#forest 18

Forest 18 is home to over 800 eucalyptus trees in 4000 hectares of land - making it the largest eucalyptus forest park in Taiwan.

Situated 400 meters above sea level, it lies somewhere in the mountains of Nantou County and has a stunning view of the Baguashan Drought Irrigation Reservoir which locals fondly call "Mingjian Shangri-La" or "Little Sun Moon Lake".   

Nature lovers will surely enjoy here just by walking around and basking in the greenery of the forest. The subtle sound and refreshing scent of the cool air will leave you feeling relaxed and invigorated.

Shinrin-yoku   is a Japanese practice which means walking in the woods and immersing oneself in nature or simply “forest bathing”. Benefits of forest bathing include reduced stress, improved mood, increased energy level, improved sleep, boosted immune system and more.

And in case you’re wondering what’s behind the name of Forest 18, the Chinese word for “eighteen” is 十八 (shí bā) which sounds like spa. So Forest 18 just means Forest Spa which, if you ask me, is a very fitting name.

Koalas typically live in eucalyptus woodlands so it should be no surprise to find the place decorated with these cuddly, tree-hugging marsupials.

Forest 18 has a restaurant that serves delicious Muslim-friendly dishes using the freshest organic ingredients cooked with no oil and little to no salt. 

Hot Pot

Steamed Fish

Fruit Salad

Sweet Potato Casserole 

Forest 18 also offers fun D.I.Y. activities for all ages. When we were there, we made mosquito repellent!

Each of us was handed with an empty pump bottle, a Popsicle stick, 4 bottles of essential oils, stickers and measuring cups filled with water and emulsifier.

Here’s their very own recipe for mosquito repellent: 6 drops of eucalyptus essential oil 6 drops of mint essential oil 6 drops of lemon grass essential oil 2 drops of tea tree oil 10 ml of sweet almond oil as emulsifier 80ml of water First, add 30ml of water to the emulsifier. Stir while gradually adding another 30ml and then 20ml of water. Just keep stirring until its color turns opaque white and its texture becomes thick and smooth like that of a lotion. Once the desired consistency is achieved, add all the essential oils and stir once again until everything is well-combined. Transfer the mosquito repellent lotion to the empty pump bottle and place the stickers.

This all-natural, non-toxic mosquito repellent moisturizes your skin while keeping you protected from those nasty bites which can lead to life-threatening diseases such as dengue. Reapply as needed.

Thanks Taiwan Leisure Farms Development Association and Ma’am Jane Syjuco of Everbright Travel Agency for this fun and educational experience!