Top ten from Taiwan
by prudence on 10-Mar-2013
What do you do when you're told your long-awaited visa is going to take at least another two weeks? You find a bargain flight to Taiwan, and do your two weeks' waiting there.
Excellent decision.
Below are our highlights (with food deserving a separate post):
1. Walking in Taipei. It's a joy. Whether you walk the broad streets, the riverside trails, the wonderful, spacious parks, or the fascinatingly contrasting neighbourhoods, it's all walker-friendly. And Taipei has managed to triumph over its traffic. As I noted here, I've not seen a traffic jam in two weeks, cars are kept in their place, and when you're fed up walking, the public transport system is truly excellent. Town-planners of the world -- go, see, imitate.
2. Being totally delighted by Taipei in general. It's easy to manage, chock full of interesting things to do, and just a stone's throw from some amazingly wild scenery. I could so live here. Up for special mention: Longshan Temple; Baoan Temple; the National Palace Museum; and Taipei 101.
3. Enjoying Wulai, one of Taipei's many easy escapes. Fabulous scenery and awesome hot water.
4. Hitting the rails. Whether it's the whizzy high speed train, or the fleet of trains that cover the rest of the routes, they're efficient, comfortable, and punctual. They also travel through some gob-smacking scenery, riding along by the surf and through the mountains. We circumnavigated in three easy stages, taking time out in Tainan and Hualien.
5. Taking in the myriad ancient and splendid temples, monuments, and streetscapes of Tainan, and exploring more of Taiwan's early history in neighbouring Anping.
6. Observing acts of worship. This is not exclusive to Taiwan, of course. But we've visited lots of temples in the last couple of weeks, so it's all been very much in my mind again. At some, worshippers can join in chants. But in most places, individually or in small groups, and at any time of day, they can express their worries, their gratitude, and their hearts' desires in various simple and fairly short acts of piety (such as burning incense or incense paper, making a symbolic offering, or pinning up a prayer). There are lots of temples, and most open straight on to the street, so it's reasonably easy to just pop in as part of your daily or weekly routine. I find the informality and accessibility very attractive.
7. Enjoying laid-back Hualien, and coming home each night to the kind hospitality of the Rose Garden B&B.
8. Feeling extremely small in the Taroko Gorge. We spent two days here, being amazed all over again on every new walk. This was not the most reassuring place to experience a couple of very perceptible earthquakes -- but, hey, we're still here.
9. Remembering the joys of spring.
10. Appreciating the wonderfully friendly Taiwan people. They're not all-over-you, super-smiley friendly, but they are unfailingly helpful-and-caring friendly. God bless 'em.
Excellent decision.
Below are our highlights (with food deserving a separate post):
1. Walking in Taipei. It's a joy. Whether you walk the broad streets, the riverside trails, the wonderful, spacious parks, or the fascinatingly contrasting neighbourhoods, it's all walker-friendly. And Taipei has managed to triumph over its traffic. As I noted here, I've not seen a traffic jam in two weeks, cars are kept in their place, and when you're fed up walking, the public transport system is truly excellent. Town-planners of the world -- go, see, imitate.
2. Being totally delighted by Taipei in general. It's easy to manage, chock full of interesting things to do, and just a stone's throw from some amazingly wild scenery. I could so live here. Up for special mention: Longshan Temple; Baoan Temple; the National Palace Museum; and Taipei 101.
3. Enjoying Wulai, one of Taipei's many easy escapes. Fabulous scenery and awesome hot water.
4. Hitting the rails. Whether it's the whizzy high speed train, or the fleet of trains that cover the rest of the routes, they're efficient, comfortable, and punctual. They also travel through some gob-smacking scenery, riding along by the surf and through the mountains. We circumnavigated in three easy stages, taking time out in Tainan and Hualien.
5. Taking in the myriad ancient and splendid temples, monuments, and streetscapes of Tainan, and exploring more of Taiwan's early history in neighbouring Anping.
6. Observing acts of worship. This is not exclusive to Taiwan, of course. But we've visited lots of temples in the last couple of weeks, so it's all been very much in my mind again. At some, worshippers can join in chants. But in most places, individually or in small groups, and at any time of day, they can express their worries, their gratitude, and their hearts' desires in various simple and fairly short acts of piety (such as burning incense or incense paper, making a symbolic offering, or pinning up a prayer). There are lots of temples, and most open straight on to the street, so it's reasonably easy to just pop in as part of your daily or weekly routine. I find the informality and accessibility very attractive.
7. Enjoying laid-back Hualien, and coming home each night to the kind hospitality of the Rose Garden B&B.
8. Feeling extremely small in the Taroko Gorge. We spent two days here, being amazed all over again on every new walk. This was not the most reassuring place to experience a couple of very perceptible earthquakes -- but, hey, we're still here.
9. Remembering the joys of spring.
10. Appreciating the wonderfully friendly Taiwan people. They're not all-over-you, super-smiley friendly, but they are unfailingly helpful-and-caring friendly. God bless 'em.