This trip to Taiwan, is nothing short of an eye opener. I remember praying about a trip, and was certain for few months I was going to Vietnam. But God changed my plans, and said clearly to go Taiwan. Nothing attracts me there, I didnt know what to do. Reading up on Taiwan did not thrill me. It was a 9-day backpack, but I only booked 4 nights in Taipei, having no idea what I want to do.
But Taiwan is amazing. The people there are incredible. I first noticed it at the airport and then when I asked for road directions. They stop whatever they are doing, go out of their way, to take care of you, to over-satisfy your requests. They made sure you are safe, comfortable, happy. If they are unable to give you what you want, they made sure they find someone who can. If they are unable to give you street directions, they find someone who knows, google for you, or find someone to google for you. If their shops do not have what you want, they point you to shops they think can satisfy you. They may even walk you to the other shop, neglecting their own.
Many times, they left me wondering "what did I do to deserve such service and treatment?" They gave and gave and gave. Anything that does not have an official price tag to it, they gave free of charge. In shops, they serve you with dedication, politeness, respect. At times, I felt like I was royalty. They never gave a "face" when you didnt want to buy anything after serving you for so long, never pressured. They simply said "Very happy to serve you. Hope you can find what you want soon (:"
They addressed each other with respect. Using "Ning" instead of "Ni", and words such as "gui ping" (expensive guest).
I stayed in cheap backpackers hostels. The person tending the hostel is not even the boss, but he or she would put in so much effort to plan your trip for you. This guy once spent few hours researching the web, for bus timings, places of interest, eateries, etc to suit my convenience and plans.
The Taiwanese are amazing people. But the China Mainlanders I met there are no lesser. I remember a China Mainlander male graduate buying a bag of giant "bao-s" to give to everyone in the hostel, after saving money by sleeping overnights in the airport and on buses. I remember a China Mainlander undergraduate girl running across the rainy road to buy me a poncho (before I could say anything), and refusing a single cent back. I remember her sitting beside me to explain the tourist site we were in, because she knew I had problems reading "fan ti zhi" (traditional chinese characters) - and I never asked her to do it.
I remember walking in to their Taiwanese recording studio, asked the counter if it is possible to catch a "Zhong yi jie mu" (variety show). The person asked which artist do I want? Then asked me to take a seat (using words such as 'Ning' and 'gui ping'). 20 minutes later, he emerged and said "Pardon me for letting you wait so long. Are you alright? Our audience seats are full. But follow me backstage, I will show you around, give you chairs and you can watch the show recording" I walked into their artists make-up room. They offered me seats inside the make-up room, where the other artists are preparing themselves. I rejected, deciding it wasnt appropriate. 5 different persons-in-charge offered me seats several times. I felt that they would not give up till I was comfortably seated. Everyone was very busy preparing for the show, but they would stop to check if I am ok. Even the counter-man (who brought me in) would leave his counter job (3 floors down), every 15 mins, to make sure I am comfortable. His work ended at 7pm, but he stayed till 730pm to make sure I am ok. I did not pay a cent to watch.
I remember my entry ticket to Butterfly Valley was waivered for reasons I do not know. I entered foc. After enjoying their hot spring, I waited for the return bus near the ticketing counter. The officer (likely the same one who waivered my entry ticket), came out and said "Your hair is still wet. It is not good to sit in an air-con bus. Follow me into the counter office. I will give you a hair-dryer and inform you when your bus arrives". The hostel guy told me that when he backpacked through Taiwan, cars would stop beside him by the road and ask "where are you heading to? Let's see if I can give you a ride". He did not even stretch out his thumb to indicate he's looking to hitch-hike.
As a regular backpacker, kind deeds means alot. How successful and enjoyable a solo or duo backpack is, depends alot on the country's people. I've met amazing people in different countries, doing ridiculously kind things for me - strangers paying for my lodging (even after I rejected and proofed to them I had ample money), giving me shelter, food foc, knowing that they will never see me again for me to repay them. However, I believe that the people in Taiwan is the best I have seen. I wondered if I am alone in this. But Singapore’s mandarin morning paper today has an article, written by local artist Guo-Liang. He has been to Taiwan several times, and only now has he decided to write on how much the Taiwanese would serve you and to put your heart at rest.The day before going Taiwan, I celebrated my birthday. I prayed that I would learn how to "love one another" more. I guess God had shown me a little more.
