The Tian-pao temple is located in a valley not too far past the World Trade center in Taipei. It is a great place for peaceful meditation and just walking around in the forest to forget one's worldly problems. There are roughly-painted statues and the smell of burning insence everywhere, and occasionally the sound of a gong or a waterfall reaches one's ears. From the temple one has a view of Taipei, as if to remind one of all there is to get away from. In the back of the temple, carved out of the very stone of the cliff, is the image of the dragon god. In a cave off to the side are the eight immortals in a boat, caught in the act of crossing the sea.

This place is very special to me. I should go there more often.