Taipei & Tamsui - Taiwan -

I first landed in Taipei in 2014 for my very first solo trip. I returned in 2023, this time travelling with my mum. There was a long pause in between due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but now I’m back again in 2026 with my partner, and I’m genuinely happy to share the things I love about this place with him.

The bustling, vibrant atmosphere, the incredible local cuisine, and the affordable cost of travelling are the main reasons that keep drawing me back. What’s more, it’s a perfect destination for a short stay — not just as a transit stop, but as a place to revisit my favourite spots and discover new ones.

Another advantage is the language. Since many characters are shared with Japanese kanji, I can grasp the general meaning even if I don’t fully understand everything. That sense of familiarity makes travelling here feel both exciting and comforting at the same time.

That’s why I keep coming back.

The weather was a mix of cool and warm, as it was the low season, and we went for a walk whenever the conditions were pleasant. The photos capture beautiful moments in the historic areas, and the plum blossoms had just begun to bloom.

We visited two temples in town, both vibrant and richly adorned with intricate details. Seeing locals praying there throughout the day and night was truly impressive and reminded me of Japanese shrines, which are always open for anyone who wishes to come and pray.

Catching up with my Taiwanese friend was a top-notch experience this time, especially since it was my third attempt to make it happen. Our first plan fell through because of her work commitments, and the second time I wasn’t feeling well enough to meet.

On top of that, it has been 20 years since we sat in the same classroom at an English language school in London. Wow — we really go way back.

She even brought her best friend along, and the four of us had lunch with a stunning view, chatting endlessly as if no time had passed at all.

She recommended a local liquor with an alcohol content of 58%, and she kindly bought a bottle for us and dropped it off at our hotel. We mixed it with soda to dilute the intensity and soften the flavour. Despite its strong, almost chemical-like aroma, we surprisingly enjoyed it — so much so that we even bought another bottle from a convenience store!

We found a bird at a park at night....

Staying in Tamsui was meant to be the holiday of all holidays, but it ended up being a rather disappointing experience because of the stormy, relentless rain. We were stuck at the hotel most of the time and only went out briefly to grab something to eat.

There was one day when the weather looked manageable, but we were almost blown away — just like in the photos below! In hindsight, we probably should have come during the high season. Haha.