Day 1: On our way up the Chiang Kai Sek Memorial, and we ought to be smarter backpackers by finding if there's a lift instead - there is.
The guard ceremony at the memorial hall.
Level 1 of the memorial hall - His life, history and possessions.
Outside the Memorial Hall.
We went to this amazing restaurant, Ding Tai feng. You need to queue up to get into this restaurant. When we reach there, it was already 3pm plus, and we still need to wait 20mins to get in. This place is famous for its xiao long bao. Yes, the Xiao Long Baos are extremely good. It is the first time I see him put one into his mouth and went "Oh!". And we ordered the most expensive xlb there. It's called pork truffles xlb if I remember right. It's expensive, 5 times more expensive than the normal ones. It is supposedly made of rare ingredients. When ordering, the waiter would ask you when exactly do you want it to be made, and when exactly do you want it to be served. When it is served, they give you a new spoon for it.
The waiters and waitresses there are amazing. I asked for directions to "Hua Shi" (the recording studio), and she went to get the counter to google and print the directions for me. It was a fantastic experience here.
Took the Jie Yun (mrt) to Hua Shi. The shoe-shaped building behind me, is their recording studio. I plan to go there and ask whether it is possible to catch a Variety show (Zhong Yi Jie Mu), during my stay in Taipei.
I walked towards the information counter. The security guard was alerted and stood. The man beside the guard also stood up. We obviously do not look like we are guests here, carrying bags. We asked them if it was possible to watch a show. The man replied "who do you want to watch?" Then, we were told to take a seat for 20mins. He re-emerged and ushered us in, escorted us all the way into the artists dressing room. There was a jacky wu show soon, and the audience seats were full. However, we were allowed to watch the show with the backstage crew. He was so kind and hospitable. He took care of us, and made sure that we were comfortable. We were very grateful. Here he is, below.
However, we waited and waited to take a picture with the star. But he did not show up. As tourists, our time is limited. So we decided to leave, not very satisfied with how the star displayed his higher status by making us wait. Thankfully, while waiting, the man talked to us, and he gave us tips on where to go. So we went to Taipei 101 and the 'atas' (high-class) shopping complexes around. I wasnt very impressed with 101, and did not go up for the view. We went to Xin Guang Da Dao, their orchard area. It looks pretty much the same as orchard. With amateur street performances.
But Taiwan is amazing. The people there are incredible. I first noticed it at the airport and then when I asked for road directions. They stop whatever they are doing, go out of their way, to take care of you, to over-satisfy your requests. They made sure you are safe, comfortable, happy. If they are unable to give you what you want, they made sure they find someone who can. If they are unable to give you street directions, they find someone who knows, google for you, or find someone to google for you. If their shops do not have what you want, they point you to shops they think can satisfy you. They may even walk you to the other shop, neglecting their own.
Many times, they left me wondering "what did I do to deserve such service and treatment?" They gave and gave and gave. Anything that does not have an official price tag to it, they gave free of charge. In shops, they serve you with dedication, politeness, respect. At times, I felt like I was royalty. They never gave a "face" when you didnt want to buy anything after serving you for so long, never pressured. They simply said "Very happy to serve you. Hope you can find what you want soon (:"
They addressed each other with respect. Using "Ning" instead of "Ni", and words such as "gui ping" (expensive guest).
I stayed in cheap backpackers hostels. The person tending the hostel is not even the boss, but he or she would put in so much effort to plan your trip for you. This guy once spent few hours researching the web, for bus timings, places of interest, eateries, etc to suit my convenience and plans.
The Taiwanese are amazing people. But the China Mainlanders I met there are no lesser. I remember a China Mainlander male graduate buying a bag of giant "bao-s" to give to everyone in the hostel, after saving money by sleeping overnights in the airport and on buses. I remember a China Mainlander undergraduate girl running across the rainy road to buy me a poncho (before I could say anything), and refusing a single cent back. I remember her sitting beside me to explain the tourist site we were in, because she knew I had problems reading "fan ti zhi" (traditional chinese characters) - and I never asked her to do it.
