Travel Through My eyes

TAIWAN

This trip began when my friend decided to live abroad for a few months and invited me to visit her in Taiwan. After studying Chinese for several years, I wanted the chance to experience more of the language and culture firsthand, so the timing was perfect. Between Taipei, smaller towns, local friends, and a packed week of new experiences,

Taiwan felt exciting from start to finish.

Why I Love Taiwan

A Trip Full of Firsts

I loved how new Taiwan felt to me. Even though I had traveled in Asia before, so much of the trip still felt fresh, from kayaking through rice paddies to testing my Chinese in everyday situations. What surprised me most was how comfortable I felt there. The cities were lively without feeling overwhelming, people were easygoing and kind, and I never felt out of place as a foreigner. That made it easy to relax and have a good time.

Hands-On Experiences

This trip revolved around hands-on experiences. I took a scallion pancake cooking class, became a “certified” boba barista at Chun Shui Tang, and blended my own whisky at Kavalan Distillery.

Food Discoveries

One of the highlights of traveling is tasting local foods. At the Keelung Night Market, I had a delicious variety of snacks. Among the most memorable were a lemon drink with aiyu jelly, a giant Taiwanese fried chicken cutlet, and the tiniest possible bite of stinky tofu. But the thing I still think about most wasn’t from the market at all. We happened upon a random roadside food truck, and I had the best scallion beef roll I’ve ever tasted.

Pop Culture / Entertainment

I somehow managed to fit both a OneRepublic concert and a fan meeting for my favorite Korean actor into the week. OneRepublic was easily the quietest concert crowd I’d ever experienced, but my friend and I still had a fantastic time singing and dancing. At the fan meeting, I only understood so much of the mix of Chinese and Korean, but the high-five and group photo made it totally worthwhile.