When Naoko and I lived in Taiwan we made tons of great, wonderful friends (Naoko was there from 1990-1996, I was there from 1992-1996, with a year off in between). Taiwanese people are great, warm-hearted people, and we loved our time there a lot. Recently, one of my students, who I taught from 1993-1996, invited us to her wedding, so of course we had to go!! She was only five years old at the time, and as cute as a button – now nearing thirty, she’s still cute as a button, and we were so honoured to be there for her special day, and to see her family, all of whom are great personal friends!!
We counted back and realised that it had been nearly eight years since we’d been to Taiwan last. Eight years!! That’s just too long to stay away from close friends, and also to deny us the delights of wonderful Taiwan – food, scenery, culture… it’s all there!
We took a red-eye to Taiwan on December 13th, arriving in the airport near Taipei at around 6:00 AM. We did a short trip to Taichung, which was on our way to Tainan, where we arrived in the evening. We spent five days in Tainan in a beautiful hotel called Vintage Maison Tainan, a converted 80-year-old house build during the Japanese colonisation era that was super funky! We attended Peggy’s wedding reception, hung out with her family, wandered the city, hung out with friends, made new friends, then headed up to Nantou. This small town is near the geographic centre of Taiwan, and it was Naoko’s first stop in Taiwan in 1990, back in the days when she couldn’t even speak a word of Chinese (she eventually learned the language, then studied in a Chinese university for four years, graduating in 1996).
After Nantou, we headed off to Taipei, where we spent two nights and only one full day wandering the streets. Great town!!
On the 21st we headed back – tired, but amazed at what a wonderful trip we could have, full of wonderful friends and great experiences. Taiwan – best forever!!
[As usual - click on the picture for a bigger, brighter version of the pic!!]
At Changi Airport – off for a new adventure!! I’m wearing my wonderful Pinholes t-shirt…
It’s Taiwan!!
This was a sign on the bus we took from Taoyuan airport to Taoyuan city… I’ve never seen that word “mokus” before, but apparently it’s a real English word from the early 20th century!!
Shivering at the Taoyuan train station (regular train – not bullet train).
Taichung train station
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A very funky 7-Eleven!!
Taichung’s Number 5 market!!
We found a manga alley in Taichung!!
After much wandering, our hunt for great Taiwanese food was infuriatingly difficult… then a kind local person, sensing our distress, told us where to find some great beef noodle… AAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!
Some awesome Taichung architecture. For those who can’t read Chinese, 美又美大厦 means something like “beautiful, and yet more beautiful building”. Cool!?
Taichung scenery.
Taichung station.
The regular train that took us from Taichung to Tainan (not a bullet train/shinkansen).
First morning in Tainan, wandering around. Here’s a theatre we used to see films at – glad to see that it’s survived! Love the great theatre paintings!!
Ichiro coffee near the entrance to National Cheung Kong University (NCKU).
NCKU entrance.
The Chinese Department, near the Chinese language centre of NCKU, where Naoko & I met.
The pond in front of the NCKU language centre where Naoko & I met.
I like how you can see our image in the reflection of the big mirror that stands inside the doorway of the old language centre building.
This old banyan tree is a local legend…
…something happened to its neighbour, though…
NCKU banyan tree alley.
Famous ice cream shop on Zhenxing Alley! With swallows!!
Our wonderful hotel – the Vintage Maison Tainan.
The devil’s chicken cutlets!!
Tainan sightseeing.
Enjoying the balcony of the Vintage Maison Tainan. Looks like a beer ad, doesn’t it? Actually… Taiwan beer was never far away – I don’t think I drank a different brand from the time I arrived until the time I left!!
Jamie is the house cat of Vintage Maison Tainan. Apparently, he’s more famous than the place’s human owners!!
Thursday night we met Bruce and the Yang family. Soooooooo cool!!
Friday was a busy day, lots of reunions – this was our breakfast on Guohua Alley, near our hotel.
A classic shot of us wandering Guohua Alley. We spent lots of time there, actually…
Tea on tap!!
Zhungzi in the making!!
Yuki’s shop. But it’s not open yet – we’ll be back there later!!
Back to Vintage Maison Tainan to chill with Jamie the cat!
Met our great buddy Marcelo Chen for some wonderful Italian food in a great little shop called Dano’s, also not far from our hotel. Thanks, Marcelo!!
The neighbourhood was funky too!!
Dano’s ride!
Maison Yoshida! With some Pinholes!!
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Chillin’ with Yuki & Marcelo…
Awesome reunion with A-Hui and his family… love these guys so much!! A-Hui grilled some super delicious corn & chicken wings… amazing friends, amazing food. It wasn’t easy to part ways with these guys…
I have pictures of Zen and Ah-Hui’s son Nori somewhere, taken in years gone by… I’ll try to post them here.
Later on headed down to Anping to chill with Dave Treaner… great food, great conversation with Dr Dave, great music, great memories, great house, great dogs, even got to see Coco! One of the dogs even caught a pigeon. Superb cap to a great day!!
Caught some Guohua Alley food we didn’t eat the day before!
Soup factory!!
Beef soup for us.
Found a great market!
Shennong Street (神農街). Nice place, with some cool vintage shops!!
I love this cactus on 神農街 that is similar to the one we have in Singapore, but much smaller – it is even planted in a pot that looks like me!
