A Paradise of Bleating Lambs – Seaside Octagon Homestay

Text and photos by Yu Tian

Has anyone been to Seaside Octagon Homestay? There are so many adorable little animals here. Last year during the Year of the Horse, I came to play with the horses, and this year there are so many more lambs. Enjoy the horses in the Year of the Horse, and get close to the gentle and lovely lambs in the Year of the Sheep (Goat)!

Interlude: An auntie came out and chatted with me for a while (she turned out to be the owner’s mother), talking about how much everything costs and how money gets spent here, etc. “It’s quite pricey...”

The owner is a horse lover, which is evident from the outdoor sculpture art. I heard he once rode a horse from Seaside Octagon along Provincial Highway 11 to Chenggong Town. Just imagining that scene—it was truly impressive. In Europe, only police officers get to enjoy the thrill of galloping on the open road like that.

The barstools in the dining area even feature saddles from the owner’s collection. The one in the middle is a child-sized saddle, and the one on the right has carved floral patterns and leather texture—very refined with a Wild West cowboy vibe.

The first floor of the homestay is the dining area. Even if you’re not staying here, you can come for afternoon tea, enjoy seaside views while dining, interact closely with the cute herbivorous animals, and even buy carrots to feed them.

This pack of carrots for 20 NT is a huge hit with the adorable animals~

Seaside Octagon is also a favorite resting spot for motorcycle enthusiasts. Beyond loving horses, animals, and motorcycles, the owner is also a collector. Coming here feels like stepping into a leisure restaurant where you can eat, drink, and relax—a cute version of a wildlife park combined with an art gallery-like homestay space. It’s very diverse and multifaceted. You can tell the owner has many interests and enjoys life—he generously displays many of his quirky collections and antiques here.

The alpacas at Seaside Octagon are better than those in zoos—they’re not afraid of people. The manager says you can get closer to the white ones as they’re less likely to resist, but the brown ones might spit when scared. Although they’re not very aggressive, it smells pretty bad~ it’s better not to provoke them. Most of the animals here love interacting with people, probably because they’ve been let out often to play with guests and eat the vegetables they’re fed.

(This is Xiaoyu, who was let out among the crowds when she was very young. She’s completely unafraid of me and keeps nibbling on my organic cotton T-shirt—such a good taste!)

There’s a group of curious black-bellied sheep that are really fun. They try to get close to me, but as soon as I move forward, they all scatter, only to glance back frequently, keeping a safe distance—when I advance, they retreat, and when I retreat, they approach again. Are they playing hard to get?

This is as close as I could get to the black-bellied sheep.

He’s actually not that old, just looks more mature with a wise demeanor, plus the retro bell makes him look like a highland elder goat from a martial arts movie.

The two-story, open-air sheep house has specially treated coatings that are moisture-proof and heat-resistant. The slope and angle of the stairs were also carefully designed for the sheep to go up and down easily.

The males are kept on the second floor, and the females are below—they must be separated, otherwise their strong reproductive abilities would lead to too many lambs, and overcrowding isn’t ideal.

Is it because I let Xiaoyu nibble on my T-shirt? They seem to really like me.

I deeply feel that the owner not only loves animals but is also a motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys sharing his collections—he’s practically an artist. Look at these dog doors and dog houses—all made by the owner himself. I’m so impressed.

An oak barrel turned into a dog house with a moisture-proof, insulated roof, complete with a light under the eaves—so cute.

Dog houses in different styles

The owner of these cute dog houses is also adorable—a Welsh Corgi, Pembroke (the tail-less kind). Without a tail, it’s hard to tell if they’re happy or not, but the Corgi puppies are so cute. Pretty heavy~ Hello camera!! His name is “Duoduo”!

There are raccoon-like creatures here too, just like in cartoons.

Mini kangaroos smaller than wheels are super cute, munching on carrot sticks fed by guests. I asked, “Can such a tiny pouch hold even tinier baby kangaroos?” The answer is yes—but not yet. Stay tuned and keep an eye on it. One day I’ll come back to see the mini one hopping around with an itty-bitty baby kangaroo in its pouch.

Besides the horse sculptures, by the sea-facing cliff, there are also sea fishing-themed artworks that blend seamlessly with the natural seascape.

Below the cliff is a rocky fishing spot popular with indigenous people for shoreline angling, flat and extending out to sea.

Seaside Octagon showed me the true essence of homestays—not just a privately run lodging, but an irreplaceable experience of being a guest at someone’s home, getting to know the owner’s interests, admiring their collections, and appreciating the unique value of the room decor, which can’t be compared to other homestays. Each room shares something the owner wants to share with guests, and every theme is delightfully different.

The rooms are labeled not with numbers but with the owner’s favorite motorcycle brands. Lady, are you staying in the Ducati room today? Surprised?

▲ The stone slab chairs in the hallway blend in with the homestay’s exterior and surroundings. After visiting several uniquely styled rooms, I have to carefully choose which one I want to stay in.

1—Take a look at this Yamaha-themed room with its sea view balcony and interior specs. I absolutely love the exquisitely carved European-style desk, the traditional rocking chair, massage chair, treadmill, tea table and chairs, and the spacious layout. It’s truly an unmatched level of thoughtfulness compared to regular homestays.

2-Friends who enjoy the scent of hinoki wood and the fun of brewing tea might want to book this room. As soon as you open the door, the overwhelming fragrance of hinoki greets you—not an exaggeration. The aroma comes from the tea table and chairs set, and even the chair has a hinoki backrest. Feel free to sit, brew tea, and chat in the room. Since it’s a family room, the bathroom is thoughtfully equipped with a urinal as well.

3-I asked the manager to recommend a room type that suits me, and this one is the Ducati. With a perfect mountain and sea view plus a romantic Victorian princess style, it’s truly a dreamy Ducati—I love it.

Is this the princess’s vanity table? The display cabinet next to it isn’t locked—the owner trusts guests and genuinely treats them like friends. It contains his personal collection of small decorations and ornaments. Staying here feels just like visiting a relative’s home.

The fake books on the vanity table can be used to temporarily store small accessories, watches, and other personal items.

(Looking downstairs, there’s also a tea seating area under the trees!)

Cape Octagon
Address: No. 129, Bazhen Road, Chenggong Township, Taitung County, 961 (at 117.5 km on Provincial Highway 11)
Phone: 0910-000222 / 089-855-077

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