There are only four days left for me in Taiwan… it has gone so quickly, and I feel that I have not done everything I wanted to. But I am learning to be content with what I have already done. Rather than push myself in the last four days to rush through my list, I’m going to only select one new place and spend the rest of the time revisiting some favourite spots.
I really believe that the enjoyment of travel is the same as the enjoyment of anything in life – savouring the moment and not rushing through it. It’s how we remain true to ourselves. There will be no one at the end of your life to look over your checklist of things accomplished, there will only be an accumulation of the feeling that you have lived life as fully as you could.
So, what have been my favourite things about Taipei so far? I should mention that I have been to Taiwan two times before, and both of those times my experience was different. This time, I didn’t go to Jiufen to see the beautiful architecture and mountain scenery… I didn’t go to Pingxi to release a lantern into the air, I didn’t cycle around Sunmoon lake or watch the sunrise from mount Alishan, and I didn’t see the fireworks for the new year at Taipei 101… all quite spectacular things that I will never forget. And all things that I recommend doing if you can.
This time was different, I experienced the spectacular on a small scale. I got to listen to and learn from Taiwanese people, to walk around the streets and capture every day moments with my camera. I dined in places where tourists do not go, and I listened to the hum of gentle everyday conversations.
I think that on this occasion, I came to know a different side of the Taiwanese and what they value.
When you walk around the suburban streets, you will see that it is clean but there are rough edges. This says to me that the people here do the best with what they have – they may not have much space, and some of the buildings may be old, but they still offer something beautiful: in the products they sell, the services they provide and the spaces they create.
It’s obvious that I have loved the cafes here. In particular around the Chifeng Jie area. Each place has its own style, but in most places I notice that people speak quietly and gently. I can understand from this that the people of Taiwan value atmosphere as well as conversation, providing a space both for themselves and others.
Of course, you will find the daily problems here… and this city is not immune from unhappiness. But in the most unexpected places you’ll find whispers of hope and passion…
In fact, maybe that’s what I like about Taipei the most. It’s a big city, with lots of hidden paths and corners… spaces that have become narrow over time, and that often get ignored. Places that you would think are empty, but have at some point been touched by a human hand.
Walking around the streets here, you may walk right past a dozen inconspicuous temples, lush community gardens, or simple local stalls that sell delicious food. You may also walk past the work of hundreds of artists…
People in Taipei use illustrations and characters to send messages… whether you’re on the train, at an art exhibition, or having an idle moment of waiting by the road. Places like Huashan Park, Rongjin Gorgeous Time, Kishu An Forest of Literature and all that’s in between. There is more to Taipei than the grand, national architecture that towers above the humble drawings on electrical boxes dotted throughout the streets. Spaces that have held experiences, both joyful and painful, are being covered with more than just cute drawings. Through art, the people of Taiwan step beyond their history and speak out to send their message to the world.
Personally, the message I have received from Taipei during this particular period of my life is this: you are never insufficient.
Here, I see people who have less than me, do more than I could ever dream. So, I have no excuse.
You can always do something with what you have. Even if you only have a pen and paper. Time and effort are yours to freely invest in your own life. So why not invest these things into making something that once seemed painful, into something beautiful?
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