Taiwan & East Asia – out with a bang!

Happy New Year from Taichung, Taiwan!

We’re wrapping up our 6-month, East Asian adventure — and like migratory birds, will soon head south. Taiwan temperatures are 70s daytime, 50s at night — but January, February will be cooler.

It’s been an enjoyable holiday week. We’ve been ‘playing tourist’, taking it easy, doing our vagabond thing – as always.

In Taichung, we’re staying at a hotel listed on booking.com. Airbnb options were few and the new year holiday prices were elevated. Our 9th floor hotel room at $49 per night includes breakfast, fridge & kettle, a nice city view, and amazingly comfortable king sized bed. Really welcome after some months of smaller, less luxurious bedding. On the down side, despite updated surrounds, a cigarette smell is noticeable and the hot water isn’t really hot.

From Taichung we took a day trip to Taiwan’s famous Sun Moon Lake — the island’s biggest lake at 2,500 feet of elevation and surrounded by scenic mountains. Bus fare for the 100-minute+ ride: $2.25 per person each way from the Gancheng station near Taichung Park. A day-long electric tandem bike rental: $20. A nice getaway from urban Taichung – population 2.85 million.

Of course, the night markets and street food stalls are everywhere here. But we’ve eaten repeatedly at a “Teppanyaki” place (Japanese with Taiwanese flair). There’s vegetarian for wife Ellen at the LIAO TIE GE chain, and plenty of meat/seafood options for me. Free cooked veggies, free rice, free soup, free soft drinks/tea, free ice cream. What’s not to love? Tasty fresh meals for two in a fun, limited-English atmosphere: $12 to $14.

Just for kicks, we ate a sit-down dinner at a massive 7-Eleven. Yup. All over East Asia we’ve noted the 7-Eleven phenomenon. In Taiwan, some of the biggest stores feature alcohol bars, bakeries, coffee shops, tables and chairs, prepared and quick-serve meals — all at low prices. We had to try it. 

A tofu pasta dish and chicken ‘bento’ meal — zapped in the microwave by the clerk. Bags of Doritos, Coke Zero, and a beer. Total price: about $8. Quality: about equal to a fast food combo meal. 

The large 7-Eleven seating/eating area with big-screen TV was nice. But it appeared a few ‘customers’ were almost living there. Another guy staggered in and used the microwave for food he carried with him. There was refuse on some of the tables and spillage on the floor. I squished one cockroach. Seems the 7-Eleven restaurant concept has promise – but also some bugs to work out.

One other food related note: Taichung is the ‘birthplace’ of bubble tea! We went to the establishment where it all started. The original Chun Shui Tang store/restaurant is credited with first putting tapioca jellies into cold milk tea in 1983. Now the concoctions are ubiquitous in Asia. (Chun Shui Tang calls it “Pearl Milk Tea”.)

In the run-up to New Year’s Eve, we saw Wicked (with Chinese subtitles) at a local mall multiplex. Two tickets, including popcorn combo: $24. Cozy theater with stadium seating for 65 persons, nice digital screen and booming audio. Maybe 75 percent full. I’m not a big musicals fan — but Ellen loved it! 

On New Year’s Eve we joined an estimated 200,000+ Taichung revelers at a concert and fireworks show. Too many people and hassle! Thank goodness we arrived after 11 p.m. and scooted out quickly after the midnight pyrotechnics. Here they blow them ALL off at once – no buildup to a finalé. The barrage lasted four minutes. Happy New Year!

Finally, to round out the Taichung time, a visit to the single most polluting power plant on planet Earth. It’s true! The Taichung Power Plant is ranked number one on earth for CO2 emissions — apparently ’cause its so big. 

Kinda depressing, but this is what we vagabonds do – document the good, bad, & ugly. The positive news: there was a big wind turbine farm nearby too. Bottom line, modern Taiwan needs lots of electricity — especially for the crucial Taiwan semiconductor industry.

Next up, our first destination of 2025; Penang, Malaysia and some winter heat and humidity. Mom Diane will join us there in a couple weeks. Conveniently, Taichung is just two hours south of the big Taipei airport. Public “Ubus” fare from the bus terminal near Taichung Station direct to TPE airport: about $10 per person.

As always, be thankful and generous, happy trails & more beer. 

And happy new year again!

Life is NOW!

Thanks for reading, “Taiwan & East Asia – out with a bang!”