The past couple months have been quite an adventure. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to document them as much as I would have liked. (Quite the understatement, I know.) The quick summary is that I've moved myself into a fresh environment 1300 miles away from the familiar and I am still in the process of settling in while working on my new post-undergrad goals. (Grad school applications and interviews, teaching certification exams, field related volunteer work, being 7 years late to the game of getting a driver's license, all that fun stuff). It's definitely been a learning experience the whole way through and I am incredibly grateful for the friends, both new and old, who have provided guidance, encouragement, and companionship during this time. I am very fortunate to have you all and I am excited for these coming months which I expect will be just as interesting and unpredictable!


I do plan on returning here more often and posting periodic updates on new discoveries. I've been looking through some past photos from my trips and I would still like to tell you guys about it in upcoming posts. It's a perfect opportunity for me to sit back and reminisce!


Hope you are all happy, healthy, and well!

This post is archived under Random thoughts

Since I flew back to Toronto, the amount of work to be done snuck up incredibly quickly. It also didn't help that I spent my first week back sleeping the days away with an awful case of jetlag. Nonetheless, I do have a few posts started about my last couple weeks in Taiwan that I am eager to share. So, on with the main point...!

There are enough night markets in Taipei that you could visit a different one every night for 2 weeks if you had the energy. The one nearest our apartment is Le Hua Night Market. (Easily accessible from Dingxi Station on the Orange Line.)

Shaved ice with plenty of sweet toppings to try out and keep you cool.

This post is archived under Food, Taipei, Taiwan, Travel

Here's a lovely garden in a hot spring villa.

We tried out a few different hot springs and this was my favourite. I must say though, some places look cleaner and better-kept than others so it's worth driving around a little bit and stopping by a couple of them to take a look before deciding where you'd like to stay. Style, good customer service, well-lit and comfortable atmosphere are all important considerations. Most of the places allowed us to take a tour and walk around the facilities before making a decision.


All the options are quite affordable - around NT400 or $10 USD per night for Tatami rooms (traditional Japanese style rooms with soft-woven straw mats and sleeping cots). Fully furnished private rooms which resemble typical hotel rooms are around NT1800. Personally, I would not mind staying in the basic Tatami rooms - quite cozy. This site has some pretty accurate photos incase you're unsure how they look. Instead of staying overnight, you also have the option of simply paying hourly to use the hot springs and bath facility.


Below is another villa that I enjoyed. My poor photography and camera quality doesn't do it justice as it's actually quite well-lit and modern inside.

They've got a nice cafe area for you to relax and have a beverage after your steamy hot bath session. The furniture/decor in the lobby/cafe area was colourful and cheerful.

Both private hot spring baths (max 2 people) and a community bath are available at this villa. Unforunately, I didn't capture any pictures of those because I was afraid to expose my camera excessively to all the steam or better yet, risk plopping it accidentally into the bath. At any rate, these hot spring villas are such affordable getaways for a weekend of unwinding!

This post is archived under Ruei Suei, Taiwan

Ruei Suei Township: beautiful mountainous landscape and fresh unpolluted air

This post is archived under Food, Ruei Suei, Taiwan

Here was my music of choice for that 3 hour ride to Hualian.


I had an absolutely amazing time seeing my dad's family in Hualian and RueiSuei.
Expect a post on sightseeing and hotsprings in that area!

This post is archived under Music

Here's the view on the train ride from Taipei to Hualian.

Sorry about the little glare/reflection. It was quite dreary outside at one point but fortunately the weather improved when we arrived. We also managed to avoid the nasty typhoon that flooded parts of Hualian earlier that week.
Mountains, rivers, ocean, and farm fields.

This post is archived under Taipei, Taiwan

Tamsui District is a seaside area full of history and lovely architecture. Assuming minimal traffic, it is around an hour long drive away from Yonghe City. We left for Tamsui fairly early Monday morning (9:30am) and arrived just before 11o'clock. We would have arrived faster if our GPS had decided to cooperate with us but alas, it had a mind of its own.

This is the view around the Fort Domingo 紅毛城 area. Very calming. The tour guide explained in depth of Taiwan/Formosa's history during the time it was under Spanish and subsequently Dutch control. Due to Tamsui's location by the Taiwan Strait, it was the key port for trade and commerce during the era of colonization.
We were given a walking tour of Fort Domingo, which included the inner compound and museum-like rooms that were furnished according to the time period.
Hotel by the waterfront. I wasn't able to capture the building in its entirety but it is built in the shape of a large ship.
By the boardwalk. Plenty of snack options and restaurants if you go later in the afternoon/evening. Most places are not open during lunch time so I would definitely recommend coming closer to dinner time where there is a more lively vibe.
This the view at the far end of the boardwalk. The bridge is called Lovers' Bridge.
I wish the weather had been a little more clear but the misty mountain in the distance does have a charm of its own. Kind of resembles a mini-volcano on a water color painting.
Overall, I think Tamsui is perfect getaway for a short road trip away from the crowded city. It is also accessible via the Taipei metro system; just be prepared for lots of trekking when you arrive!

This post is archived under Taipei, Taiwan