Unforgettable Taiwan

It was almost a year after my transplant and my nephrologist allowed me to travel abroad. So, I immediately booked a tour package to Taiwan for me and Bobby. 

Day 1: From Taoyuan airport, we met the 21 other joiners, our Filipino guide, and the local guide. We were brought to a restaurant halfway to our first destination for our late lunch. At Chung-She Flower Market, we were wowed by the beautifully landscaped flower gardens of various species and colors. We had just started our tour of the farm when it rained. Despite our raincoats, we had to cut short our visit because it seemed that the downpour would be prolonged. The next stop was the National Taichung Theater with its unique and modern structure and interior design. Dinner was a buffet hotpot then, we checked in at our hotel in Taichung City. After settling in, we walked to the Miyahara Shop which is famous for its Harry Potter building interior and ice cream shop.

Day 2: Before leaving Taichung City, we drove back to the Miyahara Shop to see the building structure in daylight. According to our local guide, the building used to be an eye hospital many decades ago, and when it was sold, the owner made some renovations but retained most of the building and made the roof and the interior modern. The Painted Anime Lane is an alley where the walls of the houses are painted with anime and cartoon characters. The next stop after lunch was a shop showcasing Taiwanese pastries but the highlight of our stay was making our own mini pineapple cakes that we got to taste. Yummy!

At the Chiang Kay-Shek Official Residence, we wandered around the gardens surrounding it. The Rose Garden of the former first lady was full of colorful blooms. There were beautifully landscaped gardens of topiaries, foliage, and other flowering plants. After dinner, we checked in at our hotel in New Taipei City. Bobby and I visited a local coffee shop to cap our day.

Day 3: At the Pingxi District, the only place in Taiwan where sky lanterns are allowed, we joined another couple in writing our wishes on our lantern before flying it. To retain this famous tradition as a tourist attraction, we were told that locals are paid NTD 10 per expired lantern retrieved as a mitigation measure to the environmental issues associated with the practice.  In the same district, we visited the Shifen Waterfalls. The hike to the biggest waterfalls in the series was refreshing. At the National Revolutionary Martyrs Shrine in Taipei City, we watched the much-awaited 20-minute changing of guards.  Our last stop was at the Shilin Night Market. There was a lot of street food. When there is a long queue, it means that the food sold is a bestseller. We ate xiao long bao and taro ice cream wrapped in crepe. Yummy!

Day 4: The commercial part of the tour was the Jade Handicraft featuring jewelry and various products made of jade. Next was Taipei 101, the tallest building in Taiwan, where shops of famous signature items occupy several floors. After lunch, we proceeded to the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, a national monument erected in memory of the former president of the Republic of China. The last stop was at the Ximending Night Market for the final pasalubong shopping before heading to the airport for our return flight.

What did I appreciate most about Taiwan, particularly the three cities we visited? I loved the green landscape, tree-lined streets and highways, pocket gardens in the urban areas even along drainage ways, and the way they value and protect their natural environment.