During the month of September my friend Christy and I ventured to the little island of Taiwan. Why September? Why Taiwan? Well, in Japan in May there are three consecutive holidays - that five day break is called Golden week. So with three September holidays just HAPPENING to fall in a row, the week was aptly called Silver Week (I originally thought I made up the name, but then a month later the news was calling it that.. apparently it caught on). Christy and I have wanted to travel together - so we made a list of where in Asia we had been and the two countries that we both had not been to (and had a small desire to go) were Vietnam and Taiwan. With only a week we decided Taiwan would be best - and knew nothing about it (at first).We planned out our six days in Taiwan, mainly sticking to the east coast. We couch surfed the entire time (amazing thing in the backpacker/traveler world). Couch surfing, although to non-CSers sounds sketchy, is actually wonderful. People open their homes to travelers. Some are involved, some are busy with work, but all give you a place to stay and are generous in their help and recommendations. (I have actually hosted over 12 in Aomori, mainly during Nebuta).
We started our our journey in Taipei, staying two nights with 30 year old Taiwanese English tutor Grace and her roommate Ellen. Our schedules clashed and we only were able to chat with her late in the evenings, but she saved us from traveling to the Western part of Taiwan (that we had purchased a ticket for) when we wanted to go to the South!! In Taipei we did the touristy city things -- went to Taipei 101 (tallest building in the world and fastest elevator), San Yat Sen Memorial, lots of walking around, and of course night markets and lots of yummy food. Food was actually raved about by anyone who has been to Taiwan (foriegners and Japanese alike).
Next we continued our journey (using Taiwan"s incredibly easy to use transportation system) south to Taroko National Park. We met this 26 year old Taiwanese girl (Vivian) at the visitor center. She asked us what trail we were planning on hiking and she said she has a car and can take us to the entrance of the trail. Turns out she is an interpreter/guide in training with her trainer and they ended up taking us around the national park the entire day, taking us to places and teaching us things we never would have known. Vivian actually lives in Hualien (city about 1 hour away) where we were staying for the night and drove us to our new couch surfer, Gloria's home.
Gloria is queen of couch surfing and travel. She is 31, traveled the world and couchsurfed for 7 months straight and has hosted numerous ones. She lives with her family is a very large home (so we only briefly saw her mother) and has two adorable dogs (who I gave English names). She took us to the best dumpling shop and then to a native dance show and a night market. Christy and I had read about white water rafting and she helped us book that for the next day.
White water rafting day -- well, let me just say, was the strangest rafting I have ever taken part in. Basically, we had no guide on our boat, a ditzy couple who thought the boat was going to be automatic, a group of people who could not work together and two boats who when we got close would just start water splashing wars. Needless to say, the motorized boat basically pushed us down the river or would turn our boat down the right rapids, to haphazardly go through.
That night Gloria had to work until later, so she set us up with two adorable college girls who took us to a little place to eat, where we asked about the Taiwanese shampoos, that we later treated them to. Great 50 minutes of waterless soapy foaming shampoo and head massage!
That evening met back up with Gloria who took us to a night market where I tried Chicken food, Chicken neck, duck tongue, bread stuffed with deer and cheese, and other yummy foods and fresh fruit juices.
The next day Christy and I headed back up the coast (and stopped off at great places Gloria had recommended and given us all the train times for). We stopped at a cold springs (which was very fun, we had our own private room) and then stayed the night in Jiaoshi a town known for hot springs. This one night we did not plan couchsurfing and stayed at a nice hotel and just relaxed and spent time in the hotsprings!Getting close to the end of our trip on our way back to Taipei we went north and stopped at this mountainous town with great views and an amazingly fun market and old time looking streets!
When we got back to Taipei we met up with Huo, our final couch surfer host. She is 24 and has the most adorable apartment that her and her interior designer boyfriend decorated. That evening she again introduced us to great night market food and then her boyfriend and his friends wanted to take us to this trendy little rock bar that had a room with hundreds and hundreds of records. The following day was our last day and Huo cooked us a traditional Taiwanese breakfast and then came with us to the bus to head to the airport.
Overall it was a wonderful six day trip. Do not rely upon English if you ever do go to Taiwan (although the book said most young people speak it fine). Without the help of our Japanese (either to converse or read Chinese characters) I don't know how we would have survived - def couch surfers!
Now Aomori is getting chilly, fall has arrived. This past Sunday Christy, my friend Steve and I ran the 5 K in the Hirosaki Apple Marathon. My days are becoming very busy with curling starting as well, as I have a 2 hour practice and 2 hour game almost every week. And in the fall there is AT LEAST one four day week a month!
