Ilha Formosa "“ ‘Beautiful Island’, is what the Portuguese sailors called Taiwan. Taiwan’s status as a country is contested by its more powerful mainland neighbor, however there is no doubt that Taiwan is a destination sought out by travelers looking for something a little different to the usual Asian experience. The island’s original inhabitants are believed to be the forefathers of all Pacific Islanders and having been colonized and administered by the Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Britain and China, the diversity of tradition and culture can still be felt throughout the island nation.
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Taiwan travel stories
In my third month as a Covid refugee sheltering in Taiwan, I finally had an opportunity to venture down south from rainy Taipei to sunny and warm Kaohsiung, the second largest city in Taiwan. In between two other destinations, I could unfortunately only fit in one...
Taiwan Cycling by Land, Sand and Sky As I rounded the nineteenth corner of the road for that day on my rickety bicycle in one hundred degree heat, I was sure I wouldn't make it. Each stretch went on for eternity, with an ever so slight incline that was just...
There are many ways to explore and travel Taipei Those who have been to Taipei would unanimously agree that it is one of the easiest cities to travel in. "If you get lost, just look for the 101 and start again," advised the policeman I had stopped to...
By far one of my favorite meals in Taiwan was an unexpected stop at a breakfast stand on Kaishan Road in Tainan. Yung Chi is a popular spot with the locals. For very little money you can get a very hearty, authentic Taiwanese breakfast. Here's what I had: Yo Tiao...
I awoke in my room at the Fleur de Chine after the best night's sleep I've enjoyed in a long, long time. Was it the hour-long soak in my room's mineral bath, the mind-blowing dinner in the Rainbow Cloud teppanyaki restaurant, or the low-key, yet luxurious,...
The first thing I noticed walking into the original Din Tai Fung was the kitchen to the right, with table after table of kitchen help preparing tray upon tray of xiaolongbao"”literally a 'small steamer dumpling'. The heat and humidity in the...
After eight days in Taiwan I realize I've only heard one car horn. And I've been in cities "“ Taipei, Tainan, Taichung "“ with cars and scooters galore. Not to mention pedestrians. A Taiwanese woman told me that the Taiwanese are a very orderly...
"What is that awful smell?" I wondered to myself as I sat on a low wall, taking a brief rest from the hectic chaos of Shilin night market situated in the heart of Taipei. The answer was right beside me, where a young woman was sitting. No, she wasn't the...
It was the ultimate game of cat and mouse "“ or human and monkey, in this case. Rested and wide-eyed from a blissful sleep at the Grand Formosa in Taiwan's Taroko National Park (www.taroko.gov.tw), I woke up earlier than usual. Nightlife was no issue on this...
San Francisco --- According to the lunar calendar, the moon was at its maximum brightness and fullness, signifying abundance and fullness for the entire year on the fifteenth day of September. To celebrate this mid-Autumn wonderment, Chinese customs include huge...
Eileen doesn't just do interviews for In The Know Traveler in English, once in a while she does them in Mandarin as well. In this video, Eileen meets with Vicki Chen of Taiwan Tourism. Check out this video and understand in any language the enthusiasm for visiting...
Devin runs into Ling and Tiffany, the recent winners of the Miss Taiwan and Junior Miss Taiwan Pageants, at the LA Travel Expo. They take a moment to share their experience with us. Doesn't have a lot to do with travel, but we could not resist. For more on Taiwan at...
Ilha Formosa "“ ‘Beautiful Island’, is what the Portuguese sailors called Taiwan. Taiwan’s status as a country is contested by its more powerful mainland neighbor, however there is no doubt that Taiwan is a destination sought out by travelers looking for something a little different to the usual Asian experience. The island’s original inhabitants are believed to be the forefathers of all Pacific Islanders and having been colonized and administered by the Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Britain and China, the diversity of tradition and culture can still be felt throughout the island nation.
Do you have a story to tell or photos of Taiwan? Please consider adding them to our sister site, In The Know Traveler Photos or visit our submission guidelines found in the menu above. Or, just scroll down to learn more about Taiwan.
