Wonders of Taiwan

Taiwan is no stranger to me. In the '70s, local cinema here was dominated by Taiwanese romance and family drama movies, many of which were based on Chiung Yao's novels. My happy weekend matinees were spent watching films starring the pair of adorable Lins (Lin Ching Hsia and Lin Feng Jiao) and the two Chins (Chin Han and Chin Siang Lin).

Moreover, there were various educational and cultural exchange programmes supported by the Taiwan government. But my adventurous mind had not been stirred up yet, so I had let those wonderful opportunities to explore Taiwan earlier slip by.

My recent trip was an eye-opening experience. Though I'm not a food connoisseur, I found Taiwan to be a culinary paradise. Vendors and restaurants offer a plethora of local and international snacks and foods. Night markets are great places to sample a tempting array of treats, while restaurants compete to feast your senses of sight and taste with decorated and delicious delicacies. Even vegetarians will have no problem ordering a dish in restaurant, as most cooks will come up with a creative dish for you.

Taiwan has a diversity of cultures and natural attractions to suit all travellers' preferences. With numerous towering mountains, the island is not short of great scenic attractionsAn efficient transportation system with high-speed trains and an extensive network of buses allows visitors to travel across the country in a short time and one can enjoy a day-trip from Taipei to nearby destinations if you don't have much time.

My trip was short but I enjoyed strolling around some of Taipei's favourite spots and its famed night market. I also had such a good time with an excursion to Jiaosi, a hot spring town on the northeast coast where I started with a trek along a waterfall trail, visited an amazing art gallery and an orchid farm before concluding with a midnight soak in the hotel's rooftop hot spring. This included two sumptuous meals in between and all this could be managed within one day and a night stay.

Taiwan is 14 times smaller than Thailand, but the island has raised itself from 179 to 26th place in GDP ranking and is among the top 20 exporting countries. Despite the shaky establishment of the nation, which is not recognised by China, and the occasional exchange of missiles between the two Chinas a stone's throw apart throughout the years, the Taiwanese have found a way to do business and make money. The island rose from producing low-technology goods like clothes and cheap toys a few decades ago to being a world leader in information technology in the 21st century.

The economic miracle has given fat wallets to its people, (can big pocket mean rich and great spender?) who have become well-loved travellers worldwide. When I went to Turkey for a holiday over a decade ago, I had a hard time telling curious waiters and shop owners that I came from Thailand not Taiwan. Finally I was in Taiwan and people knew that I came from Thailand.

Source = bangkokpost