8days in Taipei (Taiwan), yikes, I'll try to keep it as short as possible! If you tell anyone you are going to Taipei for a week, they'd tell you you're nuts. Someone told me on the night I arrived. But to me, it's more than a checklist. I'd rather have extra time to just walk around and try to feel a cities vibe, could I have done with less days here though? Of course. Could I have seen more of Taiwan? Sure. But for me, this was fine. Btw, this was probably my first social contact I had in weeks (and they asked if I was from Canada, glad I still don't sound like Dutchie). It hasn't been busy in the first places I went to because of low season, and also now due to the Corona virus and I also kept a bit to myself. I mean I won't be alone for more than half of my trip so I might as well enjoy it while it lasts right!
It was also the first night I shushed someone. I arrived around 11pm and tried to go to sleep about an hour after and this girl was on the phone having a loud conversation, so I asked her to be quiet (in sort of a nice way) and she said sorry and stopped talking. Gosh, am I getting old? Haha, I do think that this might be one of the last times I'll be backpacking like this. Plus I did call this kind of my 'good bye' tour of visiting the final pieces of my puzzle on this end of the world. I must say though, I've been very succesful at picking good and comfortable hostels/beds, but I am kind of looking forward to having my own room and mostly to a pool, sun and good (cheap) food. And just a change of scenery really, it's been a lot of the same.
The main reason for me to go to Taipei was for the annual lantern festival in Pingxi! Giant paper lanterns flying high into the sky. I decided to do this on a day trip. One of the first things our tour guide asked was where everbody got their masks? Mostly got them from home or another country. Apparently they were sold out and the only way to get one in Taiwan now is if you have an insurance card and even then you are limited to 1-2 per week if they have any at all. Later that week I saw a line outside a pharmacy, I guess a new batch came in. Somebody said that the masks were 'made in China' and the tourguide joked that maybe that was their agenda.
The tour was fun, I talked to a group of 3 from Hawaii most of the day, a couple and their friend. And one asked me if I wasn't afraid, not wearing a mask and all. And I said, no, if it's my time, it's my time and I'll be doing something I love (and no I don't mean coughing or dying). Besides if everyone is wearing one, why should I right.
We had a few stops; Shifen Waterfall. First we saw a tiny one, and then a medium one...was this getting better? And then a big one! That was it! It was gorgeous and even though my shoes and socks were soaked, I walked to the better viewing points which only a few others did. Did not prepare to have any rain on my trip, but there it was. I had wet feet till the end! Our tour guide had these rubber boots she pulled over her shoes! She told me; Made in China, order on Alibaba! We also went to Shifen old street, where the train runs by every half an hour and people light up their lanterns from the tracks in between and also went to an old coal mine.
Our final activity was to write on our lanterns (which were as big as a person) and let it fly! My four sides read; Taipei 2020 Pingxi - Be Happy / Laughter, Happiness, Health / For friends and family / Nederland & all over the world. Because of the rain, they soon turned black and all fell from the sky though, dramatic music played in the background (not on purpose I think). It was nice while it lasted! But as they all started crashing down as black dots in the sky, I wondered if anyone was going to pick them up...
The rest of the week involved a lot of walking! I also saw a celebrity! I didn't know who it was at the time, but there was a lot of security, police, photographers, fans, etc. There were old ladies that were 'pushed' aside because they were protesting and happened to be on the same street. And this guy went the same route I went on, I saw him everywhere (at the Taipei Lantern Festival). I later learned that he is Taipeis mayor and people love him. I even saw him on tv in the metro a few days after!
I also had take out from a 1 star Michelin restaurant! Quite the experience :)! And I went to a lot of night markets, they're everywhere and this culture is all about food! It didn't all smell great, but I couldn't pinpoint what it was, 'stinky tofu', blood dishes, no idea. This place is also about shopping, holy crap, sometimes it was almost as if I was walking around in an Ebay/Alibaba/Wish shop haha.
Of course I had to go to the zoo, they had pandas!! The zoo was huge! And full of greenery, I really had to look for some of the animals and didn't see some of them at all. That morning before going to the zoo, I went on a gondala ride which took forever (20-30min) and I walked for about half an hour only to find that the place I was walking to was closed due to construction (31st of Jan till April) and so I walked back. This was the only other day my feet got wet but dried at the zoo.
And there was one day, I was sooo tired. I probably should have stayed in or go out a bit later. I walked around like a zombie and put on some music (2nd time on this trip) and thought some things over, but I might dedicate a seperate post on that.
I did learn from it and took it easy the next day(s), I just walked around the city for a bit. Sightseeing and just experience the culture. Very relaxing and I finally had a sunny day (or 2). I also noticed more and more people started wearing masks and my hostel (and a museum I went to) also started scanning temperatures since a few days. There was also a camera at the biggest/most popular temple and of course most of the airports.
Well, that's it for Taipei/Taiwan!
Flying to a change of scenery....
Cheers,
T.
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