Why Taiwan is My Favourite destination in the World

The very first actions we ever took within my beloved Asia had been when we touched down in Taiwan. And within twenty four hours of showing up, I experienced currently declared that it is my favourite put on the earth.

A small premature? Definitely, but nonetheless, four years on, we nevertheless get struck with a revolution of euphoria whenever we step base in Taiwan. Nonetheless, it is nevertheless my place that is favourite to.

There aren’t lots of people whom list Taiwan because their country that is favourite ever but we can’t stop performing its praises to everyone we meet. Whenever my boyfriend and I also would sit back to prepare our next stint of travel, I’d vote for Taiwan, but somehow it absolutely was constantly over looked in favor a country more well-known, frequently in Southeast Asia. Taiwan appeared to have taken on residency that is permanent our Someday quickly list.

Once I finally were able to convince him to go to, I became overjoyed.

After which I happened to be stressed.

Because let’s say Taiwan wasn’t actually that great? Imagine if I’d thought it absolutely was amazing on that first see as it had been my very first time in Asia, and simply being somewhere that felt international was exciting sufficient? Let’s say Taiwan had been boring?

I needn’t have worried, because Taiwan ended up being in the same way dazzling as I experienced recalled. Perhaps also much more because this right time around, we wasn’t terrified associated with food. And excitingly, my boyfriend dropped difficult for Taiwan and today matters it among their favourite nations. He enjoyed it a great deal that we’re ever likely to be investing a thirty days in taipei later this current year!

Here’s what makes Taiwan so excellent:

The Taiwanese Are Ridiculously Friendly

Within my first trip to Taiwan, we met up with Lia, a Taiwanese woman I’d been emailing on Twitter. At a coffee that is cute, we occurred to say I’d been hoping to see Sun Moon Lake, but didn’t think I’d be able to achieve this (it had been both difficult to make it happen and all over pond without your own personal transportation). Two moments later on, she had produced call and ended up being eagerly telling me her plan: she was using the time off work; her mum ended up being using the time off work; in addition they had been both planning to provide me personally a trip of Sun Moon Lake.

They invested the day that is entire me personally across the pond, purchasing me personally meal, using me personally to temples, purchasing me gift ideas, and refusing to permit us to purchase any such thing.

Jesus, we wore some sexy clothes whenever we first started travelling!

This isn’t a remote incident.

Me under her wing: she led me to her apartment; made me a cup of tea; looked up my hostel online; wrote down the directions in English and Chinese for me; and sent me on my way when I accidentally stepped off the train at the wrong stop in Taichung and was looking lost and bewildered on the side of the road, with no idea how to get to my hostel, a girl took.

We destroyed count of range times somebody took time from their time to walk us to anywhere I happened to be wanting to get — also if it caused them become late in the act. Me to his grandma’s house to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with his family; when I was the only one staying in my hostel in Hualien, the owner took me on his motorbike to an aboriginal dance show as a treat when I was feeling lonely in Taipei, my hostel owner offered to take. I’ve never encountered friendliness like i’ve in Taiwan.

Even if travelling with some guy, I became delighted to discover the Taiwanese were simply as inviting.

A small grouping of hipster teens also went as much as Dave in the exact middle of a retail complex, smiled at him, and earnestly called out, “welcome to Taiwan!”

Irrespective of where we went, every person desired to welcome us with their nation, to aid us arrive at where we necessary to get, and to do anything they are able to to make our stay a pleasant one.

The meals is A fantasy

Very long time visitors regarding the web web site shall understand that once I first found its way to Asia, I experienced never consumed rice or noodles. I’d lived a sheltered life and wound up investing my amount of time in Taiwan consuming unhealthy foods from 7 Elevens. Regardless of those brief moments where hostel buddies took me off to consume and I also needed to imagine we completely knew how exactly to use chopsticks, I kept my eating routine firmly in my rut.

We don’t understand what I became thinking, as the food in Taiwan is AMAZING!

