In the summer of 2010, I had the opportunity to visit Taiwan for forty days, spending the first month with a cultural program designed for overseas students to experience and learn Taiwanese culture, and making the most out of my remaining days with my relatives in Tainan. A few hours before my flight, I wrote this post: Trip Debriefing - currently the most visited post on my blog. Among the whys, whats, and other details of the trip, I also listed some goals, including the hope that I could update this site daily.
As I have now returned back home, I'm removed the Life in Taiwan banner from the main page, as my blog (if I'm able to maintain it over the school year) returns to "casual posting mode". But of course, I've moved the banner to this page, which will serve as a summary and record of these forty wonderful days in Taiwan.
First Two Weeks in Taipei
The first half of our cultural program, officially known as the 2010 Overseas Compatriot Youth Formosa Study Tour which also goes by the name Love Boat, was spent in Taipei, at the Jiantan Youth Activity Centre. We did some touring around Taipei, but a good chuck of our time was spent at the activity centre, with plenty of activities coupled with the occasional classes, that allowed us to learn a bit more about Taiwan, its culture, and each other. Each Sunday and Thursday afternoon, we had free time, where many of the campers, myself included, would visit our relatives.
Day
|
Post Title (link)
|
Notes
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Day 0 (July 7/8)
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Flight and Arrival
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Day 1 (July 9)
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Exploring Jiantan and the Shilin Night Market
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Day 2 (July 10)
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Tzu-chi Culture and Communication Foundation,
Tamsui Night Market, ice cream | |
Day 3 (July 11)
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World cup, family time with my cousin and his twins,
beef noodle soup dinner, bubble tea delivery | |
Day 4 (July 12)
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National Taiwan College of Performing Arts, flute class
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Day 5 (July 13)
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Jinshan Beach
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Day 6 (July 14)
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Taiwan Handicraft Promotion Center, Chiang Kai-shek
Memorial Hall | |
Day 7 (July 15)
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Frog eggs, Ximending, billiards, pasta, shaved ice
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Day 8 (July 16)
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Folk music appreciation, museum lecture, slave auction
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Day 9 (July 17)
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Last flute class, Discovery Center of Taipei, Longshan
Temple, Cloud Gate Theatre | |
Day 10 (July 18)
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Meeting up with Kysen, Ximending, 228 Peace Park,
Justice Action Church, birthday dinner with relatives | |
Day 11 (July 19)
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National Palace Museum, Cape No. 7
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Day 12 (July 20)
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Pudding milk tea, Taiwan trivia
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Day 13 (July 21)
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Last Mandarin class, bowling, Shilin food staples
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Down South Trip
At the end of the first half of Loveboat, we began out ten day down south trip, an opportunity to explore all of Taiwan, not just Taipei. We bussed around the island in a clockwise direction, driving by majestic coastlines, through mountain tunnels, across national parks, and stopping by many of Taiwan's famous historical sites and modern attractions. Down South Trip Map! was a post that took about two day's worth of free time, highlighting our ten-day journey. A direct link to the Google Maps page is right over here.
Day
|
Post Title (link)
|
Itinerary / highlights
|
| Day 14 (July 22) | Taipei to Taroko | Taipei → Yilan → Taroko National Park National Centre for Traditional Arts |
| Day 15 (July 23) | Around Taroko and Hualien | Taroko National Park → Hualien Tunnel of 9 Trails, Eternal Spring Shrine, Cisingtan Beach, Mochi Factory, Night Market |
| Day 16 (July 24) | Down the East Coast | Hualien → Jhihben Basian Caves, Sansiantai |
| Day 17 (July 25) | To the Southern Tip of Taiwan | Jhihben → Kenting Maobitou, Aquarium |
| Day 18 (July 26) | Rain! | Kenting → "Meinong" → Kaohsiung Erluanbi, Dream Mall |
| Day 19 (July 27) | Heading back North | Kaohsiung → Tainan → Sitou Meeting relatives, Confucius Temple |
| Day 20 (July 28) | In the mountains | Sitou → Sun Moon Lake → Puli Ita Thao Village, Wenhu Temple |
| Day 21 (July 29) | Sunny Skies in Taichung | Puli → Sun Moon Lake → Taichung Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village, 921 Earthquake Museum, Fongjia Night Market |
| Day 22 (July 30) | Living with Nature | Taichung → Miaoli → Fusing National Museum of Natural Science, Agricultural Research Station |
| Day 23 (July 31) | Return to Taipei | Fusing → Yingge → Taipei Mark of the Chiangs, Ceramics Dinner with Jim |
Wrapping up Love Boat
Returning to Taipei after our Down South Trip, we continued to explore the city just like we toured the country, boarding our buses and stopping by Taipei's most iconic landmarks. As the program approached its end, we visited many of our favourite spots with our remaining time, enjoying great food along the way. There were no classes in the final days, though time at the Jiantan Activity Centre was spent mostly on preparations for the Closing Ceremonies. Soon, after some beautiful sunrise photos on the building's rooftop, we were saying goodbye, and going our separate ways.
Day
|
Post Title (link)
|
Notes
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Day 24 (Aug 1)
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Five reasons why loveboaters get sick.
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Day 25 (Aug 2)
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Presidential Office Building, Taipei 101, Karaoke
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Day 26 (Aug 3)
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Yangmingshan N.P., Taipei Zoo, Shenkeng Old Street
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Day 27 (Aug 4)
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Ximending, Hot pot dinner
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Day 28 (Aug 5)
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Closing ceremonies, rooftop pictures, final night in Shilin
Night Market, saying Goodbyes |
Tainan
After Love Boat, I headed south to Tainan (via the High Speed Rail!) to spend my time with my relatives, namely aunts, uncles, cousins, and my grandma on my mom's side. Unfortunately, I fell sick with a fever soon after arrival, though the down time did give me the opportunity to recover from Love Boat's hectic schedule and the time to catch up on some blog posts. Nevertheless, after a few days, I was once again touring the local hotspots, including universities, temples, churches, and of course, restaurants - lots of great food in Tainan. On the 16th, I returned to Taipei for a final night, before taking off early on the 17th, saying goodbye to a wonderful 40 days in Taiwan.
Day
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Post Title (link)
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Notes
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Day 29 (Aug 6)
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Final Goodbyes, Conveyor-belt sushi, High speed rail
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Day 30 (Aug 7)
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Haircut, dinner with my third aunt.
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Day 31 (Aug 8)
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Father's Day lunch, sleep...
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Day 32 (Aug 9)
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sick
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Day 33 (Aug 10)
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sick
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Day 34 (Aug 11)
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National Cheng Kung University
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Day 35 (Aug 12)
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Lunch
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Day 36 (Aug 13)
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Chi-mei musuem
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Day 37 (Aug 14)
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Taoban Restaurant, bubble tea
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Day 38 (Aug 15)
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Exploring Tainan, Maxwell Memorial Church,
Weather Centre, Tainan noodles, Dinner with family
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Day 39 (Aug 16)
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High Speed Rail, Back in Taipei
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Day 40 (Aug 17)
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Departing Taipei
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