October 1st was China’s National Day (國慶節), similar to America’s July 4th. I went Taiwan for 5 days. It was the perfect place to go as a lone traveler. It was safe, the people were incredibly friendly, and there were so many opportunities to wander. Each day, I would just wander, all day long. I absolutely loved it and here are some of my favorite things:
Great public transportation system
Taipei’s Metro Rapid Transit (MRT) has lines spanning the city. It was cheap, efficient, and easy to ride. It enabled my day-long wanderings.
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Waiting lines. These remind me of how kindergarten classes have spots marked on the carpet for each student to sit and how we all need a little guidance when it comes to coexisting with others.
Public spaces I visited two memorials, one for Sun Yat-sen and one for Chiang Kai-shek. What struck me most about these places was that they were beautiful public spaces for people to gather and hang out. I saw people flying kites, kids blowing bubbles, people walking their dogs, old men playing chess, young people working on dance routines, people meditating. If I lived in Taipei, I could see myself reading a book on a bench or going there to jog.
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| Sun Yat-Sun Memorial |
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| Chess |
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Meditating
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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial - arched entryway
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| The memorial |
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| Inside the memorial | | | | | | |
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| Changing of the guards - a precise and polished ritual executed every hour |
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View from the Memorial. You can see the vast plaza, the arched entryway, the National Theater on the right and the National Concert Hall on the left. |
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| Dragon dancing |
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| Flower girls |
Organized streets
Coming from the lawlessness of Shantou traffic, I appreciated how organized the streets of Taipei were. The roads had lines, designating bike paths, pedestrian crosswalks, and areas for mopeds to wait during red lights. Vehicles yielded to pedestrians. It was so civil. I didn’t have to worry about mopeds riding up on the sidewalk behind me. I could cross the street without dodging trucks, cars, mopeds, bikes, or rickshaws. Vehicles were not constantly honking, insisting on their right of way. For the first time in the last month or so, I felt safe walking around.
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| Neat and organized |
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| Boxed areas for mopeds to wait at intersections. |
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Random Street Art
There are statues and benches scattered throughout Taipei, making it a very pleasant city in which to stroll.
Stationary supplies galore!
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| If I lived in Taiwan, I would be so organized. |
Food
The food was delicious and cheap. Along with little restaurants everywhere, there were several night markets, open from 6 pm or so until midnight, where you can get good, cheap food. I even went to two in one night just to extend my wandering and grazing. I particularly liked the fruit, which was so ripe and juicy, as well as the fruit drinks, blended from the amazing fruit. I wished I had more capacity for more drinks and snacks.
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| Oyster omelet from the Hauxi Night Market - It was made of oysters and eggs and covered with a sweet, red sauce. |
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| Bbq cart at the Shida night market |
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| Fruit at the Shilin Night Market |
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| The original Din Tai Fung located on Xinyi Road. This restaurant was rated one of the 10 best restaurants in the world. There is also a location in Arcadia, CA. |
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| Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung |
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| Zha Jiang Mian at a little eatery in an alley. I went into this place because it had a long line. I couldn't really read the Chinese menu, except for distinguishing noodles from soup, so I asked the waitress what their best dish was, using my limited Chinese knowledge. This was it - 香菇炸獎麵. |
Shopping
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| Ximending - a pedestrian shopping area |
Temples
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| Longshan Temple |
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| Confucius Temple |
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| Baoan Temple |
Culture
I went to the National Palace Museum, with its rich collection of Chinese art and artifacts. There are 93,000 pieces and only 1% can physically be on display at a time. The collection included jade, ceramics, enamelware, bronzes, landscape paintings, and calligraphy.
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| The National Palace Museum |
Nature
Taroko National Park - about a 3-hour train ride from Taipei on the eastern side of Taiwan. It’s a very dramatic landscape of mountains, marble walls, and a narrow and deep gorge.
Friendly people
I had never been to a place where people were so kind and helpful. Whenever I asked for directions, people were glad to stop whatever they were doing and give me detailed information with a smile, and they were willing to chat some more. When I was at Taroko National Park, the distances between the scenic spots were far, and one couple just pulled over to the side of the road to offer me a ride. Another time, a worker was on his way home, and he offered me a ride on his moped to my next stop. Where else do people offer strangers rides?
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I was stranded at Taroko National Park and had to hitchhike. These ladies offered me a ride all the way back to Hualien, which is at least a 30-minute drive. They even fed me dinner and dropped me off at my hostel door. They were extraordinarily kind. |
I found Taiwan to be a beautiful place and I look forward to visiting again.
