Season Of Water

We stayed in room 201, facing the main road, but it was still quite peaceful. The room was clean, and the double-layer airtight windows kept the noise down, though it wasn’t completely silent. Room 202 might be quieter if booked early. The water got hot enough, and the dehumidifier was useful. The host explained the Helian air conditioner in detail. It blew strongly and coldly, and the airflow could be adjusted. At around NT$2300 for Saturday, August 30th, it felt inexpensive. Keelung South Railway Station is just across the road, so catching the train was easy. You do have to carry your luggage upstairs, so keep that in mind with larger bags. Keelung Miaokou Night Market isn’t far either. The Evergreen Hotel across the West Coast Pier costs more. Hope this is helpful.

The hostess was kind and the location was good. A couple of things to know: the water pressure can be weak if you shower too late, and there’s already a notice about this on the bathroom door. The air conditioner does cool the room, but it takes a while. Even set to 16 degrees, the room only reached 26 degrees after two hours, then 24 degrees by morning while it was still on. That may be enough for some, but it felt a little warm for someone like me who’s sensitive to heat. There’s a wall-mounted electric fan, though I’d still like to see a standing fan to bring the temperature down faster. Many people prefer 25 degrees.

The guesthouse is about a five-minute walk from Keelung Station. It’s close to the elevated highway, but my room was in the back building and wasn’t noisy. The room had two single beds, though it was small and awkward to move around in. The refrigerator worked the first day, then broke the next. I had to thaw out a lot of drinks I’d bought, and that night the green tea tasted a bit sour and wasn’t pleasant. Comfortable. I messaged the owner after booking, but she apparently never got it. Before leaving, I called because I thought I might be late, and she said she hadn’t received my message or payment. I was furious. I even wondered if I’d misremembered where I booked, so I called every guesthouse and hotel in Keelung, and they all said I had no booking. In the end, the owner checked and confirmed she had my payment. It’s probably best to call and confirm after paying. Luckily, I called first, and she had one room left. The best things were being near the station and the delicious breakfast downstairs. The guesthouse itself doesn’t include breakfast, and on holidays the stay costs around 2200-2300 RMB. I’d first planned to give it two stars, but the charcoal-grilled sandwiches at "Little Pig Mom's Charcoal Toast" downstairs were amazing, so I added a star for that breakfast. Expect to wait 20-30 minutes on holidays. There was no hairdryer in the room, only one shared dryer upstairs on the second floor. I kept thinking, why doesn’t a guesthouse room have its own hairdryer?

We ran into a few problems during our stay, but the owner patiently answered our questions and helped sort them out, including changing light bulbs and checking the wiring. We ended up moving rooms, yet I’d still stay here again if I had the chance. There’s coffee and drinks for sale on the first floor, and I’d recommend the place.