We feel so eased when settling down in Taiwan. It is so close to my hometown both geographically and culturally, as we have the same language, culture, and history. Even though we are all descendants of China, this small but lovely island makes us more proud of our Chinese background because of its democracy and versatile culture. It is quite nostalgic and heartwarming to let my children experience a bit similar traditions/things that I had when I was a child. Those things include walking to school and back home along narrow and bustling alleys, where you wave say hi to every neighbor and street food vendor. Sometimes the stench of stinky tofu finds us before we could run away with a burst of complaints. Now, the encounter with stinky tofu becomes a showcase of how the kids embrace challenges, when they would ask for a thumb-up after bravely walking through the smell.
In Taipei, where we live mostly during our stay in Taiwan, it is all about busy living and people riding motorcycle faster than my eyes can catch. Even though that is just like where I was born and raised in mainland, I am still trying to refamiliarize the life style bit by bit. We have gotten accustomed to slower rhythm living in the U.S. You know, when you are used to have none family nearby and do everything by yourself, being surrounded by street food with jaw-droppingly low price and having helping hands to clean our rental home weekly can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. I know I will miss this overwhelming convenience when we are back in Colorado.
In the meanwhile, as we did in Germany, we make full use of our weekends to explore nearby. From densely populated capital city to a quiet hidden camping site in the mountain, we enjoy every single minute of vibrant culture and gental wind in the face. Having no language or cultural barrier really makes things a lot easier. The focus turns from where to travel to how to travel. A smooth pace of travelling is an invitation to explore things thoroughly and peacefully , making the encounter more meaningful. For example, we can explain some history and culture background to kids when visiting the National Palace Museum. We can rephrase the exhibition introduction into a more child-friendly language.
Taipei Area
Tamsui, is located along the north coast about 40 minutes from Taipei by metro. It is very accessible as a day trip, especially popular for locals on weekends. The Tamsui old street is the most popular site in Tamsui. Located along the riverfront close to the metra station, Tamsui Old Street is a very walking-friendly area full of shops, carnival games, and cafés. Our favorite is definitely the super ice-cream and fruity ice in a huge bowl. After some snacks, a beach visit is definitely a plus and highlight for the whole family.
Before New Year was coming out of blink, we went to Yang Ming Mountain which is also a nearby site-seeing location and popular among locals. There are all accessible trails suitable for families. And this area is also famous for the hot springs that attract visitors to enjoy a relaxing spa gifted by Mother Nature.
Jiufen and Shifen
A richly endowed northern part of the island attracts international tourists to visit and explore from time to time. Its charm does not lie in a single building or landmark. The cultural characteristics in this part of the island have an air of good old days. The green woods are appreciated as a beautiful emerald jewelry box, with old-fashioned trains crossing back and forth. You can also follow the tradition to seek blessings from heaven by launching your own sky lantern on the railway of Shifen. Then you can yearn for the beauty of simpleness in the past by eating chewy taro balls along the narrow Jiufen alleys lighted by countless lanterns.
Miaoli
Everything slows down in Miaoli, a town 117 km away from Taipei. Different from Taipei,where public transportation is very convenient , the most enjoyable and stress-free way to get around in Miaoli is by car so that you can explore natural treasures offered by the mountains. Our trip focuses on glamping in the mountain. On the way to the camping site, we took some time to pick up strawberries at Dahu. There we saw white strawberries called Milk strawberry for the first time. They are quite sweeter than what we expected, judging by the unripe-looking skin. Of course, the price is much higher than normal strawberry.
The taxi took us upward on the winding mountain road. The camping site is hidden behind a bamboo alley. Once we arrive at the parking lot, the open space invites us into a wonderland. In front our eyes, there sit towering clouds hovering over the valley. We just stretch our arms towards the sky, freely let the moist air going through lungs and the nature itself seems to be within our grasp.
The glamping activity was a blast, with colorful magical bubbles floating around, sizzling barbeque and toasty mush mellows spoiling our stomach, as well as the electrified tent keeping us warm. The experience has been exceedingly wide, beyond our wildest imagination.
Despite the fact that Miaoli is hardly ever a traveler’s first choice, as it is not so flourishing as other big cities with fancy cuisines or shops. Nevertheless, any undeveloped place is a good place.
Happy Rabbit Year
The blog records this period of life, when I became a bit lazier or say a bit overwhelmed by so many moments. Above pictures were taken through different formats. Since I am learning to develop and scan my own films, they are not aligned very well. But I promise trial-and-errors will make a difference.
The blog update cuts off at the Lunar New Year. We went to the annual Lunar New Year market in Dihua Street and joined a friend’s family reunion dinner on New Year Eve. I could not remember the last time that I celebrated lunar new year with my own family or heard the sounds of firecrackers. The beautiful couplets, fun acrobatic show, exciting firecrackers and the most heartwarming family reunion all make this Rabbit Year especially meaningful to us.
Hope the pictures and video carry our best wishes to you all – Have a wonderful Rabbit Year!
