Taiwan: An Affair (2018-2020)
I feel I have to take advantage of the fact that Taiwan has become visa-free to us, Filipinos, at least for some time. When I was younger and well, innocent, I dreamt of going to Taiwan to see those actors I once idolized It was a very long time ago and honestly, I don't even remember their names anymore. I always thought Taiwan has so much to offer especially to someone fond of nature and outdoors. And so with every visa runs I had to do, this country has become my go-to place and little did I know, our sweet affair has begun.
The First Time | 2018
Parks are my thing. Merely the reason why I instantly love this country despite being the first time. The abundance of the park, the right balance of nature without having to go out of the city; the people — it’s a nearly perfect place for me as an ex-pat. And the next thing I know, I was reading an article about jobs in Taipei.
Parks are my thing. Merely the reason why I instantly love this country despite being the first time. The abundance of the park, the right balance of nature without having to go out of the city; the people — it’s a nearly perfect place for me as an ex-pat. And the next thing I know, I was reading an article about jobs in Taipei.
Taipei streets and art. Seeing beauty in daily life.
Becoming a Habit | 2019
Some people have reservations when it comes to revising places and in my case, I love it. It's a weird ritual I follow every time I go to a certain place. You remember how it looked like, the familiar, and you gain a fresh new perspective. It’s becoming a habit going to Taiwan for my visa run but there’s just so much to see and tell.
The dancing coffee maker at Geesaa - the coolest coffee maker I've seen. It is priced at TWD 26,000 per set (with Chemex and metal filter) which is roughly USD 830. Although they have a wide variety of coffees, their main product is actually the coffee maker.
Gachapon, figurines, collectibles, latest gadgets — just some of the things you'll find inside Syntrend Creative Park. A huge tech showroom with also lots of cute and interesting stuff. A paradise for the tech enthusiasts, otakus and gamers alike. That's why it is also pegged as the Akihabara of Taiwan. Connected by a sky bridge is another tech hub - Guanghua Digital Plaza, and just a couple of blocks away you'll find a tiny skatepark under a bridge towards yet another noteworthy park, the Huashan 1914 Creative Park (same park as above).
In the highlands outside the city, there are small villages like this. Jiufen is probably the most famous one for its movie adaptations. Lanterns, postcards, cute souvenir items, countless tea houses, street food shacks, free taste. It gets really crowded in the evening and I feel it's more like a shopping area for souvenirs. I still love the vibe and personality though. Just sitting at one of the tea houses overlooking the small town. It was like a sweet escape.
More of the random things I captured that day. I took the TRA and a bus to go there. It was a bit confusing at the train station as there are lots of train types and platforms but eventually found my way. Later that day I found out that I could've taken a straight bus, which I did on the way back.
New Years Holiday | 2020
Truly a great place and time to be here. It’s my first time spending New Years with family outside the Philippines. To be in a country that doesn’t really celebrate Christmas, it was both interesting and exhilarating. Even though it’s not in their culture, Taipei celebrates it in such grandeur that it’s gaining even more popularity each year.
1. There’s free water in every metro station, and almost everywhere.
2. Public bathrooms are always, always clean and equipped with tissues and toilet sanitizer. (It’s not always like this where I come from!)
3. Dogs are sort of being used to attract customers into coming to their stores. Also, unleashed dogs are OK.
4. PDA or public display of affection is evident, at least in the city.
5. Milk tea shops are literally in every corner of every street in every district and most likely in every region in Taiwan.
6. Free WiFi means signing up using a local sim card. So if you don’t have a local sim card, then forget about it.
7. Never trust the weather in the morning. It drastically changes throughout the day.
8. Coffee is undoubtedly expensive but good quality.
9. Umbrella is an everyday essential.
10. Access to virtually everything.
Keep Smiling :)
