We have 5 days to explore Seoul- thank goodness Deborah Dalton shared her trip notes with us! We landed in our hotel & Greg found a pickleball game which gave me time to explore the fascinating shops & restaurants around our hotel in the Insadong neighborhood. We could not have had a better location. Small shops & cafes in tiny twisting alleys. We did not have enough time to try all of the cafes…tho we did try! And we were close to the museums, shrines, and city hustle. Fun!

This painted doorway was found in one of our neighborhood alleys

When one travels to Taiwan – a last minute decision, as we were so close in Japan- it is a gift to have a friend’s son- who lives there – give us insider hints on the best things to experience. We had a fabulous time exploring the big sites as well as hidden treasures. Yingge was a glimpse into life outside of Taipei. We found a few neighborhoods with fun street food ( Dongmen), a few fun night markets, and just great walks – Elephant Mtn & along the river.

Toroko Gorge was on our list to experience & was hit hard by an earthquake -1 week before our arrival. Kudos to the Taiwanese to hit their stride after Mother Nature’s setback.

Taiwan is fun & vibrant & we look forward to returning.

Greg met amazing pickleball buddies in Taipei. So grateful for their friendship.

Pickleball friends

River walkway.

Our friends Lora & David’s son lives in Taipei snd has provided invaluable suggestions for fun places to visit in Taiwan. Unfortunately Taroko Canyon was on our wish list and the earthquake changed those plans. So tragic.

A suggestion is to take the local train from Taipei to a smallish town where ceramics are mastered. The train ride – either locals – fun. And the community was very low key & interesting. Interesting g street art using ‘found’ objects. An interesting ceramic museum. And interesting main streets. Fun Sunday morning. A departure from Taipei hustle.

As Japan, Taiwan & Korea are so densely populated- citizens are out & about. Especially in public places. Teen Dance groups practicing, tai-chi groups, musicians. It is great to see.

Taipei is easy to explore/ subways & buses great. And we started with a guided tour of the Palace Museum. Artifacts, jade, history. Interesting stories of moving treasures to Taiwan.

Next it was the Chiang Kai Shek square & changing of guards. All very impactful.

Sometimes one just needs to jot thoughts before they are forgotten and this post is one of those.

Greg was kind enough to accompany me to an appointment for threading. The fact that we found the salon is a Miracle. And it is only because I asked a kind woman if she knew the shop location. She immediately stopped what she was doing & off we went – to a local market – where she asked no less than 5 of her buddies until we found the shop. It was a staircase- with pink painted steps on the second floor. Not a single word of English was to be found – 100% Mandarin characters. The technician could not have been nicer and better – an excellent experience. And a testament to the kindness of Taiwanese to strangers & tourists.

After my appointment/ we were starving & fortunately there was a local night market. It was great. Had the most refreshing honey lemonade / fresh. And we had a grilled ear of corn / fixed Taiwanese style. And we had yummy sweet potato puffs.

PUNCTUATION – we all studied it / few of us liked it and seldom do we think about it- except when eating potato puffs & sitting next to another food stand…which read—Black Sesame Oil Pork Innards Chicken Testicles. … which one of those ‘bolts’ you to action to order? Here is my question about Punctuation…,how many chickens would need to be harvested to create a satisfying meal for a 20 something male???? Seriously how large is a chicken testicle and how many does one need for an entree? I hope this is a punctuation issue- perhaps a few commas would clarify the offerings and some large animal has volunteered his testicles for this booth’s entree. And you know what? I will never know for certain! I do know I ate a number of mystery foods and I know I ate intestines at least once! 😄 another meal we ate something – I have no idea what it was – and I was certainly not going to ask / in this case / ignorance is bliss! We have had so many excellent meals and food has been a fun part of our adventure.

Punctuation !