Souly Positive

Traveling with Kyle in Taiwan has been amazing. We have very different traveling styles but have managed to get along great. Kyle studies his countries prior to going. By the time we get there he knows what he wants to see, how the buses, trains and subway works, basically all the in’s and out’s. He will also not ask anyone for help or directions, so as not to look foolish. I on the other hand relish the role of the fool. I have no problem asking for help from every third person I see. Once I’ve asked I usually continue to do so as I carry on just to make sure we’re all on the same page:) I don’t do a lot of study prior to going…oh, I do the usual, trip advisor, wikipedia, a few guided expensive tours so I can copy where they go, etc. But once I get somewhere I usually just wing it or ask questions as I go. I also think this is a great way to meet people and have adventures…Kyle thinks it’s just plain lazy:) Now in Japan and Taiwan, I’ll admit, my way is more difficult because there are not as many English speakers and sometimes none:( Anyway, suffice it to say, Kyle has been in charge for the last 3 weeks and he’s done a great job. We have seen some wonderful things.

We first stayed in Taipei and took several day trips from there. Our airbnb that Kyle found was right across the street from the Shilin night market. So much fun! Crazy, jammed packed with people and so much food…some of it scary and some of it delicious. This was also true for the smells, alternating between heavenly and really foul (like make you want to puke foul:) We have done a lot of hiking which has been nice. The scenery, gorgeous. My only issue has been that Kyle is an uphill hiker…I like my paths flat and straight…once again, unfortunately he has been in charge of hikes. After our days spent hiking the tea fields in Pinglin and the mining towns of Jinguashi and Jiufen, my calves hurt so bad I felt like I was crippled for life, but Kyle next took me to hot springs in Jiaoshi to recover. We went to gender separated hot springs that were Japanese style…that means naked:) Then we went to a cafe where they served Kyle hot coffee and I got a beer (finally both of us happy)…then I noticed they had this water you could put your legs in and little fish nibbled at you…I think they were eating dead skin or something. Of course I had to do it which totally grossed Kyle out…Yep, it was a great day!

After 4 days in Taipei and several amazing day trips to surrounding areas, we went to Sun Moon Lake and stayed for 3 days. We are staying at someone’s house and they are the nicest people ever. When we first got there they couldn’t believe we didn’t speak chinese. They kept asking no chinese?, no chinese? and we’d just smile and say no. Their son lives a few houses down had arranged it all but he hasn’t been here much. Just us and his parents who are probably a decade older than me and none of us understood a word the other was saying. She has done nothing but feed us and she is a wonderful cook. Kyle said he hasn’t eaten this good since he was 5 and our gourmet neighbor, Carol Sayre, would cook for him. I’m pretty sure it was a slam against my cooking… One day a gentleman in a mini truck stopped to see if we wanted a ride. Of course we said yes. He spoke a little English and stopped to buy us some tea eggs to take on the boat with us. He paid for them himself. He was the nicest man and has a daughter living in Washington DC. Another woman, who I called Taiwan Chris because she reminded me of Chris we know, showed us where the hiking trails were. When we came down, there would be Taiwan Chris, waiting to show us where to start the next one. All she wanted for this was a selfie with us;) We have met so many nice people and they have all been very helpful.

The scenery in Taiwan has been all over the place. From the big city scapes, to the crazy night markets, to the rural scapes with hidden temples and some not so hidden. All beautiful, but some of the most amazing scenery was in Jiufen and Jinguashi where the fog produced a mystical effect. Actually this was the case in Sun Moon Lake for most of the time too. We saw some monkey’s in the wild, causing me to drop the f bomb;) It has been warmer in Taiwan, probably mid 70’s until the last few days where the temperature has taken a dive but still not nearly as cold as anything in Japan.

Next I head to Bali and Kyle heads back to Japan and school. We have enjoyed our time together and I think Kyle has had his fill of me…his books are calling and he is ready to send me on my way.

From Taiwan…Be nice to a stranger…I’m sure they will appreciate it!