Two Weeks In Taiwan (video)

 

Two years ago, George and I meandered from Indonesia to Mongolia. We thought at the end of our eleven-month adventure we would return home from Beijing to Los Angeles. Then, while in Laos, we discovered a brochure about Taiwan and immediately this new island climbed to the top of our must-see list. Everything about the young country beckoned to us.

At the end of our big Asian trip, George found an amazing flight from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Los Angeles and we missed out on Taiwan, which is why we headed there for the last two weeks of April on our Spring break.

Our American Airlines Frequent Flyer miles allowed us to take a Cathay Pacific flight (14+ hours) from Los Angeles to Hong Kong. We saw so many movies that I barely even remember what I watched.  Our second flight was delayed more than an hour but our bags spat themselves from the luggage carousel, Mr. Yang picked us up (which the hostel had arranged for us for 900NT—Taiwan money about $30). We were so happy to see a sign with our name on it.

When we got to the Mudan House, around midnight Sunday April 17, Doris the owner of the hostel had waited up for us with house slippers to wear and showed us the laundry room with filtered drinking water. Our map has the corner 7-11 on it, which is a staple in Asia. Doris is amazing and so is Mudan House.

Our room was great, clean with shelves, private bath, big shower and towels. For us, this constituted true luxury! There was cable for Internet in the room if you brought your own laptop and a shared laptop downstairs. They have breakfast from 8-9:30am cooked by Aunt Acco.

On our first day we explored Taipei using the Metro. As we entered the metro, we saw part of a parade. Our first stop was Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall. And so for the first time, our day-to-day traveling life went straight to video!

In the next few weeks, we will have many more videos and Taiwan stories! We are also taking suggestions. Where do you think we should go this summer?

Lisa Ellen Niver

Lisa Niver is an award-winning travel expert who has explored 102 countries on six continents. This University of Pennsylvania graduate sailed across the seas for seven years with Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Renaissance Cruises and spent three years backpacking across Asia. Discover her articles in publications from AARP: The Magazine and AAA Explorer to WIRED and Wharton Magazine, as well as her site WeSaidGoTravel. On her award nominated global podcast, Make Your Own Map, Niver has interviewed Deepak Chopra, Olympic medalists, and numerous bestselling authors, and as a journalist has been invited to both the Oscars and the United Nations. For her print and digital stories as well as her television segments, she has been awarded three Southern California Journalism Awards and two National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards and been a finalist twenty-two times. Named a #3 travel influencer for 2023, Niver talks travel on broadcast television at KTLA TV Los Angeles, her YouTube channel with over 2 million views, and in her memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.

5 responses to “Two Weeks In Taiwan (video)

  1. From By
    "My Monday night vote us for Pompeii – have you been there?

    My Tuesday vote is "discovering Jewish Italy" starting on Venice

    And since I'm now ahead I will try for an Asian destination for George ;)"

  2. From Fz
    "Hi Lisa and George,
    Do you like the British Isles? The son of a friend was married on the island of his father's birthplace in August 2005, on the island of North Ronaldsay, and I attended the wedding. I flew into Kirkwall, mainland of the Orkney Islands, and then took a few hour boat ride to North Ronaldsay. I think the island is one mile x four miles. They have a bird sanctuary, sacred places, goats on the beach, a new and retired Lighthouse, etc. It is an isolated but fascinating place. My college roommate married the dad of the groom 45 years ago, and I had always dreamed of going there. This was the perfect occasion. Kirkwall is full of history and rich in all aspects. I never received my suitcase for the nine day trip, but was able to buy everything I needed on the mainland. Shopping is great there. Just booking the flight is an adventure. If you are thinking of going that way, I could give you some contacts.

    Hope all is well in your lives. I love receiving your emails.
    Best wishes"

  3. From J
    "very cool!! hope you had a great time!

    would love to know what camera you are using and how you edited your video for youtube!!!"

  4. Thanks for reading and commenting!
    We used a flip camera to take all the video! We have 100 clips so more video to come. I think I used 3 clips to make the first video.

    To edit: one of my 5th graders gave me a 20min imovie lesson! So now I am not smarter than a 5th grader but I can be taught!

    Thanks again for watching!
    Lisa

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