Nín hǎo! Láizì táiwān rìyuètán de wènhòu! (Hello! Greetings from Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan!)
A warm welcome to you! I'm delighted and honored you have chosen to join in my adventures from last week! I trust the universe has filled your week with moments of wonder and awe that you are grateful for!
I'm brimming with gratitude for the universe's continuing benevolence through the amazing people who have hosted me in my travels. Sophia, who you'll meet in this week's blog post, was the most gracious, generous and kind host while I was in Taipei. I was reflecting in the past few days about how I was the beneficiary of so much kindness and generosity throughout my travels. Every day seems to bring a new act of kindness or a smile into my day. A small example would be the older Taiwanese man who I attempted to wish good morning to (in Mandarin). He was all smiles. He also gave me a warm smile and a wave as he got off the bus. Pure magic my friends! 🦄 I suspect you may have the same experiences, sometimes it's all about being open and taking the time to notice!
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How I love flowers!
There's been some percolating going on in my brain about how I was greeted at two different Sumatran accommodations (Sumatra Cheeky Monkeys/Kaesa Homestay) I was a guest at. Something about their initial approach has stayed with me because it was somewhat unsettling in the moment. Both accommodations smothered you in love and attention as part of the check-in process. Immersed in all this check-in love was a sales pitch to join in excursions/tours they offered. Great approach as your guest is in an agreeable mood with all this love; as a guest you just want to do something in return. Funny, how in both instances, the approach triggered the hairs on the back of my neck to go up. At Kaesa Homestay, I reversed my decision to join the sunrise tour given my uneasiness and the fact I was disinterested in the hot spring stop. I leave my two experiences with you for your further contemplation! 🙏 |
The weather over the past week has been warm, cloudy with some humidity. Brisbane weather was in the mid-20Cs (low 70Fs); slightly warmer and more humidity in Taiwan. We did have a morning of rain on Thursday in Taipei. All very comfortable for this time of year!
I've also been busy trying to organize my high level travel itinerary for Japan, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. At this point, my focus is on dates I'll enter/leave each country (and the associated flights). For example, the simplest way to travel to Kyrgyzstan from Mongolia is flying through Almaty in Kazakhstan. I'm also considering finding a group tour in Mongolia to 'simplify' my travel and seeing as much as the country as possible. Choices, choices, choices...
May the universe bring endless blessings and moments of magic 🦄 to you and your loved ones in the week ahead. 🙏
Travel Administration
I travel with a Samsung S25 Ultra smartphone that periodically needs to be recharged. I've learned on this trip that having a USB cable with a Type A connector on one end (and with sufficient length) is a must. The cable I was packing was just too short. The Type A connector interface is common on airplanes and the buses I've been traveling on. The type of connector on the cable's opposite end depends on the device you are using.
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| Type A connector |
Travel Update
The trip to Palau is booked. I fly from Taipei on Wednesday, May 27; returning to Taipei on Monday, June 1. Palau, an archipelago of over 500 islands, part of the Micronesia region in the western Pacific Ocean. I'll likely fly to Japan (Osaka or Nagoya - tbd) on Tuesday, June 2. I still need to book my flight to Japan.
Travel Maps
I returned to Brisbane for a night before flying to Taipei with a connection in Manila. While I decided the business class upgrade was outside my budget, I did 'purchase' the seat next to my seat for a little extra room on the eight hour flight from Brisbane to Manila. Minor drama with my making my connecting flight from Manila to Taipei. Our flight was at the Manila jetway about 30 minutes after my Taipei flight was scheduled to start boarding. I'm so grateful for the universe's benevolence as there was a sufficient delay in the flight to Taipei to give me time to board the flight! An airline employee was waiting for me in Manila to expeditiously escort me to my departing flight.
Australia: May 4 to May 13, 2026
Intercountry Travel: Brisbane, Australia to Taipei, Taiwan (via Manila) May 13
Taiwan: May 14 to May 27, 2026
Queensland
Queensland Public Transportation Factoid
Rides on the Queensland transit system (trains and buses), irrespective of distance, costs 50 cents AUD. The Canadian and Australian dollars are almost at par. Hard to believe, right!? For example, I took a 2.5 hour train ride from Brisbane to Nambour Station that only costed 50 cents. The 1.5 hour bus trip to Noosa National Park was 50 cents. It's as simple as 'tap on, tap off'.
The only exception, always needs to be an exception, is the train ride from the airport. That trip costs between $20 - $25. You can get a discounted fare if you book your ride in advance. The only requirement for the advance booking is confirming your date of travel. Too easy!
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| Multiple ways to pay! |
I was blessed to join Simone and his friend Antonio for nine holes of golf on Sunday morning. We did cheat a little by playing about four extra holes after we finished the front nine holes. We had a beautiful morning, as the photos below show, for carving up the golf course.
