Wednesday, July 27 - Sunday, July 31 2016 Incheon Intl Airport > Taiwan Taoyuan Intl Airport I had a near panic attack the morning I left for Taiwan. I didn't cash out any money before going through security check, which I didn't think was a big deal. I thought I could use my Korean debit card to cash out money at the currency exchange booth in Taiwan. Without thinking about it, I went through customs and after I was cleared, I asked for the whereabouts of an ATM. The security guard proceeded to tell me that there were none inside and that if I wanted to go back out, I had to cancel my plane ticket and do the whole process again. If I wanted to cash money when I landed in Taiwan, I needed an international card to do the deed. I had less than 30 minutes left and there was no way I was exiting, waiting through that long ass line, and making my flight before take off. At this point, I was calmly freaking out (panicking in my head) and asking God to calm my nerves. I was running low on time so I made the super rash decision to get on that plane with nothing but a few 1000 won ($1 USD) in my pocket. I did have a back-up plan, which was to ask my friend (who I would see a few days later) to spot me during my stay there, but it was the waiting time in between that really forced me to just "go with it." Well, that security guard was so wrong. Jesus forgave his sins, so I forgave him too. I was just so anxious that as soon as I got on that plane, I passed out from the stress. I woke up and I was in Taiwan praying all the way through the customs line. I ran to the currency exchange booth and low and behold, I could use any bloody debit card from any country to cash out Taiwanese Dollars. Before I get into the "highlights of my trip", if you ever go to Taiwan, make sure to:
HIGHLIGHTS OF MY TRIP My host for Airbnb, was extremely hospitable and after picking me up from the airport, offered to take me into town as well as a night market in Zhongli City. I left a really good review. #fivestars #igotchuairbnb (side note: I always book Airbnbs for my trips and they never cease to amaze me with their hospitality and care). Before I left for Taiwan, all I had planned was a list of the things I wanted to do/eat. This way, I could have more spontaneous time and less stress. There were a lot of times when I just "went with it." One good thing about traveling alone is that you can rest freely and be a lazy homebody. I spent one whole day indoors (not to mention the scorching Asia summer heat) just resting in my Airbnb, AC on blast, reading "The Girl on the Train," and playing with the owner's cat. Before I left for Taiwan, I got in contact with one of my roommates from college, Felicia, who was fortunately staying at home with her family in Taichung during my stay there. Felicia graced me by showing me around her town and guiding me on where to go to achieve my to-do list. This helped both of us because we didn't waste time and she knew exactly where to go if I wanted so-and-so food. I got to stay in her three-story apartment (which is a normal home for Taiwanese residents) with her parents, who were so sweet and generous. Her dad was the cook of the house and always made meals for us, including this one night, where he prepared chicken soup made with wine instead of broth. Its funny because I didn't understand Mandarin, but we were all laughing and having a good time that night. #ThumbsUpForAuthenticity The highlight of this trip was definitely hopping on the back seat of my friend's motorbike and touring the Feng Chia Night Market. Unlike Korea, buses and subways aren't a thing in Taiwan. People drive cars and motorbikes to get around. Its always been a dream of mine to get on the back of a motorcycle, arms wrapped around some guy, with upbeat music in the background like I'm in some kind of music video. But let me tell you, this was just as exciting. It took forever to find a parking spot and we were sweating bullets, but it didn't matter. I was a little kid again. We walked around the market and I ate so much food. I didn't even finish eating a whole portion of one type of food because I wanted to save room and try as much Taiwanese dishes as I possibly could. Also, it was ridiculously cheap and affordable- I may have tried up to five cuisines that night. Speaking of food, this is my top list of Taiwanese dishes during my stay. If you're making a trip there anytime soon, make sure you pick these up!
I loved Taiwan but it wouldn't have been the same without Felicia! Her faith in God encouraged me during a dry season of my life. I met this friend back at DBU (Dallas Baptist University), where I was immersed in an international and diverse community. I was blessed to meet Felicia and so many others who came to study from different continents. I hope to see more of you guys in your home country! - Stay tuned for my post about Japan, which was actually my first trip outside of Korea. I decided to write about Taiwan first, since I had already written down my experience, whereas Japan was more of taking photos and videos. If you've been to Japan, you know what I mean when I say it was AWESOME. #Tokyo2016
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Grace LeeHi! I'm from Fort Worth/Dallas, Texas and I'm currently teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. I'm a gyopo/second-gen (Korean born in America) blogger and I write about travel, fashion, community, and teaching. I love Jesus and all glory goes to Him.
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