This post is a list of brief memories and surprises from my first visit to Taiwan.
Heavy breakfast served on a plate wrapped in plastic bag. Plastic is cheaper and quicker than washing up?
Take away soup packaged in a plastic bag in a paper bowl and put into another plastic bag with handles for carrying.
Much plastic in use everywhere, wonder what they do with it all once its discarded.
Very few coffee shops, many tea shops and endless bubble tea shops.
Art quarters all around, nice to see old buildings from factories long gone being reused (instead of demolished as its common in many places).
Hardly anyone speaks even the basic english. They obviously give it no attention. Maybe its the same mentality as in the native english speaking countries - if you speak one of the most common languages in the workl (mandarin), then there’s little incentive to learn any other. They know how to ask for your ice & sugar preferences when ordering milk tea at least. Weirdly though signage on MRT is both mandarin & english, maybe for us tourists?
Red light district in Taipei - unofficial, get raided by authorities rather a lot. Buy a girl drinks to talk to her and maybe reach base one or two.
Food is abundant and delicious. Good luck working out what’s what though.
East coast up to Hualien - developed & kinda feels post-industrial. crushed stone and cement factories, dirty, noisy.
Taipei MRT train carriages are the most spacious I’ve seen and the most smelly - a notable bouquet of wee.
Escalators move at an incredibly slow pace - its like they’re forcing you to take the stairs instead.
Car drivers don’t recognise the ‘standard’ bicycle turning indicator of outstretched arm.
Taroko gorge - lots and lots of construction underway. Beautiful otherwise.
Best to travel to less visited nature places - Chikoshan is incredibly busy, impossible to find a quiet place to enjoy the view. Wuli trail is simply gorgeous, make it all the way to the shelter at the end at 13.5km.
People - ditch the large hotels and instead opt for family-run B&Bs. Incredible hospitality from people who pick you up from the train station, provide delicous fresh breakfast and happily phone up places on your behalf to check availability for your next stay and load you with gifts when you depart. Its like staying with friends, but you never met them before. These folk usually speak plenty english too.