| Description | Penghu｜Murraya Paniculata VillaA classical Fujian-style vacation home beside the waterDriving along County Road 201, you see none of the hustle and bustle of Penghu City, as the spacious scenery along the sides of the road comes alive. You begin to hum a little country ditty, as you drive towards the classically appealing style of Murraya Paniculata Villa which sits at the end of the lane as if awaiting your arrival.Go to bed in secluded relaxation, surrounded by exquisite brick and tileThe gorgeous courtyard entrance to Murraya Paniculata Villa employs orange brick as its basic style while brightly colored ceramic tiles frame the two characters of the Chinese name to extend a magnificent welcome to all visiting travelers. A refreshing breeze blows by as you enter the premises and see several lotus blossoms are just waiting to burst into bloom in the pool out in front of the house. You raise your head and look upwards beneath the saddle-shaped Fujian-style roof ridge to see elaborate, vivid paintings of birds and flowers frolicking as if about to leap out at you. Upon closer inspection you realize that the scene is made by the nearly-lost traditional art of Taiwanese ceramic applique! Guesthouse owner, Well, especially sought out a team of old-house restoration specialists who carried out their renovation of the entire structure using ancient construction methods. Using the coral stone material unique to Penghu, the old building was made new so that visiting travelers might also enjoy the beauty of an ancient homestead.As the clear yellow sun creeps over the rooftop of Murraya Paniculata Villa, each square inch appears, under the brilliant sunlight, as if sprinkled with gold leaf. In the afterglow of sunset, and in the lamplight after darkness falls, numerous yellow lights appear like ornaments under the violet night sky. Light and shadow move with the passing of time, and the homestead’s winsome reflection is inverted in the waters of the pool. The picturesque reflection appears as if anew at progressive moments throughout the day, at once imposing and beautiful, yet refined and tranquil. Ancient but not old-fashioned, elegant yet adaptiveBehind the simple entrance, however, you’ll be surprised to find your own personal swimming pool! Inside the ancient homestead, you can enjoy all the modern comforts, and allow the light-reflecting water to mirror all the happiness of your vacation. As you push open the gold-leaf painted wooden shutter doors, you behold the elegant furniture in classical Chinese-style. Whether it is the “imperial tutor’s chair”, the old food cabinet, or the wooden linen dresser, each and every implement is refined and unique.When the moment comes to rest and light penetrates outward from the holes in driftwood lamp shades, you make yourself a refreshing cup of Hsiang-ju teasane, a local specialty, and once more wash the dust away with a handful of water from the ceramic lotus flower sink. You savor the remaining light of the sunset which slides down the roof ridge in preparation to embrace the moon in a sound slumber. Enjoy your own meditative purelandOpening the doors in the morning, the brightly smiling housekeeper delivers a diverse breakfast: plump, round meatballs, crisp fried dumplings, tasty iced black tea, and the local favorite of Zhongji baked sesame seed-coated cakes, with a refreshing fruit sandwich to finish the meal. The sumptuous food is deeply satisfying, like a classical nanguan musical performance; sometimes singing, sometimes playing a tune, each delivering its own clever magic whilst making harmonious music together.You push open the front gate and leave Murraya Paniculata Villa, with the dazzling noonhour sun shining on the water of the pool. You approach the surface of the water and discover the lotus flower has bloomed, while little tilapia fish dart between the lotus leaves, their charming silhouettes dancing on the surface of the water. You secretly store this amiable scene deep in your heart, as if, now, you and Penghu share a beautiful secret. |
