24 Hours in Thailand

On the way to meet my parents in Southeast Asia, I found cheaper flights by taking a 24-hour layover in Bangkok.  It was the perfect length of time for a solo trip.  Of all of the places my parents and I visited this summer, Thailand felt the most like Taiwan, but still not quite as wealthy or Westernized.  From my brief time there, it also made an impression that Thailand had royalty and a distinct religious culture.

Khao San Road

It was a huge shock going from seeing barely any foreigners in Taiwan to staying in Khao San Road, the backpacking capital of the world.  The area was packed with hostels, restaurants, bars, and massage parlors full of European tourists.  I've never seen so many blond children in one place.  All the Asians (locals and Chinese-speaking tourists) were wearing masks, while all the Westerners were not.  Since they aren't required, I went to leave my hostel without my mask, but then I got too self-conscious and ran back to grab it.  In Taiwan, masks are still required everywhere, even outdoors.

Street vendor selling Thai dessert

The food was really fantastic.  I ate pad Thai, banana chocolate roti, and taro sago.  I had a Thai-style massage, which are similar to what's offered in Taiwan.  Whereas massages in the US you never want them to end, traditional Asian massages you can't wait for them to end, because the masseuse is leaning an elbow into your pressure points.

Grand Palace

Grand Palace

Jade Buddha

Grand Palace

Grand Palace

I was the first one at the breathtaking Grand Palace the following morning.  It was nearly empty of tourists but packed with glittering buildings.  After that, I went to Wat Pho, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.  I had riverside lunch of Thai green curry and mango ice cream with a view of Wat Arun across the water.

Wat Pho

The Reclining Buddha

Saw this pose multiple times everyday in SE Asia, and I'd never seen it in Taiwan

South East Asia 1SE Video

 

新竹、福隆沙灘 Hsinchu & Fulong Beach

Xpark Aquarium

On Saturday, my Taiwanese friend's boyfriend drove us to Hsinchu, a city down the west coast an hour or so from Taipei.  My Taiwanese friend is a makeup artist, aspiring dancer, and absolute hoot to hang out with.  She made the trip tons of fun, even though Hsinchu is not the type of destination a foreign tourist to Taiwan would ever visit.  The highlight of our trip was a lovely glassblowing museum.  However, Hsinchu is certainly the type of destination to which a Taipei local would go on the weekend.  We visited an outlet mall that reeked of consumerist extravagance--essentially the exact American experience that Taiwanese people gobble up.  I had been plucked out of Hsinchu and dropped into Los Angeles: new buildings, American and luxury brands only, signs in English rather than Chinese.  We bought expensive tickets for a modern aquarium called Xpark, featuring just as many photo-ops as educational exhibits.  My other American bestie and I had to talk our Taiwanese friends out of eating TGI Friday's for dinner.  Instead, we drove to a restaurant locally renowned for 麻辣臭豆腐, stinky tofu in mouth-numbing spice soup.  As it was 大暑, the lunar calendar day known to be the single hottest of the year, we also had 剉冰, the uber popular Taiwanese shaved ice dessert.

Mulberry and condensed milk, the specialty flavor at this shaved ice shop

My friend getting into it with a kid at a popular Taiwanese street market game. You pay 300 NTD for a huge bucket of rings, and you get to keep whatever prize onto which you can toss a ring. The nice bottles of alcohol are way in the back.

Sleeping 3 hours the night before did not dampen her enthusiasm nor volume levels 

While we didn't make it to Hsinchu's indoor ski slope, I have other friends who learned how to snowboard on the single bunny hill there.  Hsinchu is an area with great income disparity, home to poorer indigenous communities, as well as large electronics companies, like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

On Sunday, I went to 福隆沙灘 Fulong Beach with friends.  A magnificent swim day for only an hour-long train ride from Taipei.

台中 Taichung

My American classmate invited me on a day trip to Taichung, where her local language exchange partner drove us around.  At this point, I've probably been driven around the entire island in the cars of generous Taiwanese eager to show me the sights.  We spoke all Chinese with him and his friend, who were very curious about American culture.  Besides the usual questions about guns, NBA, and Black Americans, he was also astounded to learn that curly hair could be natural.  He truly could not believe it, as everyone he knew with curly hair (all Taiwanese) got perms.  He loves Taylor Swift because he thinks she is pretty and her song lyrics are well-annunciated.  He was really eager for us to sing along to Taylor Swift in the car.  Between me, my classmate, and Taylor, he is convinced all American women are tall, and not fat like he was expecting.

My classmate and her Taichung language exchange partner

國家歌劇院 National Opera House

彩虹眷村 Rainbow Village

 

望高寮夜景公園 Park with views of city

Strolling on the boardwalk by the wetlands 高美濕地

Floating bridge

三峽、鶯歌、坪林 Sanxia, Yingge, Pinglin

The first few weeks of summer after COVID have flown by with a flutter of activity.  This week especially, I’ve been saying farewell to many foreign friends leaving Taiwan for home.

In Sanxia in New Taipei City, my hometown friend Charlie, his local Taiwanese friend, and I toured one for the oldest temples in Taiwan and then dyed our own cloth using local indigo plants.  We ate 金牛角 “golden cow horns” AKA Taiwanese croissants.  Mine was matcha-flavored with red bean filling.

Then, we went to the pottery old street in Yingge.  I took a catnap on a stool surrounded by ceramic Buddhas in the corner of a pottery warehouse, while my friend had a deep discussion with vendors on which ceramic tea set he should buy.

On Saturday, I went to Pinglin, a region known for growing 包種茶 pouchong tea.  After a meal (and a pouchong matcha latte) at an adorable tea house, we toured a marvelously aesthetic tea museum, and hiked around mountain trails.  We had originally planned to bike a scenic trail through tea fields, but we learned the town has a policy of NO bikes until July 15th.