yestravel

Yes, 3 weeks got us to see everything we wanted to see. As I mentioned in the TR we could have stayed longer in a couple places and a day less in Taipei. We do travel slower these days than most people. We didn't get to some of the more remote places because it would take up too much time and I didn't want to make any stays shorter. This trip was an add on/change to an originally planned 5 week Japan trip. I had our tickets to & from Japan already and in the Spring made the switch to see Taiwan while we could. I still wanted some time in Japan so it was a compromise. One could easily do less time in Taiwan or a week more than 3 weeks. We split the 5 weeks with 2 in Japan as it was our second trip there and 3 in Taiwan.

No, you could not go into the destroyed temple. What amazed me aside from the fact it was still standing at all was that the temple was built in contemporary times, started in 1991, and still had the incredible classical elements of traditional Taiwanese Taoist-style temple. The temple was not built to withstand an earthquake of that magnitude. Apparently it was left as a memorial and to be an educational object.

I wanted to get a hair wash and kept forgetting or came across a salon at the wrong moment. So stumbling across this little place was a stroke of serendipity. The woman was so sweet.

Hope you are enjoying family time this holiday.

progol

I also love the shot of you getting your hair washed! You look so happy!

The colors throughout Taiwan - in the temples and in the art - just astound me. More than anywhere else, it keeps reminding me of South India, with its garish, OTT temples. But Taiwan seems to have a wonderful youthful energy and culture as well.

You’re not kidding when you used the word, “fascinating”! It really is!

yestravel

The hair wash was pure heaven. I try to do it at least once in every Asian country I have visited. Tokyo supposedly has a great place but I never bothered to find it. Next trip!
Taiwan is a vibrant country both in terms of the colors and the people. Having not been to Mainland China I wonder how it compares. I thought it very different than Hong Kong.

tripplanner001

The hair wash you're describing is also available at the Taiwanese- or Malaysian-owned beauty salons in NYC. I know of at least two in Manhattan and one in Flushing growing up; don't know if those in particular are still around anymore.

yestravel

Thanks! I should look around and try to find one here. I tried to talk my hair guy into it. He’s Vietnamese and knew exactly what I was talking about.

yestravel

November 1 -- Our last full day in Taiwan in Taichung All good things must come to an end and our time in Taiwan is coming to an end. Today we needed to figure out what we could realistically see for only 1 full day in Taichung. Taichung is a sprawling city and unfortunately lacks much in the way of metro. One line with others being developed. Buses seem to be the main mode of public transportation. Given our short time here, the sprawling nature of the city and the heat, we decided to use taxis for parts of our day.

We began the day with a long cab ride across town to the renown Rainbow Village. Rainbow Village is an outdoor street art project created by a former veteran in Chiang Kai-shek’s army to preserve the dilapidated military dependent village he’d lived in for half a century. He still lives there and recently turned 100 years old. More details here… https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbow_Village.

From there we took another taxi to the National Taichung theater, a spectacular space designed by Japanese architect Ito Toyo. “Based on the "sound cave" concept, elements such as curved-wall units and air holes are used to build this changed space. The result is a newfound building that stands on its own firmly without supporting pillars or 90-degree walls at all.” They had a great shopping mall with small spaces by various designers inside it and I got myself a great blouse.

Third taxi took us to the Calligraphy Greenway, a nice shady park with sculptures. It leads you to the National Fine Arts Museum where we spent time. Again an interesting space and some interesting art. I came to the conclusion that some of it is lost on me perhaps due to the language?

After spending an hour or so in the museum we walked back to our hotel, but wait! What did I happen upon? A foot massage place. And yes, in I went and got a fabulous foot massage. After 45 minutes with what felt like new feet I danced my way back to our hotel.

That evening we returned to Miyahara for dinner. It was funny yesterday they were decked out for Hallween and poof its now Xmas decorations!

After another delicious meal we just wandered and enjoyed our last hours in Taichung. We did meet an American man there on business with his local translator. One of the very few Americans we have seen on our three weeks in terrific Taiwan.

Sorry order of photos are messed up again!

National Fine Arts Museum

National Fine Arts Museum

Colorful Taiwan

Train Station

Train Station

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village

Rainbow Village


National Taichung Theater

National TaichungTheater

National Taichung Theater

National Taichung Theater

Caligraphy Greenway

Caligraphy Greenway

Caligraphy Greenway

National Fine Arts Museum

Dinner art

A lovely sunset to end our final day

Train Station

Nightime

Final view from our room overlooking the train station. Back to Japan in the morning

progol

As you said, fascinating! Thank you for this fabulous report - I’ve loved following this and will be studying it carefully for ideas as I now am hoping/dreaming of a trip here next year, possibly combined with a return to Japan. We’ll see but it’s all your fault that I want to go to Taiwan now (wink-wink)!

Again, thanks for taking the time to put this together. It is inspiring!

yestravel

Glad you enjoyed the TR. Thanks for following along. I will take full responsibility for any journeys you take as a result of this TR.

For people who enjoy traveling a bit off the beaten path, Taiwan really fits the bill. I think its off the radar in the US for travel, but more popular for Asians esp from Singapore. While its crowded in some places it's more locals. Taiwan with a population of ~24m is about the size of the state of Maryland. Maryland has a population of 6m. I think you would enjoy a visit to Taiwan.

progol

I’m looking at videos now and it does look very doable though probably not for 3 weeks since I’d love to return to Japan. Sigh….too many options! But Taiwan is a definite possibility.

shelemm

You have so many spectacular photos.... could it be that my favorite is the dragonfly photo at the train station? I don't even know what I'm looking at......

yestravel

Two weeks would give you a nice taste of the country.

shelemm "You have so many spectacular photos.... could it be that my favorite is the dragonfly photo at the train station? I don't even know what I'm looking at...."
Thank you -- Taiwan is a photographers delight. So many photos it was hard to choose for this TR. I was there and dont know what the dragonfly was all about! So many whacky things everywhere.