Taiwan
If you had asked me six months ago where my daughter was going next, Taiwan wouldn’t have even made the list. It wasn’t on her radar, wasn’t trending on social, and honestly— no one knew much about it. But that’s the magic of travel: sometimes the best trips are the ones you never planned for. Taiwan turned out to be a wild mix of night markets, neon lights, mountain trails, and some of the kindest people. It felt part Tokyo, part Hawaii, and part something completely its own.
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Taipei: Street Markets and Skylines
Taipei was like stepping into a world we didn’t know we were missing. The night markets were loud, chaotic, and completely intoxicating—especially Huaxi Street, where scooters zoom past food stalls and vendors shout over the buzz of neon lights. We wandered through the crowd, eyes wide and mouths full. Then came Din Tai Fung, where we tried the famous xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and realized we’d been eating dumplings wrong our whole lives. There’s something oddly bonding about burning your mouth on the first bite and laughing through it together. We ended one night high above the city in Taipei 101, watching the lights stretch out forever in every direction. From street food chaos to 90th-floor stillness, Taipei hit us with contrast and character at every turn—and we couldn’t get enough.
Shakadang Trail
We took a break from the city and headed into Taroko National Park, where the Shakadang Trail gave us a whole different view of Taiwan. Lush green cliffs towered above us, and the path carved into the rock hugged the side of the gorge, following a crystal-clear river below. It was peaceful in a way that felt rare—no horns, no screens, just the sound of water and the occasional monkey rustling in the trees. The hike itself wasn’t hard, but it was the kind of place that made you slow down. We stopped often, not because we were tired, but because we didn’t want to miss a single view. Taiwan surprised us again, this time with silence, space, and a reminder that the best memories don’t always come from big cities or ancient ruins—they come from walking beside your kid through a jungle canyon you didn’t know existed.
I visited this temple complex as part of a guided tour, and it ended up being one of the most visually impressive stops of the trip. The ornate gate, rows of red lanterns, and towering stone guardians immediately grabbed my attention. Everything felt so intentional—every carving, every statue, every bold splash of color. The golden lion perched on a red orb was especially striking, like something pulled straight from a myth.
As I walked through, the guide explained the symbolism behind different elements—the blend of Taoist and Buddhist influences, the protective nature of the stone figures, the stories behind the architecture. The temple had this peaceful energy that made me slow down and really take it all in.
Yehliu Geopark
I visited Yehliu Geopark, a stretch of Taiwan’s northern coastline that looks like it belongs on another planet. The park is famous for its otherworldly rock formations, sculpted over thousands of years by wind and sea erosion. What struck me immediately was how wildly diverse the landscape was in such a compact area. One moment I was walking along grassy trails beside calm tidal pools, and the next I was surrounded by towering sandstone formations—some shaped like mushrooms, others like coral, candles, or twisted sculptures. The honey-colored rock contrasted sharply with the deep green hills in the distance and the bright blue of the ocean crashing below the cliffs. It didn’t feel like one environment—it felt like five packed into one breathtaking stretch of coastline.
What surprised me most about Yehliu was how immersive it felt. The famous “Queen’s Head” formation is what draws most people here, but it was everything else—the winding paths, the textured rock underfoot, the sound of waves echoing off the cliffs—that made the place unforgettable. It felt like walking through a natural art museum, where every turn revealed something strange, beautiful, and totally unexpected.
Spending a few days in Taiwan completely shifted my expectations of what this island had to offer. I came in knowing almost nothing—and left amazed by how much I had experienced in such a short time. From neon-lit cities to peaceful temples, jungle hikes to alien-looking coastlines, every stop was a surprise. Taiwan wasn’t just a place to pass through—it was a place that challenged, impressed, and stayed with me. It’s one of those destinations that sneaks up on you in the best way, and I’m glad I gave it the chance to.