Welcome to Taipei

After an uneventful five-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur to Taipei, we arrive at the airport. Navigating our way through the airport is easy and intuitive. Before getting through immigration, every person has to declare that no meat, animals, prohibited plants, or other such item has been brought into the country. It makes perfect sense; it's a small island and it's particularly vulnerable to exotic plant and animal diseases. We have nothing to discard or declare but the line is quite long. After successfully progressing through and having our bags x-rayed from said contraband, we arrive at the line for immigration. And what a line it is! The wait to pass through immigration is so long that lots of people pass the line thinking we're all just congregating for...well, I don't know what. They quickly circle back and join the queue.

Immigration is unremarkable. The stamp is quickly placed on a page and we continue to collect our luggage and pass through customs. Since Taipei is known for its efficient public transportation, it's a no-brainer to take the MRT (metro) from the airport to our destination in the Da'an District. So, we head to the metro and arrive at the gate after close to a 20-minute walk.

The easiest way to take the MRT from the airport is to purchase an Easy Card. And the only way to purchase the Easy Card is in cash. Fortunately, D had done his research ahead of our arrival, and the Bank of Taiwan does not charge a fee for withdrawal or currency exchange. (We also have a card that reimburses us when we do encounter ATM withdrawal fees.) Instead of lugging our bags back to the main floor where the ATM is located, I decide to go back and make the withdrawal so that we have TWD (new Taiwanese dollars). I lightly jog through building so that my round trip takes a mere 15 minutes.

We return to the ticket counter and each purchase an Easy Card for $400 New Taiwanese Dollar (TWD). The card is $100 TWD and refundable upon return. (Spoiler alert: We save our cards with the hope of a return.) The total $500 TWD/person. Another tip: when taking the train, make sure to take the purple line or the express train to Taipei Main Station. From there, you can catch the metro to any part of the city. Trains are punctual and run frequently, so no need to rush through the airport.

We quickly learn that the Easy Card is aptly named. You can literally use it to buy anything. The convenience stores accept it, restaurants accept it, and even some gyms accept it. It's the most clever card and makes life in Taipei effortless. Running low? Just top up the card at any MRT station - and they're everywhere in the city. We didn't top up at a convenience store, but I think this is a possibility too.

Daan Park is magic. Pure magic. But wait, I'm getting ahead of myself. As we walk towards the park, we serendipitously stumble upon the flower and jade market. The two markets are open on the weekends only and are aptly named. Taipei is the most efficient and clever city. The markets are tucked under the highway, giving natural protection in case of bad weather but utilizing the space in such a dynamic way. (During the week, it converts to under highway parking for local businesses. So genius. No messy parking garages or needless obstruction of green space. I'm already in love with Taipei at this point.)

Both markets draw significant crowds. I lament that I don't live there and can't purchase every flower in the market. The prices are so reasonable (TWD to USD is a solid conversion) and the variety of flowers and plants is endless. There are herbs, bamboo, bonsai, roses, and orchids. My absolute favorite flower, the orchid, is in every color and size. I take a few moments and just pause, do a complete 360, and marvel in the wonder of this flower market. It's the little things, folks. To console myself from the experience of building the most magnificent Taiwanese garden in my non-existent Taipei flat, I purchase a beautiful jade bracelet. (That wasn't really the reason, but it sounds so much more dramatic.) And I proudly negotiate the price with the vendor.

We must have spent close to three hours between the two markets. I was in my element. And D is always so gracious and patient with me. He knows that if there are flowers, it's gonna be a beat before we shuffle on. But don't think for one minute that he doesn't enjoy himself. In fact, he studies the map of every city where we travel and makes sure that if there's a public garden, we visit it. ❤️

Daan Park is located in the Da'an District of Taipei. Yes, there's an apostrophe in the district's spelling but not the park's spelling of the same name. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We immediately notice that the park is filled with people - old (like over 80) and young (like 6 years old) and everyone in between - looking down at their mobile phones. Everyone. Everyone is mesmerized by whatever is happening. I quickly wonder if there's some global news story shaking up the world. Alas, D quickly glances at a few phones and cracks the case. Everyone has congregated in the park to play a game or, rather, to mine a game. We learn quickly that gaming is life in Taipei. Everyone games. Everyone is obsessed with their mobile devices. Everyone is living in their virtual bubble. And everyone is content. Despite the crowding on the paved pathways at the entrance of the park, we're able to wander without interference as we go deeper into the green space.

Daan Park is essentially a public garden. The colors are brilliant, even though we still in the winter season. It's warm and slightly overcast but the birds are singing, the bees are buzzing, and the flowers are blooming. We've been in Taipei for just about 24 hours and I'm obsessed. 😍

We walk around for a while. The transformer statue is an unexpected delight, and I let out an audible laugh. D also laughs, as we note the juxtaposition of the fantastical figure amongst the beautifully arranged flowerbed. It somehow works. Only in Taipei.

Eco Island with hundreds of birds nesting in the trees and surrounding greens. The park is known for its diversity of birds including the black-crowned night herons, egrets, ibises, grey herons, and many species of ducks. As many people flock to the park. Hordes of students are studying the birds, some with charts and scientific rules, others with sketches and drawings. It's always beautiful to observe the power of nature. Humans are so deprived of nature as cities grow and technology draws us to our screens, but having space like this connects us again. And it's so peaceful despite the number of people.

So in the first 36 hours in Taipei, here's what I've learned:
✅ Walkable city
✅ Cycling city
✅ Green city with orchids in abundance
✅ City with seasons (it's warm-ish but still winter with spring peeking through)
✅ Excellent public transportation including airport transport
✅ Environmentally conscious
✅ Semi-affordable (although on the higher end of cost of living for the Airbnb but also may be from our last minute choice of travel)
✅ Great food (but I must concede that Kuala Lumpur is still undefeated)
✅ Seemingly very content people...and super friendly

It seems as though we've stumbled upon a gem. The next few weeks will prove to be an unforgettable experience. You won't wanna miss this blog series!