Under the cherry blossom tree was the most tempting thing we dreamed of when we were still in Taiwan, wondering about life in Japan. When the dream became a reality, we started reminiscing about our life in Taiwan, which will always have a special place in our hearts.
The rest of our time in Taiwan was filled with adventures, from the freezing trip to Alishan during Spring Festival to riding a paraglider in Taitung, hiking in Taroko with a wild monkey jumping up and down, and enjoying an amazing train ride right beside the ocean. It’s difficult to capture all of these experiences in one journal or choose a favorite, as they are all so unique and special.
When we ventured to Chiayi during spring festival, we were aware of the potential risks, such as closed restaurants and frigid weather. However, we kept an open mind and were pleasantly surprised by the breathtaking views of Alishan and the yummy street food we encountered. One of the highlights of our trip in Chiayi city was the Museum of Taiwan Tiles. The museum is located in a former timber storage building from the Japanese colonial era, and the antique ambiance of aged wood adds a lot of charm. In order to experience the hundred-year-old wood flooring, visitors are highly recommended to remove their shoes. The exquisite tile collections showcased throughout the museum offer insight into the history of tiles as symbols of wealth and status. Each tile carries a unique pattern and signifies a distinct meaning. Some tiles are carved with an equal combination of black and white backgrounds, along with floral designs, symbolizing the concept of harmony in Yin-Yang. We were thrilled to learn that the museum not only displays its collection but also collaborates with businesses to bring tile designs to everyday products, including stationery, skincare items, and home decorations. People are also welcome to participate in some activities like painting the tile of their own.
The coldness during this trip that we felt like taking up most of courage to conquer was during the train ride in Alishan. The temperature was dropping abruptly, and the train does not have any heat. Despite feeling like walking popsicles and having barely enough energy to explore, we still managed to hike in Shenmu forest before sunset. The forest was breathtaking with incredible resilience of trees that have lived for hundreds of years. Among them, the most remarkable one is the “three-generation” tree, which has grown into three tiers; the dead but still sturdy foundation at the bottom, the grand level in the middle, and the vigorously growing dad and son level on top. Standing in front of these gigantic trees, we couldn’t help but feel the miraculous wonder of life.
The trip to Hualien and Taitung was amazing. Unlike the west coast, the townships in Taiwan’s east coast are not connected by a high-speed train. However, the east coast is relatively less popular, and it offers more natural and untouched beauty. For instance, the Taroko National Park can be easily reached in 2-3 hours from Taipei, yet its breathtaking scenery feels like a world away. Initially, we explored Hualien by renting a car and went on a road trip from Qi Xing Tan to Taroko National Park. Later, we took the train south all the way to Taitung.
On the first afternoon, we spent a leisurely time biking in Qi Xing Tan Park, where a moderate biking trail runs along the ocean and leads to a lighthouse that offers a great sea view. The kids loved the strong wind at the top of the hill the most, and the waving grass made for a perfect photo opportunity.
The following day, we explored Taroko and had a lot of fun. Qingshui Cliff, a part of Taroko Gorge, is a must-see attraction that can take your breath away with its sheer wall of green and grey rising from the blue ocean. As its name suggests, Qingshui means “clear water” in English, and it certainly lives up to that name. Taroko Gorge itself is named after the Taroko aboriginal tribe. For us, hiking is the best way to explore a natural area, and this time we opted for one of the most accessible and stunning trails in the park called the “Shakadang” trail. Shakadang means “tooth” in the Truku aboriginal language, and while walking along the carved path beside the river, the large rocks looked like giant teeth. The 4.4-kilometer riverside trail was not difficult to hike with two kids as there were many interesting rocks, plants, and even wild animals nearby. We even spotted a monkey jumping up and down and many fish at the end of the trail.
After a few days in the northeast, we embarked on a journey to the south, heading towards Taitung. It is such a lively city with yummy street food and friendly people. The city’s situated right by the ocean. Walking along the beach at sunset was an unforgettable experience for all of us. The next day was spent along what’s known as the “mountain-line,” which brought us to several places of interest located near the mountains instead of the sea, including Chu-Lu Farm, Lu Ye Hill, and Chishang Township. Each of these places has its own unique features. At Chu Lu Farm, we fed some farm animals and tasted their exquisite milk. Jane had a fantastic time riding a paraglider with a coach, and last but not least, we biked alongside rice fields in Chishang. All of these experiences were truly amazing.
Jane wrote her spectacular experience in her journal ” the coach took me to the slope where we could take off. I knew, right then, that if I could ride a dolphin, then I could ride a paraglider. A heavy backpack was placed on my shoulder, the coach called “a chair in the air” I ran down the slope and immediately, the banana shaped umberlla rose into the air and me, too. I looked down seeing the scene below my feet. I could see the tips of the tall trees that had once been much higher than me. The higher we get, the stronger wind blew my face. When there is no wind, we fall down. The coach pointed to a little bird, which was flying above our heads. He said it was a baby hawk. He pointed to some neatly planted rows of plants and said they were rice field. Did you know Taitung yields the most rice in all of Taiwan? I strained my eyes to see the rice field, but we were already going to the next direction. I was like a bird soaring high in the sky. Once it seemed like we almost hit a tree. Sometimes we chat and other times we quietly look out at the view. At the end of the ride, we played swing up and down, up and down. It made my tummy feel weird. My parents greeted me and Mary was sucking her thumb. She must have been so worried about me. I love this experience, next time, I may want to ride three times, or maybe more!”
When Jane expressed her desire to try it out, I was proud of her and signed her up for the paragliding adventure without much thought. However, her father and younger sister were extremely concerned. While I yelled in the direction of the paraglider, her father kept a watchful eye on the wind detector, and her sister sucked her fingers nervously. When we finally saw Jane’s happy face soaring in the sky like a firework, we felt a great sense of relief. It turned out to be one of her most beautiful moments.
We spent most of February in Taipei and nearby. While kids had no school anymore, we were busy preparing to move to Japan. Just as we had become accustomed to the humid weather and busy city life, it was time to bid farewell again. Looking back on our four-month stay in Taiwan, the most remarkable thing was the warmth and hospitality we received from everyone we encountered. Our friends, café chefs, school teachers, street vendors, and taxi drivers all contributed to making our stay in Taiwan an incredibly perfect one. On our last day, as we were riding in the taxi, the kids were excited to see that the 101 landmark building was following us. Little one said, “I guess it will miss us too.” big one murmured that:” I will certainly miss everything here”.
