The inclusion of Taiwan on our itinerary held two attractors. One was visiting our local friends (Jack & Kitty) and the other was cycling around Sun Moon Lake. Cycling in a foreign place allows you to see things that would otherwise be considered “off the beaten track”, and the bit of exercise that comes with it is an added bonus too.
The brochures describe Sun Moon Lake as “an alpine lake with serene beauty and tranquility”. In some places around the lake I Continue reading
I’m a tea drinker. Here’s how my mother taught me to prepare tea. First warm the tea pot by rinsing it out with hot water, then add one teaspoon of tea leaves for each person and one for the pot. Fill the pot with boiling water, cover it with a hand knitted, brightly coloured tea cosy and allow the tea to brew for a few minutes. Pour the tea into a tea cup and make sure you put the milk in first. My mother’s tea was always accompanied by sweet biscuits or cake, always drunk sitting down and at pre-ordained times during the day. Tea time occurred Continue reading
I hate to admit it, but I am not generally one to get excited about history, museums or culture. At a stretch, I suppose you could call me a philistine.
But, my time in Taiwan has improved my interest in, and my attitude toward, both history and culture. That’s a good thing, considering our next destinations and ongoing adventures. The Island of Taiwan was colonised by the Dutch in 1624, and since that time it has been ruled by the Spanish, Tungning, Qing, Formosan, Japanese and Chinese. If you’d like a little more Taiwan history, just click here.
Rather than retell their story, I’ve decided to share a couple of my Taiwanese cultural highlights, starting with the Taiwan National Palace Museum. The museum attracts historians and tourists from all over the world, especially those from mainland China, and houses a permanent collection of some 700,000 pieces of Continue reading
After a leisurely breakfast with Jack and Kitty, our hosts in Taipei, we were introduced to the delights of their neighbourhood, all within a few blocks of their home.
The population of Taiwan is around 24 million on an island which is only 36,000 square km. A lot of those people live in Taipei and you can feel the density and intensity of the population.
First stop was Continue reading
