What I Want to Do in Taiwan

This summer might be my last lengthy visit to Taipei, Taiwan, and I’ve recently been contemplating the many many things that I never did in past visits, and also the things that I really want to experience again.  Here we go:

• Go to Sun Moon Lake
• Go karaoke-ing with my family/friends
• Eat hot pot (seriously…I haven’t had it yet)
• Travel to Tainan and Taichung and generally just get away from the northern end of the island
• Go on a crazy beautiful hike
• See the pandas at the zoo
• Eat stinky tofu one last time just for the hell of it
• Bike at Danshui
• Actually buy something from the mall inside Taipei 101

There are probably a hundred other things that I want to do but this is just a quick list that I came up with in a dash.  And I am always open to more suggestions!  Taiwan is such a wonderful little island, I can’t wait to go back.

Taipei is the Best. Why?

I’m having Taipei withdrawals, and when I have these (they’re quite frequent, unfortunately) I tend to reflect on how amazing of a city it is.  Here’s my top five list, in no particular order, of why it’s the best:

1. Scenery – the city is surrounded by mountains.  Sub-tropical mountains with thick foliage consisting of bright green trees and gorgeous flowers and lots of plants that I don’t recognize.  It’s fantastic.  And the coast is little more than an hour away in most directions, and let me tell you – the Northern and Eastern coastlines of Taiwan are absolutely breathtaking.
2. Hiking – perhaps the best way to enjoy the beautiful scenery described in number 1 is through hiking.  To be honest, when I first moved to Taipei I was not a keen hiker, but then I realized (largely through my mother’s insistence that I constantly join her on hikes) that when a rare clear, sunny day presents itself, hiking is possibly the best way to spend the morning.  And Taipei has hundreds of hiking trails of all different levels of difficulty (I’m pretty bad at hiking….).  It’s great.
3. Night Markets – I’m not really sure how to describe a night market to someone who’s never been to one.  It’s kind of like a state fair but in the middle of an urban location with Asian and American pop music blasting from everywhere, everything you can ever imagine being sold at super cheap prices, and lots and lots of Asian people.  And that’s not to mention the food…..but that’s coming later.
4. People – I’ve been to most of the big cities of Asia – Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Jakarta, Seoul, Beijing, Ho Chi Minh City, etc. – and while I’ve never been treated strangely or badly (as a white person) in any of those cities, nowhere have I felt more welcomed and comfortable than in Taipei.  The people are incredibly nice and helpful and just all-around fantastic.
5. Food – there are literally no words to describe the sheer awesomeness that is Taiwanese food……particularly Taiwanese street food.  I am not even going to attempt to describe it.  Just know that it’s wonderful.  And cheap.  And more than enough reason (by itself) to go to Taiwan.