Taiwan. My Adventure.
I'm in Taiwan and here, I add some thoughts, first impressions about the country and people.
I’m fortunate. Traveling enriches the soul in so many ways, especially if you travel right - with abundant time to just wander and really take in the spirit of what’s around you and not just check box off the tourist spots.
I’ve been to almost 100 countries in my short life. Lived for long periods of time in 8 of them. I’m an anthropologist by schooling, trade and enjoy being “lost”, filled with cultural dissonance. It keeps one feeling naked, alive.
During my travels, I’ve often made lists about countries, my own personal observations, by no means true or definitive. See the last one - about S. Korea. I also recommend this list of Gyorgy Faludy - What Makes A Good Country.
Here I share one about where I’m at, at this moment - the island of Taiwan.
1. Scooters. So many, flocks of them. Even dedicated highway lanes for them. Sidewalks are a kind of hallucination, most have been defeated by the scooter and its need for a parking place.
2. Peanut Butter. Miracles of miracles. You can find it everywhere. I had the most delicious ever (and I’ve had a few) hot peanut butter sandwich at Raohe Night Market. For $1 it was a meal 2 times over.
3. Kitty. Kittens. What’s with this? Shops, parks, products, labels all with “kitty”
4. Claw games. Video game arcades. You find them all over the place. Usually a bright yellow. Near my hotel is a whole grocery store consisting of ONLY claw games. You put in your money and try to beat the system and get a product for a fraction of its cost. People spend hours there and fill whole shopping carts by claw machine only.
5. Orderliness. Taiwanese know how to line up. Wait patiently. Lines on the ground everywhere indicating where you line up and queue. Pedestrians are king! Such a welcome thing, everyone stops for you when you cross the street. Really surprising and a delight. Also, there is a high level of politeness. Not as much as Koreans but less loud and boisterous than the mainland Chinese.
6. Masking. A much higher level than I’ve experienced anywhere else in Asia recently. Probably nearing 40% using masks in public.
7. Public transportation. Cheap, efficient, so convenient. It really is a marvel here. I thought Korea was a miracle for traveling around but Taiwan much more so. Renting an electric bike, even for me, a foreigner, was a breeze. Just use a transportation card I filled up at the metro station when I arrived (IC “Easy” card).
8. Food. Ok, can’t forget this. The night markets are just phenomenal and there is everything you can ever imagine wanting to eat. Just sit down somewhere and you’ll be served! I’m returning to Taipei and will take a trip to Keelung Night Market on the coast – if it was good for Anthony Bourdain, it is good for me.
9. Not a coffee culture. Cafes are available but not on every corner like say Vietnam. When you do find one, many are full of teenagers studying to death, lounging on every available seat. But at least I can get coffee – my drug of choice.
Basketball seems big here. Football/soccer not so much. You see courts everywhere and all the youngsters are wearing basketball paraphenalia.
I will continue my adventures in Taiwan. Time on my hands. I’ll just wander and write my poems in my notebooks and enjoy the people of this amazing island.
I really enjoyed this. I've never been to Taiwan, but but I feel like I have a better sense of its everydayness. What fun for you to be able to do this, travel with time to wander and soak up a culture.