Island Hopping (and a Near-Death Experience with a Sea Urchin)
- Morning:
- Wake up slightly less disoriented. Finally locate my suitcase!
- Breakfast at the BNB. Delicious Taiwanese breakfast, but I can't quite figure out what half of the stuff is. Embrace adventure!
- Island Hopping Tour! The guide was a cheery local who spoke broken English. Perfect. That's what I've come to expect, and that adds to the adventure. I'm sure he said something about "magical coral," "breathtaking cliffs" and "possibly swimming with sharks."
- The boat ride itself was bumpy – I swear my internal organs had a near-death experience doing a few flips. Not the most comfortable boat ride in the world, but I'm not complaining, the views were incredible!
- Afternoon:
- First stop: Qimei Island. OMG, the double-arch bridge! Majestic. I'm not sure if I've seen a more perfect shot for my Instagram.
- Next: The infamous bathing area. The water was crystal clear. I'm so terrible at swimming, I accidentally touched a sea urchin. The guide looked worried. I almost screamed in pain. (Okay, I might have. Let's just say my ankle is now sporting a new, spiky accessory.)
- Lunch on the island. Seafood, of course. (Is there anything else to eat on these islands?). This time, I learned my lesson and opted for the non-spiky stuff.
- Evening:
- Back on the boat, slightly sunburned, and still plagued by sea urchin flashbacks.
- Quick shower. Find a local restaurant. Eat more seafood.
- Watch the stars. Feel ridiculously, ridiculously grateful to be there.
Day 3: Sand Dunes, Sights, and Sunscreen Overload
- Morning:
- Bike ride along the coast. Rent a bike (miracle of miracles!), and feel like a total pro. This tour gave me the chance to see lots of sights, including Tongli Bay.
- Stop at the sand dunes. Walk along the beach and take a million more pictures.
- Afternoon:
- Attempt to visit a local temple. Get slightly lost and end up at a really, really interesting seafood market. More fish!
- Sunscreen reapplication. The most important part of my day, every day!
- Evening: * Final sunset on the beach. * Dinner. * Packing (or, at least, attempting to pack). * Contemplate extending my trip…
Day 4: Departure (and the Sad, Sad Reality of Leaving)
- Morning:
- Breakfast at the BNB. Said goodbye to the staff (who are now basically my best friends).
- Final walk around the neighborhood, soaking up the last bit of island magic.
- The Great Penghu Orientation Debacle (Part 3): Realize I STILL haven't mastered the AC. Try to figure out why. (It remains a mystery.)
- Head to the airport, heart full of sunshine and a healthy dose of sand (and possibly a sea urchin spine).
- Afternoon:
- Fly home. Already planning my return. (And trying to come up with a foolproof strategy for avoiding sea urchins.)
- Buy all of the souvenirs. The shop owners are going to miss me.
- Realize the trip flew by way too fast.
- Cry myself to sleep.
Notes/Ramblings/Random Thoughts:
- Bring lots of sunscreen. Seriously. And a hat. (Still mourning the loss of mine.)
- Learn a few basic Mandarin phrases. (Or at least how to point convincingly at pictures of fish.)
- Don't be afraid to get lost. It's part of the adventure.
- The people of Penghu are incredibly kind and helpful, even when you're making a complete fool of yourself.
- XIANG XIANG BNB is a gem. Book it. You won't regret it.
- I’m pretty sure I left my heart (and probably a few socks) in Penghu. Consider this the ultimate endorsement. Now, GO!
So, you want to be a plant parent, huh? Where do you even *start*? (And is it even worth it?)
Alright, alright, chill. I get it. Beautiful, leafy, trendy plants – they're everywhere, right? And you're thinking, "I can totally handle this! I've kept a cactus alive for, like, a month!" (Spoiler alert: that cactus was probably just a really hardy, slow-acting little tyrant).
Where do you start? Honestly? *Don't* start with some Instagram-worthy fiddle-leaf fig. That's the plant version of dating a supermodel on your first go-around – you're setting yourself up for heartbreak.
Start SMALL. And I mean *small*. Like, a little succulent in a tiny pot. Something that can survive, like, a week of neglect. Because let's be real, that’s likely your baseline.
Is it worth it? Ugh. That depends. Sometimes I stare at my thriving pothos and feel like the queen of the jungle. Other times, I'm scrubbing off mealybugs and whispering threats to the spider mites. It's a roller coaster, folks. But… I guess… yeah. It *is* kind of worth it. Maybe. The tiny flicker of green in your otherwise depressing apartment – it can be kinda magical. Just...don't get too attached, alright? This is coming from experience, believe me!
