Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Sunny Room, Jiufen / 阳光味宿，九份 >

Way back in 2001, just a few years into the mundane life of a working adult and with hardly any experience travelling with friends, a gal pal and I decided to plan a vacation. Originally set for Hong Kong, we had a change of heart and decided on Taiwan as our destination. Back then, Taiwan was starting to gain popularity for free and easy travel; though way before that (i.e during my parents' generation) tour groups to Taiwan were already common (my parents had their honeymoon in Taiwan!). For my gal pal and I, harbouring girlish memories of The Little Tigers 小虎队, Jimmy Lin 林志颖 (when he was still "the little hurricane", NOT YET the father of Kimi and his brothers), LA Boys... among others, contributed to our maiden trip to Taiwan. 

The short and rather hectic five-day trip was planned largely by my friend. Memories consist of waking up as early as 6am every day, plenty of time spent on the road (to what we felt then was far - Leofoo Village) and dragging exhausted minds and bodies back to the hotel. Nonetheless, it was a trip of many firsts for me. I wouldn't have imagined that the trip was the first of many more to come. I stopped counting the number of times I RETURNED to Taiwan, when it hit FIFTY. 

I love everything about Taiwan - both the nice parts and the not so fabulous. I love the people and culture - the signature hospitality and warmth have surprised and touched me many times. It's hard not to gain weight vacationing in Taiwan (and for that matter, during all vacations) - thematic restaurants, quaint cafes, street food, pearl milk tea and so much more. I love how local artists and creative people are given space to conceive their own brands and products (文创, they call it), this retail option contributing to my easily-out-of-control shopping. I am grateful to be able to see and experience so many things, that my birth country does not offer. My perspective and appreciation of the country have evolved over the years, but my love for Taiwan remains unchanged; often insomniac from yearning to be here when I am not, and already sad about the end of a trip once I step afoot their airport. My retirement dream is to be a farmer tending to a tiiiiiiny plot of land, just anywhere in Taiwan.

By now, I have worked up quite a penchant (some say 'obsession') for extensive research and devising detailed itineraries for enjoying Taiwan. Solo travelling has become a yearly tradition (and why not, given how conducive Taiwan is for solo travel), though I still make trips with friends or elders. I have my share of wrong turns, sometimes impolite people (who exist everywhere, and comparatively rare here), new (to me) places which didn't turn out very fun - but thankfully nothing devastating so far. In fact, I feel that I am very lucky in Taiwan - or should I say, Taiwan brings me good luck. 

When friends started asking me for recommended places to go in Taiwan, and I couldn't find sufficiently detailed blogs to share with them, it felt right that I start one to share my little episodes in Taiwan. At the same time, perhaps serving as a little reference for other travellers who enjoy or want to experience Taiwan as much as I do.

Given that objectives, preferences and priorities differ from traveller to traveller, it occurred to me that Taiwanese and foreigners have rather different expectations. My own habit is to fuss over pre-trip research, particularly useful for travel with elders or children. Thanks to the plentiful and robust information from Taiwanese bloggers (who may be parents or couples making a journal of where they have been, not paid or popular ones), they have inspired my own blog format (by place, rather than laundry lists of places to go in a day). 

If you are looking for less touristy places, a leisurely pace (i.e spacing out for two or more hours in a quaint cafe or Zen tea house is NOT a waste of time), I hope you will find something you like on my page. If you have questions you want to ask, just leave me a message or email me at lyndalim.pixnet@gmail.com. 

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