2024 Travel Update #1

My Taipei List

So I guess I kept my resolution to write weekly in January, and then fell off the wagon in February when I traveled to Asia, which is a shame. In a way I guess that’s appropriate given that shame is such a big part of Asian culture and my upbringing (insert wry laughter here). There is so much to write about that I don’t know where to start, but maybe I’ll start with the basics:

I recently returned from a two-week vacation to Japan and Taiwan. The trip originated from my cousin Ifly’s invitation to join her in Tokyo during her Chinese New Year vacation, and it was only natural to tack on a visit to the motherland before returning to the States.

Since I regularly visit Taiwan and it had been over 10 years since I last visited Japan, it shouldn’t surprise anyone that Japan was the highlight of my trip. However, it did surprise me just how much I loved Japan — proving yet again that not having expectations is often the key to happiness in life. (More on that and Japan in a later post.)

Taiwan felt like home, although this time I noticed the air pollution a bit more than in years past. I never wore a mask walking around but kind of wish I did…I would definitely recommend one if anybody is planning on visiting. In contrast, the air in Japan felt brisk and refreshing, like the Bay Area.

To conclude this post I thought it would be fun to share a list things I do / eat whenever I’m in Taipei:

1. Do
   • Get a haircut (if you’re Asian). It is amazing how many places offer haircuts for $3, and it’s even more impressive how quickly they can give you a good haircut.
   • Get a massage (ideally more than one). It’s not as cheap as it is in Thailand, but I think the quality is generally better in Taiwan. Note that the foot massages in Taiwan are no joke…it can be pretty painful, so if you don’t want that then just do the full body massage.
   • Go on a hike. The Elephant Mountain hike is accessible (and touristy), but you’ll need the exercise after eating everything on my list below.
   • Bring home Taiwanese snacks to share with friends. There are so many delicious snacks all over the place that it’s difficult to go wrong with what you get, but I like to go with the tried-and-true Chiate Bakery in Taipei (known for their pineapple pastries, but I also liked the green onion nougat crackers I just tried for the first time).
2. Eat
   • Din Tai Fung (multiple locations). Yes, you can get it in the Bay Area, but it costs more than twice as much and the wait time will also be longer. There are also more items on the Taiwan menu, and the quality is slightly better (although not discernibly so).
   • Taiwanese breakfast at Fu Hang Soy Milk (also prepare to wait in line). Since I love Taiwanese breakfast, it saddens me that the Bay Area options are mediocre at best, so I try to visit Fu Hang whenever I’m in Taipei. It is by far the best Taiwanese breakfast I have ever had.
   • Tim Ho Wan (multiple locations). It’s a dim sum restaurant from Hong Kong, but given that there aren’t any in California I always try to stop by for at least a snack between meals. Also, I love dim sum.
   • Thai food. It’s not that authentic, but it’s delicious. I had Thai food 3 times in Taiwan (not my choice), but I enjoyed it every time. Also, get the soft shell crab…mmmmm.
   • Street food. There are so many food stalls all over the place that you owe it to yourself to try at least one of them. Night markets are a must if you haven’t experienced one…just go and find the stalls with the longest lines. Last year I had a pork bun at a random stall in a Beitou night market and it was the best pork bun I ever had.
   • Shaved ice. Mango shaved ice was popularized and made famous by Ice Monster in Taipei, but it’s now been supplanted by Smoothie House near the original location.
   • Michelin restaurant? I used a question mark because it’s not for everyone…and this year was the first time I tried a Michelin restaurant in Taiwan. Since food prices are cheaper in Taiwan it’s a good place to try what a Michelin restaurant is like outside of the United States.

Stay tuned for my next post (to be published Tuesday) on how I feel about Michelin restaurants.