I remember walking in to their Taiwanese recording studio, asked the counter if it is possible to catch a "Zhong yi jie mu" (variety show). The person asked which artist do I want? Then asked me to take a seat (using words such as 'Ning' and 'gui ping'). 20 minutes later, he emerged and said "Pardon me for letting you wait so long. Are you alright? Our audience seats are full. But follow me backstage, I will show you around, give you chairs and you can watch the show recording" I walked into their artists make-up room. They offered me seats inside the make-up room, where the other artists are preparing themselves. I rejected, deciding it wasnt appropriate. 5 different persons-in-charge offered me seats several times. I felt that they would not give up till I was comfortably seated. Everyone was very busy preparing for the show, but they would stop to check if I am ok. Even the counter-man (who brought me in) would leave his counter job (3 floors down), every 15 mins, to make sure I am comfortable. His work ended at 7pm, but he stayed till 730pm to make sure I am ok. I did not pay a cent to watch.
I remember my entry ticket to Butterfly Valley was waivered for reasons I do not know. I entered foc. After enjoying their hot spring, I waited for the return bus near the ticketing counter. The officer (likely the same one who waivered my entry ticket), came out and said "Your hair is still wet. It is not good to sit in an air-con bus. Follow me into the counter office. I will give you a hair-dryer and inform you when your bus arrives". The hostel guy told me that when he backpacked through Taiwan, cars would stop beside him by the road and ask "where are you heading to? Let's see if I can give you a ride". He did not even stretch out his thumb to indicate he's looking to hitch-hike.
As a regular backpacker, kind deeds means alot. How successful and enjoyable a solo or duo backpack is, depends alot on the country's people. I've met amazing people in different countries, doing ridiculously kind things for me - strangers paying for my lodging (even after I rejected and proofed to them I had ample money), giving me shelter, food foc, knowing that they will never see me again for me to repay them. However, I believe that the people in Taiwan is the best I have seen. I wondered if I am alone in this. But Singapore’s mandarin morning paper today has an article, written by local artist Guo-Liang. He has been to Taiwan several times, and only now has he decided to write on how much the Taiwanese would serve you and to put your heart at rest.The day before going Taiwan, I celebrated my birthday. I prayed that I would learn how to "love one another" more. I guess God had shown me a little more.
Day 1: On our way up the Chiang Kai Sek Memorial, and we ought to be smarter backpackers by finding if there's a lift instead - there is.
The guard ceremony at the memorial hall.
Level 1 of the memorial hall - His life, history and possessions.
Outside the Memorial Hall.
We went to this amazing restaurant, Ding Tai feng. You need to queue up to get into this restaurant. When we reach there, it was already 3pm plus, and we still need to wait 20mins to get in. This place is famous for its xiao long bao. Yes, the Xiao Long Baos are extremely good. It is the first time I see him put one into his mouth and went "Oh!". And we ordered the most expensive xlb there. It's called pork truffles xlb if I remember right. It's expensive, 5 times more expensive than the normal ones. It is supposedly made of rare ingredients. When ordering, the waiter would ask you when exactly do you want it to be made, and when exactly do you want it to be served. When it is served, they give you a new spoon for it.
The waiters and waitresses there are amazing. I asked for directions to "Hua Shi" (the recording studio), and she went to get the counter to google and print the directions for me. It was a fantastic experience here.
Took the Jie Yun (mrt) to Hua Shi. The shoe-shaped building behind me, is their recording studio. I plan to go there and ask whether it is possible to catch a Variety show (Zhong Yi Jie Mu), during my stay in Taipei.
I walked towards the information counter. The security guard was alerted and stood. The man beside the guard also stood up. We obviously do not look like we are guests here, carrying bags. We asked them if it was possible to watch a show. The man replied "who do you want to watch?" Then, we were told to take a seat for 20mins. He re-emerged and ushered us in, escorted us all the way into the artists dressing room. There was a jacky wu show soon, and the audience seats were full. However, we were allowed to watch the show with the backstage crew. He was so kind and hospitable. He took care of us, and made sure that we were comfortable. We were very grateful. Here he is, below.
However, we waited and waited to take a picture with the star. But he did not show up. As tourists, our time is limited. So we decided to leave, not very satisfied with how the star displayed his higher status by making us wait. Thankfully, while waiting, the man talked to us, and he gave us tips on where to go. So we went to Taipei 101 and the 'atas' (high-class) shopping complexes around. I wasnt very impressed with 101, and did not go up for the view. We went to Xin Guang Da Dao, their orchard area. It looks pretty much the same as orchard. With amateur street performances.
Shopping in Taiwan is also a very good experience, especially in Xi Men Ding. I bought many jenes and a shirt from this shop in Xi Men Ding, whose service is great. The lady would take my measurement and correct the length of the jenes on the spot, quickly. I really love such services.
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