Watering: How often? Because I'm pretty sure I'm either drowning or desertifying my poor plants.
Oh, the eternal struggle. Watering. It's the gardening equivalent of deciding what to eat for dinner – always a gamble! I've killed plants by underwatering, overwatering… you name it. I’m a watering *expert*, in fact, at killing things through it.
The general rule? Stick your finger in the soil. If it's dry an inch or two down, water. If it's wet, step away from the watering can. (Seriously. I once watered a plant *right after* I thought it was dry, and the next day – *slosh!* – the whole pot was a bog. RIP, Herbert the Hoya).
But here's the kicker: Every plant is different. Some are drama queens who demand water every other day (I'm looking at *you*, Boston fern!), while others are stoic desert dwellers. Learn your plants, people! Observe. Feel. Become one with the soil. (Okay, maybe not *that* far, but you get the idea). And DON'T trust those little moisture meters. They’re more confusing than helpful.
What are these *things* on my plants? (And why are they always, ALWAYS, in some stage between "growing" and "attacking my sanity"?)
Ah, the pests. The tiny, insidious, plant-destroying gremlins of the indoor jungle. I've battled them all. Spider mites, mealybugs, scale… it's a veritable horror show in there. I swear, sometimes I think my plants are just a breeding ground for tiny, evil alien invaders.
The key? Early detection and relentless vigilance. Check your plants *daily*. Look under leaves, in crevices, around stems. If you see anything that shouldn't be there – tiny webs, fluffy white stuff, little brown bumps that *look* like they came from a horror movie – act FAST.
And don't be afraid to use the big guns. Sometimes it’s a water-alcohol mixture, and a lot of hand-wiping of leaves, something akin to the world's slowest car wash. But if things get REALLY bad, you might have to resort to neem oil spray. (It smells terrible, by the way. Like a gym sock marinated in something vaguely medicinal. But needs must).
Also, *sometimes* just chucking the infested plant into the trash where it belongs is a wise option, just sayin'!
I just bought a new plant! Now what? Specifically, *how* do I not kill it like a total newbie?
CONGRATULATIONS! You made it to the stage where you *brought home a plant*! This is huge! Now, before you do anything drastic (like immediately repotting it into some cute, Instagrammable pot), here's the drill:
1. **Quarantine:** Isolate the new plant from your existing ones. Seriously. Those little bugs can travel!
2. **Observe:** Keep an eye on it for a week, maybe two. Watch for any signs of pests or disease.
3. **Research:** Figure out what kind of plant it is! A cursory search on Google Lens works wonders for that, or taking a photo and uploading it to a plant ID app. Then, look up its care requirements. Light? Water? Soil? Don't go in blind.
4. **Don't Overdo It:** Resist the urge to water it immediately. It will be fine. For a *while*.
5. **Repotting (if applicable):** If the plant is root-bound (roots circling the bottom of the pot), or if the soil is hydrophobic and hard (try to water and it all just runs off), repot it. But not into some ridiculously large pot, otherwise you can end up with root rot city.
And most importantly, have low expectations! This is your training ground. There is no shame in failure. (I mean, I've killed a cactus *with kindness*. It was getting too much sun, I thought, and gave it a watering. Within a week, it was a mushy green blob of despair).
My plant is *dying*! What do I do?!?!?! (Panicking ensues.)
Breathe. Deep breaths. Your plant is not necessarily a goner. (Though, let's be honest, it might be).
First, assess the damage. What's happening? Yellowing leaves? Brown spots? Drooping? Wilting? Overwatering? Underwatering? Sunburn? Too much or too little light? Pests?
Next, try to figure out *why*. Think back to your watering habits, your plant's location, any recent changes. (Did you move it? Did the sun suddenly get brighter? Did you leave it alone for a month?)
Then, take action. If it's overwatered, let it dry out. If it's underwatered, give it a good soaking. If it has pests, treat it.
But here's the honest truth: Sometimes, you just can't save them. The plant version of the hospice is inevitable. And, *sigh*, sometimes the best thing you can do is say goodbye. It's okay to mourn your plant. It's okay to feel like a complete failure. (Because, you know what? Sometimes you *are* a failure. And that's life). Learn from your mistakes. And then, buy another plant. Because you will get it right eventually... maybe.
Why is it so hard to keep plants alive? And is it me?
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XIANG XIANG BNB Penghu Taiwan
XIANG XIANG BNB Penghu Taiwan
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