I took the photos below so I could share my golfing experience with you. I also shared the photos with Simone. He used the photos to critique his stance/posture. Simone shared the screenshot (below the photos) to indicate what he might do to improve his swing.
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| Simone addresses the ball |
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| The big swing! |
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Getting the swing right -
that's a life long journey! |
Brisbane CBD
I booked a hotel in Brisbane's Central Business District (CBD) for my last night in Queensland so I could have convenient access to the airport. I'd suggest checking out the
Cllix chain of apartments for rent if you are in Brisbane (Queensland, Victoria and South Australia). The two different Cllix apartment complexes I stayed in were competitively priced (for the price range I was looking at), conveniently located, clean, well-managed and completely equipped (my precious clothes washer and dryer!). I'm sharing this information as this company impressed me.
Queen Street Mall
My accommodation was a ten minute walk from the Queen Street Mall - a pedestrian shopping area. I thought I should share some photos of Brisbane's CBD for anyone interested in Brisbane urban experience.
I came across City Hall & Clock Tower as I was meandering towards my hotel.
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The area in front of City Hall is
King George Square |
I thought these bronze sculptures looked intriguing so I took the three photos. I subsequently discovered, as I was writing this blog post, the sculpture's significance (italics below). Greek history buffs would likely recognize/appreciate this art installation from a historical perspective.
'4 bronze sculptures that make up the "Forms of Myth" (Forme Del Mito ) art installation by Italian artist Arnaldo Pomodoro. Each piece symbolises a character from the ancient Greek play Agamemnon. The Dalek actually represents Ambition (Clytemnestra).'
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| Brisbane's Dalek (on left) |
Taipei (Taiwan)
The first stop I made after clearing customs and retrieving my luggage (yes, it did arrive despite the abbreviated connection time!) was the EZFly kiosk to purchase an
EasyCard and a token for the train to Taipei Central Station. EZFly is the only place in Taiwan where you can use your credit card to purchase an EasyCard. Cash is king everywhere else. The card itself costs 100 TWN (non-refundable) - about $4.50 Cdn. The card you purchase has a $100 TWD preloaded balance so you can start riding the metro immediately. BTW - EasyCard is required to access the metro, trains and buses.
I simplified my life by booking a room for three nights at the same hotel that I stayed at during my visit last year. The hotel is a three minute walk from the Jintan metro stop - the fifth stop from Central Station where I boarded the metro. Sometimes I acquiesce to convenience as to embracing additional adventure.
My decision to reorganize my itinerary to accept the invitation from Sophia, my new friend who I met during breakfast at my Kathmandu hotel, to attend a musical concert on Friday evening turned out to be a fabulous choice. I guess there's a certain amount of risk associated with accepting an invitation from a person I met in a hotel in Nepal. Well, her husband was with her at the hotel, so that eased my angst somewhat. More details below!
A significant benefit of staying in this part of Taipei is easy access (ten minute walk) to the Shilin Night Market, one of the best night markets in Taipei. Interesting stores, a wonderful variety of excellent street food vendors, wide range of gaming shops (pop balloons, throw rings, dice etc to win prizes) and extraordinary opportunity for people watching. Be prepared for crowded streets; watch out for the occasional scooter/motorcycle trying to make its way through.
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| One of many market entrances |
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| Embrace the hustle and bustle |
Sofia invited me to join her for lunch at the Grand Hotel.
Chiang Kai-Shek, Taiwan's first leader, built the hotel in 1952 to welcome (and I suspect impress) visiting foreign dignitaries. Sofia treated to me a tour inside the hotel before lunch as well as walk around the hotel grounds after lunch. The lunch was divine. One dish we enjoyed had crispy noodles which is my all time favorite!
Sofia spoiled me by arranging to pick me up/delivered me back to my hotel. Sofia and her husband live in Keelung, a seaside city about an hour away.
Interior/View
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| This flower arrangement captured my attention |
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| Close up view |
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Looking towards main floor - hotel entrance
is to the left. |
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Dragon was installed after a fire destroyed
part of the hotel. Its purpose is to ward off
further calamities - working so far! |
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City view from restaurant. Notice the sports fields
alongside the river. The gov't restricts development
as the river is prone to flooding. |
'Photoshoot'
As we were walking around the hotel grounds, we met a hotel security guard who had assumed the role of a tour guide for a small group of visitors. Sofia ended up assisting him to fill in additional information during his talk with the visitors. We struck up a conversation with the guard who shared photos of himself playing the role of Santa Claus. He was so full of energy and enthusiasm I asked him to have his photo taken with me. He then offered to take the series of photos that appear below. Note the different hand gestures in each of the photos of Sofia and myself. I'm unsure of the significance of the changing gestures other than it was a fun thing to do!
