Location: Taipei, Taiwan

HIATUS. OVER.

Last we left off I was barreling full speed ahead towards home, where I spent a month and a half hanging out with my family, helping out at a local baby store (to make a lil’ cash money) and excitedly packing Max’s backpack…

HE JOINED ME FOR EPIC ADVENTURE ROUND TWO!

We are now both homeless and have little in the way of obligation or responsibilities. What. a. dream! Max will be doing remote work part time and I am still as jobless as ever.

We boarded our plane to Taiwan, on which Max slept NINE (!) of the thirteen hours and I repeatedly tap tap tapped him on the leg saying things like ‘oh my god are you excited?! I am so excited.’ We were lucky enough to to be sat next to a lovely Taiwanese woman named Chia, who gave us a never ending list of some of the greatest things to do during our stay.

I could barely keep myself from constantly looking over, hoping Max would love it all just as much as I had the first time. His wide-eyed stare on the bus ride into the city centre was entertaining to say the least. I am so happy to have returned, as my last memory of Taiwan was me leaving teary-eyed at the idea I wouldn’t be back for quite some time.

Well well well here we are!

We decided to brave the travel exhaustion and jet-lag and jump in head first by planning a busy day. We arrived at Meander Taipei hostel for 8 AM, promptly dropped our bags and set out into the streets. I dragged Max all around Ximen neighbourhood showing off some of the food I loved from my last visit (I have successfully convinced another person that Chinese pancakes are the greatest.)

Max picked up a train card and we braved a visit to Longshan Temple, an elaborate, lively and beautiful temple I remembered from my last visit. I only say ‘braved’ because it’s Chinese New Years right now and the crowds are just insanity. Shoulder to shoulder people packed into the temple like sardines. I kept trying to point out the ornate sculptures, beautiful inlays, and gilded characters etched into the walls- all while we got jostled around by the never ending stream of worshippers.

Last time I was here a bunch of people told me that going to the national palace museum was only worth it to see the outside, and it’s a ways away by bus, but I figured it would be a good way to introduce Max to the city’s layout a bit. The palace was inset into a lush green hillside, with a turquoise roof and yellow tiled siding (it was kind of weirdly underwhelming for what was supposed to be such a beautiful building). White cloud motif fences ran along everywhere leading eventually to a garden. We wandered under trees and over bridges, underneath which many many koi fish squirmed for food pellets that little kids were tossing into the water.

We’d been walking for awhile so it seemed high time for a little pick me up and I was BEYOND READY to have some more Tiger Sugar Milk Tea. Max was sceptical, having gone to university in Vancouver he had tried his fair share of bubble tea and was not a fan. Well neither was I before Tiger Sugar! I am proud to say he took one sip and jokingly buckled his knees and wept at the taste of it. I have a feeling tiger sugar will be a daily thing for us here.

We wandered through the Taipei City Mall, a two kilometres long underground street the runs directly under one of the main roadways above. Every inch is lined with video game stores, vintage shops, arcades, clothes and sweet shops. We stopped in an arcade just to see how it differed from North American ones. A large majority of the space was taken up by rhythm games, on which players who clearly spent many many hours practicing were competing against each other. We gawked, literally mouths open, at the speed they played at. How do people move their arms that quickly? How do they actually even register things with their BRAIN that quickly?!

Finally it was time for dinner and we decided to jump into the closest night market, Ningxia. The fare is tasty (albeit a bit touristy) and the crowds bustling. We tried pigs foot (not at my behest) mystery meat sticks, pork dumplings and honey waffle bubbles. Every new station and every corner Max just kept saying ‘I could get used to this! This is amazing!’

It was an awesome first day. I’m so excited to be back on the adventure path, but too exhausted to stay awake one second longer. Max is already passed out (still fully clothed) and I am about to follow suit.

Sav

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New People

Chia – Taiwan