After my present check out, we now firmly place food that is taiwanese of every other food on the planet. There’s the markets you can find in every city, full of unidentifiable dishes of deliciousness night. And although you’ll don’t know everything you’ve simply place in the mouth area, I am able to guarantee it’ll be the absolute most thing that is incredible’ve ever tasted, and you’ll straight away purchase 10 more.

Dumplings and steamed buns from famous Din Tai Fung; unidentifiable fried meat on skewers; my favourite cong you bing — a messy yet amazing pancake fried with springtime onions and wrapped around a fried egg; spicy squid on sticks; bacon, cheese, and egg pancakes for break fast; fried bright purple sweet potato balls; mango shaved ice drizzled with condensed milk; challenging dishes, like duck tongue, pig bloodstream dessert, and chicken foot; one hundred types of bubble tea; a massive fried chicken cutlet the dimensions of my face; oyster omelettes; stinky tofu…

Okay, perhaps not tofu that is stinky.

Anything else, though? The very best. You’ll want to arrive at Taiwan for the markets and the food night. I also choose them to Thailand’s!

Taiwan may be the Land of Themed Restaurants

It’s no key I have an obsession with themed restaurants, as well as in Taipei, you can consume away at another one every for month and not run out of places to try day. They’re therefore much enjoyable!

Thus far, In Taipei, I’ve visited A hey Kitty cafe, a hospital-themed restaurant; a restaurant having a ninja theme; an all-pink Barbie cafe; plus a restaurant that is airplane-themed. I truly desire to go to the jail-themed restaurant, where they handcuff you to definitely your dining dining table!

It is Not Super Valuable

Taiwan is somewhat higher priced than Southeast Asia, but if you’re a spending plan traveller and don’t head remaining in dorms, you are able to travel round the country at under $30 each and every day. I averaged around $10 a night in accommodation costs (the bed in the photo above cost me $8 a night), and $5-10 on food when I first visited. Transportation is cheap-ish, with spending plan choices, like using neighborhood buses (around $15 from Taipei to Kaohsiung), and enjoyable choices, like using the speed that is high for similar journey, at a high price of $50.

I’m never as much of the budget traveller the full times, and I’m specially maybe not once I travel with somebody else. Dave and I also paid between $20 and $50 a evening for accommodation, residing in a mix of personal spaces in hostels and guesthouses.

It is An Easy Task To Get Around

Taipei’s metro system is certainly one of my favourites into the globe: it is neat and atmosphere trained, stops are announced in English, and everyone lines through to the platforms in solitary file. Getting from town to town is straightforward, too. Trains cover many of the locations you’d would you like to go to, therefore the speed that is high makes travelling down the west coastline fast and enjoyable.

It’s Seriously Beautiful

You’ve got the mountains and streams the russian bride cast in Taroko Gorge.

The beaches in Kenting.

The temples in Kaohsiung.

The pond at Sun Moon Lake.

And a whole lot! Everyone loves the vibrant town chaos of Taipei, We nevertheless have to go to the hot springs in Beitou, i truly would like to try searching and white water rafting in Hualien, and you will also hike up a volcano that is dormant. Taiwan has one thing for everybody, plus it’s seriously gorgeous.

You Can Find Therefore Couple Of Tourists

One of many items that makes Taiwan therefore great is you’ll often feel just like you’re one of several tourists that are only the nation! He added me as a friend on Facebook, and then updated his status to say “Wow when I befriended a local on my train from Taitung to Hualien! We came across a foreigner regarding the train today!”

Because therefore people that are few opt to look at the nation, everyone’s so excited to see you’re here, and I also destroyed count associated with the wide range of locals whom welcomed us to Taiwan.

Moving away from the tourist path in lots of places on earth typically involves painful travel times and hours spent finding out logistics. In Taiwan, it is really easy!

For this kind of little nation, Taiwan has an unbelievable amount to supply.

If you’re trying to see somewhere which includes amazing meals, is affordable and simple to travel around, has beaches to lie on and hills to rise, and also the friendliest people you’ll ever encounter, visit Taiwan.