I really enjoyed my time and travels in Taiwan and I spent time hopping around and I feel far too much time on trains and buses, but all in all it was a wonderful trip.
Kari, Tabi and I explored several areas of Taiwan in our travels. From Alishan and Chaiyi to Jiufen and Taipei. We saw loads of culture, people and greenery while exploring the little parts of Taiwan while we could.
In our travels we stopped along the way to stay one night at the lovely Footprints Hostel. (http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Footprints-Taipei-Hostel/Taipei/81679)
A simple and comfortable hostel run by a small family. Rey and his family were wonderful as we talked and I hung out with their cute new baby. We trotted about in the area happening upon a floral show and some super tasty veggie foods in our day there.
Kari and the cool homemade beds.
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| Rey and his wife. |
TAIPEI 101!
Taipei 101 is an easily accessed sigh in Taiwan and the Taipei ares for all to enjoy. We took the MRT to the Taipei 101 station, bobs your uncle, YOU'RE THERE!
The tower its self used to be the largest i the world but is now I think the second or third. I believe there is a taller building in Dubai.
Tabi and I at Taipei 101
The mall inside of Taipei 101 is chock full of high end department stores such as Coach and Armani. But if you are looking for some more casual shopping, there is another mall area just down the road that afford loads of foods and typical mall like shopping stores.
On our way to hunt down the Japanese bank branch in Taiwan we happened to cross this gem! Tabi couldn't resist a ride.
Needing money and finding and empty bank....was not fun
We didnt eat at this place butit must have been good. There were two on the same side of the building. I liked the joke.
Stuck at a Starbucks trying to hunt down some Wifi, we finally broke down and asked the gentleman passing us if he could help us find a Mary Jane Pizza. He was more than helpful and I chatted with him and the woman who joined him as they surfed the web and tried to ind us a way to reach our pizza destination. I spoke shortly with them about my plans to travel the Camino this year and he promptly connected me via email to a friend who had done the Camino and raved about it. I meet nice people everywhere I go.
Banana Hostel
The last leg of our trip went spent the remaining time at Banana Hostel in Taipei. It is a comfortable and relaxed atmosphere completely hidden on the street. Honestly, you wouldn't even know this amazing place was hidden there. If your headed to Taipei Id recommend a night or two. The staff was awesome and I spent a great deal of time just chatting with them when I wasn't bobbing around the city. Easily accessed from Dongmen station with fair rates. And of course...this moose
http://www.hostelworld.com/hosteldetails.php/Banana-Hostel/Taipei/66772?source=adwordstaipeinamesbff&KID=1167103&AID=2&sub_keyword=banana%20hostel%20taipei&sub_ad=e&sub_publisher=ADW&gclid=CMbZls-A8LsCFYNLpgodynYASQ
I had heard a great deal about the vegetarian buffets in Taiwan and I was not overwhelmed with an abundance, but the once I found was good. Just a short walk from the hostel we ate at this tiny shop where I had no idea what most of it was but I felt free to dive in with no fear.
If you are a vegetarian traveling in Taiwan there are a few things to think about,
1-its common to be vegetarian here so they often use protein replacements. These look like meat but are not. Dont fear!
2- Depending on your style of vegetarianism you might be faced with more eggs and dairy than you think. If you do not normally eat these in your diet it is something to keep and eye on.
The amount of small market ares you find is Taiwan is more than you can imagine. Morning through evening people are peddling their wares roadside. The night markets are a bustle with life and the pungent smell of foods as people shove by and your are traffic jammed into a line for some fried duck head or stinky tofu. The focus of the markets seems to be food, but children's toys and clothes can be found at various places as well.
One aspect I found interesting in Taiwan and even when I traveled to Thailand was the amount of cooking done on the side of the road. Out of small canisters or washing dishes in the road, space was limited and I can safely say, OSHA would not approve.
A small glimpse of the nigh market and people settling in from the chaos for some food.
As our night came to and end I feel hard and fast for the glory that is shaved ice. I was AMAZING! A giant pile of flavored finely shaved ice surrounded by hordes of fruit!!!! A Debby paradise. I was scraggly and tired but this needed to be documented. I could eat shaved ice for days!
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