Notes from Taiwan

It's typhoon season in Taiwan, which means that it rains even when the sun is shining.

I arrived yesterday morning around 6am and my first impressions of the Taipei were bleary-eyed from the backseat of a taxi as we wound through the green mountains and into dawn breaking over the valley in which Taipei rests.

In the day or so before I left Los Angeles I became increasingly anxious about this trip, fretting about going away in the midst of my moving plans and worrying about the long plane ride. I even had moments in which I wondered if I should go on the trip at all.

But the moment I stepped into the international terminal at LAX all of my worries dissipated and I felt a deep sense of calm spread through me. It was almost midnight but the terminal was bustling with all kinds of people, everyone rushing about pushing enormous carts of luggage and in the space of one moment I heard five different languages. The names on the destination board flickered with places like Dubai and Guadalajara, Bangkok and Rome.

I felt a thrill run straight through me and already couldn't even remember what it was I had been concerned about before leaving the house. I checked in with glee, proudly presenting my passport and set off for the gate.

And I was so happy to be alone. It made everything feel all the more adventurous.

I find it so easy to get caught up in the minutae of daily life. It's so easy to forget that there's an entire world out there...one that I want to be a part of. I remember before I ever went on my first trip to Asia - a press trip to the Philippines - how it seemed as though one couldn't go as far as somewhere like the Philippines without a lot of serious planning and at least a few weeks of available travel time.

But that's just not true. It's absolutely possible to pop over to Asia or Africa or South America or anywhere really, with just a week in which to visit and little knowledge of the country. It's bound to be an amazing experience, no matter what.

And here I am in, in Taiwan - a place I NEVER imagined going - but one that I feel so grateful to be in. Taipei is endlessly fascinating, with strange little winding streets and beautiful incense-filled temples, the mountains are lush and green in the distance and like I already said, it rains even when the sun is shining.

Comments

[Tricia]

Please. Take. Pictures.

Lots.

And of course. Your words.

[Dx]

Hi,
I started reading your blog today.
Have a nice trip and u should try Western Australia next!
Cya.