Explore Taiwan with me!!!

 

Hi guys!! It's me, Alex. Have you ever been to Taiwan? Although it is a small island nation, believe me it is also a destination that you should not miss if you are a fan of traveling. Taiwan in one way or another will satisfy the visitors by its beautiful nature, rich history and culture, welcoming and kind locals, or best night markets and delicious street foods. 

This blog highlights my real experiences during 5 days 4 nights journey exploring Taiwan. So now, let's go!!!

Day 1, 2: Taipei

We are ready to fly 

The first thing we did when we arrived is to get Taiwanese signature transportation cards ^^

As Dubai has Burj Khalifa or Malaysia has Petronas Twin Tower, Taipei 101 is the symbol of Taiwan. This building was officially classified as the world's tallest from its opening in 2004 until the 2010 completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE. In addition, if you are a fan of shopping luxury brands, this is also a perfect spot for you. 

When you visit the Taipei 101 Mall, one thing you must try is Din Tai Fung -  a world's famous Taiwanese restaurant franchise specializing in Huaiyang cuisine. Because Din Tai Fung in Taipei 101 is one of the original restaurants, don't be surprised that you will definitely need to wait in a long line to get a seat. 

Being one of the busiest and crowdest night markets, don't forget to explore Ximending with tons of yummy street foods and youth shopping stores.  

Fun fact about me ^^

Day 3: Shifen, Jiufen

In Shifen: the most popular activity is to write your hopes and dreams on lanterns and let them fly to the sky like in the Disney film "Tangled"

A check-in spot at Jiufen is a seaside mountain area in Ruifang District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 

Jiufen is also the town that inspired the town and bathhouse in one of Miyazaki's greatest films: Spirited Away. So, if you're a fan of Spirited Away, you should not miss this town. 

Day 4 and 5: Taichung 

Rainbow Village - a military dependents' village that was converted into street art in Nantun District, Taichung, Taiwan.

Gaomei Wetlands - a preserved wetland and a famous sunset spot in Taichung

Miyahara Ice Cream: Miyahara is a red-brick architecture built by Miyahara Takeo, a Japanese ophthalmology doctor in 1927. Dawn Cake, a pastry company renowned for its pineapple cakes, acquired the building and preserved Miyahara's original red-brick walls and archway. The interior decor was redesigned like Hogwarts in the movie Harry Potter. 

Visitors to Miyahara are not only recommended to appreciate the details of the historic architecture but also to try Dawn Cake’s signature ice cream, bubble tea, and pastries.

As this trip is considered like a chance for us to relax after a hardworking semester, my friends and I decided to travel without any plan. Besides the worthwhile experiences we got during the trip, there was also an incident that made our journey become much more memorable, which is that we missed the return flight to Korea on the last day of the trip.  

We started the trip with the thought "take it slow, explore and enjoy whatever we want", but it was really funny that we almost finish the trip with panic. Anyway, we finally handled it and safely came back to Korea. 

Me and my "Kaonashi friend" from Jiufen 

I hope you enjoy reading my travel story and note for yourself some must-go places if you have a chance to visit Taiwan. 

Thank you for reading!!!