I had fairly low expectations after I first travelled to Taiwan just a few years in the past.
But I used to be stunned to search out myself continually surrounded by magnificent mountains, forests and seashores. Over a month within the nation, my associate and I lived on a family-run tea property within the mountains of Fengchihu, cycled down the breathtaking Taroko Gorge, noticed fireflies by night time and a sea of clouds on an early morning, learnt about native traditions from an Indigenous Truku household, cycled alongside the mist-engulfed East Rift Valley, and took the gradual prepare or excessive velocity rail in every single place!
Also learn: Not Your Typical Travel Guide to Taiwan
So when Taiwan Tourism requested me to return to Taiwan this month, I used to be overjoyed. Carrying my blurry pre-pandemic reminiscences, I fell in love with the nation yet again.
Here’s why Taiwan is price visiting in 2024:
Long overshadowed by its neighboring international locations
Like Japan, which is exploding in reputation and crowds this 12 months
Taiwan stays a shocking however underrated vacation spot
Portuguese colonists named it Ilha Formosa – stunning island.
Where you’ll be able to take the gradual prepare
To historical mountain settlements
Like the seventeenth century Jiufen – as soon as a gold mining city, the place outdated buildings, blacksmith retailers and mining tunnels have been restored into B&Bs, eating places and tea homes
With gorgeous day hikes overlooking the YinYang Sea
So known as as a result of pyrite (pretend gold) flows from the mountains into the water, giving it a vivid blue tinge within the midst of a darkish blue sea
And the ‘Spirited Away’ feeling at night time
The avenue lamps line the outdated streets, constructed alongside stairs on the steep mountain
Family recipes have survived the take a look at of time
Try Jiufen’s particular candy taro balls – product of candy potato flour and water, chewy in texture, unintentionally vegan
And plant-based consuming is aided by the affect of Buddhism
Ask for “Quan Su” 全素 meals – meals with out animal merchandise (and onion/garlic) for Buddhist monks. Use the HappyCow app to search out vegan / vegetarian meals wherever you’re!
[I couldn’t palette the smell of pork balls, duck heads and stinky tofu in the night markets though.]
Historical influences are discovered throughout the island
Taiwan has a protracted historical past of colonization, leaving it with Dutch, Spanish, Chinese and Japanese influences
And heritage railways nonetheless ply the mountains
Ride the slim gauge Alishan Forest Railway, first inbuilt 1910
Cherry blossoms bloom in spring – minus the crowds of Japan
I used to be stunned to expertise them in Alishan final time, however missed them by just a few weeks this time
Mineral-filled scorching springs gush out of the bottom
within the spa city of Jiaoxi, I skilled a soothing nude tub, segregated by gender!
And fireflies glow beneath the night time sky
Here you’ll be able to spend time with Indigenous communities
I used to be extremely impressed to go to Bulau Bulau – a community-based tourism initiative by the Atayal neighborhood
(Thanks to Wild Taiwan for the introduction!)
Learning in regards to the revival of historical traditions
like millet wine-making, weaving, dwelling roof constructing and extra – the place indigenous tradition meets up to date dwelling
Hike alone on well-marked mountain trails
full of waterfalls, wildflowers, and shrine-shaped pitstops
Cycle down the breathtaking Taroko Gorge
in Taroko nationwide park
Or to black sand seashores in Yilan County
overlooking the biodiverse Guishan Island – on my journey want checklist, together with the environmental treasure trove that’s Green Island.
Feeling secure and welcome as a solo traveller
with not one of the standard ‘where is your husband, why are you alone, you must want company’ questions requested
Meeting pleasant locals alongside the way in which
I had snicker with many Taiwanese individuals at misplaced in translation conversations by way of Google Translate (it as soon as translated the components of a chocolate as ‘sand in the feet’ ;-))
Who’ll make you’re feeling like a buddy returning dwelling
as a result of the Taiwanese tradition and heat transcends the language barrier
Practical Information
How to get to Taiwan
Unfortunately Eva Air not runs direct flights to Taiwan from India. On my newest journey, I took Thai Airways with an in a single day layover in Bangkok.
Taiwan visa for Indians
Taiwan gives e-visa for Indian passport holders, who maintain a legitimate visa for the US, UK, Canada and some different international locations. Apply for the Taiwan ecode utilizing your legitimate visa of one of many above international locations, then fill the Taiwan evisa utility utilizing the ecode. I acquired each nearly immediately. The visa charge is 1600 NTD, or roughly 50 US$.
Why go to Taiwan in 2024
- Incredible pure magnificence
- Friendly, welcoming, useful locals
- Unique conventional tradition
- Easy to search out vegan / vegetarian meals
- Little data in English, resulting in sudden adventures. That retains the enjoyment of journey alive within the age of over-information and over-planning!
Would you want to go to Taiwan sometime? What else would you wish to examine my current journey?
Note: My first journey to Taiwan was self-funded, whereas my second journey was on task for Taiwan Tourism. As you recognize, opinions on this weblog are all the time mine!
Also learn:
What to do in Taiwan: Ideas from my not-so-typical information to Taiwan
Community-based tourism at Bulau Bulau, Taiwan
Welcome to my weblog, The Shooting Star. I’ve been known as a storyteller, author, photographer, digital nomad, “sustainability influencer,” social entrepreneur, solo traveller, vegan, sustainable tourism guide and environmentalist. But in my coronary heart, I’m only a lady who believes that journey – if accomplished proper – has the ability to vary us and the world we dwell in.