Imho, Taiwan is beautiful when we're not talking about Taipei. The city is simply not attractive to me. There's nothing here that I can't find in other cities. (I don't understand the Hello Kitty thingy!) Sure, it's not fair to judge it that way. Buildings, culture, people and vibes differ. The space for independent arts and businesses to grow is so much more conducive than Singapore, along with its vibrant music scene that pulsates with so much creativity.
Oddly, the culture and language are as alien to me as they are familiar. Food, language, habits and traditions, these are what I've grown up around, but not grown up intimately with. As intriguing they might be, the gems of Taiwan, I feel, lie far away in its towns and villages. I'm happiest away from the city, walking along raw trails and into the quiet countryside where everything is unfamiliar and fresh. We took the trails where most tourists didn't venture to, and explored the quiet back alleys and lanes.
Along the way, we remembered to stop to soak in the surrounding scenery. Envious of the breadth of space available to city-dwellers in Taipei. There's somewhere to escape to every weekend, to do something that doesn't involve in staying in a tiny room in a building. On one of those walks, we looked up and saw breathtaking views of the coast and mountains. Autumn is officially over, but its warm colors hung on the trees still.
No comments:
Post a Comment