Homage to the Art of Tea 

Continuing on my tours near Taipei, I thank you for sticking with me on this journey!

The art of serving tea is quite a formal affair in Asia, and my education continues… 

Thousand Island Lake–a river winding

Okay, so a note about transportation services in Asia. The subways are clean and efficient. A train appears approximately every 37 seconds, always. The bullet trains are pristine, orderly, quiet, and punctual. That is an understatement. But now, I’d just like to share a little tidbit about a short international flight from Hong Kong to Taipei.

Our Taipei experience has been a whirlwind but despite that, or maybe because of it, we accumulated a small mountain of tips for traveling with kids through this modern Taiwanese city.  There’s plenty out there about where to go in Taipei and you can make an educated guess about the destinations your kids will like best.  As usual, we’re f

One of the best parts about traveling to Taiwan is having the opportunity to discover the island’s unique and vibrant culture.

I’ll never forget my first visit to a night market in Taiwan. It was a total affront on all senses. Too many people jostling for space; too many unrecognizable odors drifting through the air; too many animal organs skewered and on display for growling bellies.

Taiwan has some truly unique holidays and festivals.

It can be a bit confusing figuring out what is and isn’t ‘supposed’ to be a wonder of the world. It seems there’s a new list all the time, detailing the ancient wonders, the new wonders, the natural wonders, the underwater wonders…there’s even a list for the 7 wonders of the solar system!

Taroko Gorge—it’s Taiwan’s biggest tourist attraction, and justifiably so. With 19 kilometers of steep mountainous slopes dropping off into deep, crystal-clear ravines, it truly is a site to behold.

One of my favorite ways to explore a new destination is via road trip. With the freedom of the open road, the flexibility to go where you want, when you want, and the chance to stumble upon towns and experiences not indexed in any guidebook—well, what’s not to love?

Though we might have the best of intentions, it’s all too easy to commit cultural faux pas while abroad.