Concert
What a concert! Entertaining, energetic, engaging and non-stop fun for 2.5 hours. Sofia was one of sponsors of Richard, who was the concert's lead performer, She has had a longer term friendship with Richard. We ran into Richard as we were making our way to the music venue. After speaking with Sofia briefly, he offered to pose with me for a photo. BTW - Richard is 70 years old.
The concert involved Richard plus a series of different singers who joined Richard throughout the evening. An extraordinary range of amazing talent that was totally engaging. While I was unable to understand the lyrics, the singers successfully communicated the emotion.
On a somewhat sad note, Sofia mentioned how these entertainers had difficulty finding gigs as the type of music they represented appealed to a limited audience (people like me).
What an extraordinary blessing my Friday afternoon and evening was - courtesy of Sofia's kindness and generosity.
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| Original concert ticket |
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| Google translated version of concert ticket |
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Photo op with Richard, the lead
performer |
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| Amping the crowd as the show is about to start |
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| Richard |
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Performers need to display their entertainment
license at the show's start |
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| Song lyrics so audience can sing along |
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| This singer previously won the best singer in Taiwan |
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| Husband and wife who know how to entertain |
On Saturday morning I was on the bus for a four hour trip from Taipei to Sun Moon Lake. I did go to the bus station on Friday morning to purchase my bus ticket. I was unable to figure out how to make the purchase online. My proximity to Central Station/Central Bus Station paid off in this instance.
I was returning to Sun Moon Lake to visit local sights I missed in my first visit. I also wanted to stay at
MeiJen House, the homestay I was a guest at in my last visit. I liked the homestay vibe and I liked my mother and daughter hosts - Amanda and Joyce. It felt like coming home. Joyce had created a lasting memory in my last visit by preparing daily breakfast for me (which is normally an extra charge) along with a hand written note wishing me a wonderful day. I am immensely grateful for how the universe 'bathes' me in all this kindness and extra attention!
Sun Moon Lake background - 'It is the largest body of water in Taiwan. The east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon, hence the name.' There's lots more Sun Moon Lake info if you click the link on the section title.
This part of the country is known for its tea plantations and its different teas! I learned about Taiwanese tea from Annie, a fellow Nepali trekker whom I met at a teahouse while hiking to Namche Bazar/Hotel Everest View. We were discussing the different travel destinations we had visited when she mentioned she loved tea and she had visited this part of Taiwan because of the local tea.
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Bus schedule for key tourist destinations.
My homestay hosts have all the info a tourist needs!
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| Looking across the lake |
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| Ci'en Pagoda |
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| Ci'en Pagoda |
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| Ci'en Pagoda |
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| Wenwu Temple |
Friends
Sophia
As I've mentioned in this post, I met Sophia during breakfast at my Kathmandu hotel. I had just returned to the hotel after my Hotel Everest View trek. Her husband also returned on the same morning after an aborted attempt to reach Everest Base Camp. We exchanged pleasantries during the next few mornings. We also exchanged our respective contact information as I mentioned I was planning to be in Taiwan in May. Sofia suggested that I get in touch with her prior to my arrival. What an unexpected blessing this chance meeting in Kathmandu turned out to be. I was still surfing the way of gratitude from Simone's kindness and generosity during my Sunshine Coast visit. Thank you to the universe's benevolence!
Thank you Sophia for the most amazing day in Taipei!
BTW - I do caution potential hosts that I am likely to be the person who will show up if I'm invited!
Debra
I introduced my good friend Debra in a Sri Lanka blog post several weeks ago. Debra and I have stayed in contact since our chance meeting in the cafe at my Colombo hotel. I have the extraordinary blessing of being invited to share in one of Debra's important life milestones. Debra had an exceptional personal milestone when she successfully completed her month long Yoga Teacher Training in
Rishikesh, India. For those readers, like me, who may be unaware of Rishikesh's importance - the city has hosted the International Yoga Festival annually on the first week of March since 1999, giving it the nickname of Yoga Capital of the World.
Congratulations Debra! You are one step closer to realizing your passion project! More about Debra's passion project in future blogs.
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| Debra's Graduating Class |
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| Happy graduate |
Next Week
I'm spending four nights in Sun Moon Lake, then traveling to Tainan for two nights. I'll finish the week in Kaohsiung where I plan to attend another baseball game. Gotta love the energy and enthusiasm at Taiwanese baseball games. The baseball game can also be good fun as well.
I've dropped my plans to revisit Alishan National Scenic Area. I was unable to book the appropriate accommodation within the park. It's a well known fact that the hotels within the park leave much to be desired. The hotel I found that I thought might be suitable was fully booked. The best option is staying at hotels outside the park itself which requires having a car as the local transportation is troublesome.
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