Chestnuts!
Temple wander…
Wandering Tainan…
Great Danzaimian (台南擔仔麵)!!
Hayashi Department Store has been restored after 60 years! And it’s magnificent! We gave this a twirl, amazing place!!
We walked an hour from Hayashi Department Store to find a model shop at the edge of Tainan City that didn’t have any models Zen wanted… but at least we found this cool plastic surgery clinic!!
Found Ah-Hui’s brother Zai Zai, who now runs an awesome sweets shop. Had some ba baobing… amazing food! And so wonderful to see Zai Zai again after all these years!!
Andy’s shop!! When we lived in Tainan, our favourite bar (bar none) was Andy Liao’s Lau Ba (老吧)… which became Jazz Pawn Shop (爵士當舖). This is Andy’s new Thai restaurant/bar. We saw it by day, and then we also…
…saw it by night!
ANDY!!
Well…!!
After exploring the perimeters of Tainan to seek models, only to be disappointed, Zen returned to the hotel vicinity and found what he wanted just on his doorstep, at a great model shop near the Vintage Maison Tainan. On his first visit, Zen found a 4o-year-old German tank model, but he thought there might be even greater treasures further afield, only to be disappointed (how often are we deluded in this way!?!). Now, on a third visit to the shop near our hotel, he found a Russian tank model that he wanted. This time I dropped in and met Mr Model Shop himself, and his lovely wife, and three daughters, all wonderful people. New friends!!
Peggy’s wedding reception – the day is finally here!!
The roof of the wedding hall.
Peggy & her husband Fengming’s high school uniforms, now shaped as pillows. How cool is this!?
Great day on the course…
With Peggy & Judy’s cousin Vicki, who was also my student at one point. She’s now a tour guide and her English is flawless!
A reunion with my ex-students Rita & Sandy!!
Peggy & Fengming came out at 12:17 on December 17th… here’s a screen capture from my phone of the time…
Wedding reception food!!
Peter & Rita and her daughter!
With Sandy and her family.
Double happiness!!
Peggy & Judy kept this crazy poster I sent to them 20 years ago – it still hangs on the wall of their old room!!
Judy and the family chinchilla!
Family pooch Pokka was out-of-control amazing. What a dog!!
Amazing Jiali hot pot! Note the ever-present Taiwan Beer!!
Jiali friends – best people forever!!
Old times – a pic of me in 1997, with Judy & Peggy Yang, Rita, Dick & Sandy, with the youngest Yang, Superman (Josh), standing by in the very front row… love these guys.
Guohua Alley, as featured on the cover of…
“101 things to do in Taiwan”, a travel guide published in Japan that features the same shot!!
Hanging out in the Vintage Maison Tainan with Brutus’ “101 Things To Do…” guide.
Going down Anping way to eat our most favouritest dohua!!
This is dohua! It’s a light, custardy dessert tofu that can be flavoured. It’s yummy, and this shop is just around the corner from the house where Naoko & I lived from 1994-1996.
This is the house where Naoko & I lived from 1994-1996.
The school across the street from the house where Naoko & I lived from 1994-1996.
Anping beach, with Judy & her brother Superman (Josh)!
Saying goodbye (for now) to the Yangs – Judy & her brother Superman (Josh).
On the road with Mei, heading from Tainan to Nantou!
Zen at a water filling station in Nantou.
Thai food with Mei & Xiansheng!
Barbershop pic with Mei & A-Mah!
Nantou morning walk…
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Somehow I managed to get this pic of the Nantou market without a constant flurry of pedestrians and buzzing scooters… kind of makes Nantou look like a quiet town (which it wasn’t!).
Great breakfast with Mei!
Funny shop!
Leaving Nantou – see you later, A-Mah!
Pineapple cake at Sunny Hills…
… so good!!
Old-style three-sided village house in Nantou.
In Taipei for lunch with Mei & her daughter Christy (Debbie).
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Taipei alleys looking for food!
Hotel room feast!
Final day in Taiwan, a tour of Taipei, starting at Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
Fur guy on the move in the Chiang Kai Shek memorial square!
Military guard – we later got to see the noontime changing of the guard!
The roof of the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall.
The changing of the guard!!
In another part of Taipei – Dihua Street (迪化街).
Longshan Temple. One foreign lady is taking a tripod selfie, lol. Eccentric!?
Pepper buns near Longshan Temple! Great taswte!! Grouchy staff, though…
Historical lane… very nice!!
Sunset in Taipei.
Wandering around the National Taiwan University campus.
Gotta wait 81 minutes for the next bus!
Taipei.
Taipei 101 at night…
Taipei 101… no, Taipei 89… no, Taipei 90!!
Taiwan teacher’s college.
National Taiwan University wander on our last morning in Taiwan, this time with Naoko & Zen.
Some cool decorations at the international airport at Taoyuan.
After we landed, we spent some moments in confusion wondering if the supermarkets that is/was/used to be in the airport might still be open. Marvelled at the “upgrade” project that made us wander a maze to get to the taxi port… wow… can’t wait for things to get better!! The next day Naoko had to work, so I cleaned the house while Zen rested (he’d been sick since Wednesday). And in the evening Dave Hale came by!! Great visit!!! But that’s another story…
