The lure and magic of the East with the comforts of the
West—what could be more tempting? Yeni Wong believes Taiwan has touched the
hearts of every one of us, and many foreigners will have something to share
about their experience.
Taiwan, a country known for its foodie scene, night
market, and touchy cross-strait relationship with China, is rarely mentioned
for its diversity and creativity, which are inspired by its unique geopolitical
situation, its collision between traditions and new identities, and an emerging
desire to be heard. All these have sparked new trends and ideas for Taiwan in
many areas, from traveling to business and from art to cuisine.
It’s easy to see why Taiwan was called Ilha Formosa, “the beautiful island,” by
early Portuguese sailors. This small island offers spectacular mountain
scenery, impressive geographic and ecological diversity, and a unique mélange
of cultural influences. With its small size and excellent roadways and
facilities, Taiwan is easy to discover while remaining relatively unknown to
mainstream tourism.
In May 2016, Yeni joined a travel group that had crafted its trip to visit the myriad wildlife highlights of the island. Birders were rewarded with an impressive array of endemic species, including exotic pheasants, the Taiwan hill partridge, the Taiwan blue magpie, and a good number of East Asian migrants. The varied forest ecosystems are home to a huge diversity of plants, mammals, birds, amphibians, and insects.
Their trip took Yeni and her companions hiking in
Dasyueshan National Forest to see blossoming rhododendrons, Mikado pheasant,
and rock monkeys, as well as to the San Xin Temple
with its exquisite bird carvings. They traveled to the wave-swept coast of
eastern Taiwan and to the fishing stations of Tainan City. They met the Taroko
and Bunun aboriginal peoples, who maintain their distinctive cultural heritage.
Yeni lived in Taiwan for her first twenty-plus years and came to America for graduate school at the University of Illinois in 1968. For her, Taiwan is a beautiful old haunt and has an amazing heart.
Recently, I was delighted to conduct an interview with Yeni about her experience as a Taiwanese emigrant to the United States. During this exclusive interview, Yeni addressed these emerging topics and stories ranging from culture, business, and entrepreneurship to food. Answering the questions made her really focus on what Taiwan means to her and how much she values her early years there.
In this interview, Yeni took time out of her busy schedule to answer some questions regarding adventure travel in Taiwan. She has compiled a very long list of reasons to love Taiwan. I’m sure her answers will inspire you to visit the island for an adventure of your own! This interview, in her own words, has been edited for clarity, length, and contents and includes only five of those reasons.
1. The people: The Taiwanese are very friendly and will go out of their way to help you without expecting anything in return. They will take the time to explain aspects of their life, culture, and traditions. They will teach you how to do something through the use of hand gestures and body language. They are always willing to offer a smile and tell you your Chinese is great, even though you used the wrong tone and said something totally different from what you wanted to communicate. They will make you feel at home, even though you are far away from everything familiar.
2. The culture: From its temple celebrations to its lantern festivals, from its Chinese New Year festivities to the release of sky lanterns in Pingxi, Taiwan is rich in culture and traditions. And the plus side of it all is that foreigners are welcomed to partake with open arms.
3. The cuisine: Taiwanese food is heaven for an adventurous foodie or for those looking to try something different. Dishes, snacks, and drinks can be purchased at any time during the day. If you want to sample local cuisine, check out the night markets and roadside stands. There are several snacks and dishes to sample and try. Some are quite “out there” (like stinky tofu), but there is something for everyone. Go on a “culinary crawl” at any one of the several night markets scattered around the cities and towns throughout the island.
4. The scenery: If you are looking for a place to breathe in the fresh mountain air, to feel the wind in your hair, to challenge yourself, and to feel like you are on top of the world, the mountains in Taiwan are a perfect escape from everyday life. They are the ideal location to see the clouds sitting on the mountain peaks and the perfect spot, actually one of the few spots in Taiwan, to feel cold during those hot and humid summer months when you think your body has hit the melting point. The hiking trails (especially in central Taiwan) can be quite strenuous, especially with the air so thin, but the views are spectacular, and the accomplishment of completing such a huge challenge is really rewarding.
5. The convenience: With convenience stores located on every corner, night markets creating a shopping heaven for customers looking for great deals, and restaurants open until the wee hours of the morning, Taiwan can clearly be labeled “the country of convenience.” Not to mention that the country has an extensive and reliable public transportation network—there are bus systems in every county and city, a subway system in Taipei and Kaohsiung, a train system connecting the entire country, and the high-speed rail whizzing people from north to south.
2. The culture: From its temple celebrations to its lantern festivals, from its Chinese New Year festivities to the release of sky lanterns in Pingxi, Taiwan is rich in culture and traditions. And the plus side of it all is that foreigners are welcomed to partake with open arms.
3. The cuisine: Taiwanese food is heaven for an adventurous foodie or for those looking to try something different. Dishes, snacks, and drinks can be purchased at any time during the day. If you want to sample local cuisine, check out the night markets and roadside stands. There are several snacks and dishes to sample and try. Some are quite “out there” (like stinky tofu), but there is something for everyone. Go on a “culinary crawl” at any one of the several night markets scattered around the cities and towns throughout the island.
4. The scenery: If you are looking for a place to breathe in the fresh mountain air, to feel the wind in your hair, to challenge yourself, and to feel like you are on top of the world, the mountains in Taiwan are a perfect escape from everyday life. They are the ideal location to see the clouds sitting on the mountain peaks and the perfect spot, actually one of the few spots in Taiwan, to feel cold during those hot and humid summer months when you think your body has hit the melting point. The hiking trails (especially in central Taiwan) can be quite strenuous, especially with the air so thin, but the views are spectacular, and the accomplishment of completing such a huge challenge is really rewarding.
5. The convenience: With convenience stores located on every corner, night markets creating a shopping heaven for customers looking for great deals, and restaurants open until the wee hours of the morning, Taiwan can clearly be labeled “the country of convenience.” Not to mention that the country has an extensive and reliable public transportation network—there are bus systems in every county and city, a subway system in Taipei and Kaohsiung, a train system connecting the entire country, and the high-speed rail whizzing people from north to south.