Articles from this Category
2 April 2019
Tainan is historic because it was the first place to be settled by Han Chinese from the mainland, eventually overtaking the native Austronesian population. It is also historic because nearby Anping was where Duth set up their base and fortification. It seems significant enough for me to check out Anping. While it was only about […]
1 April 2019
I have two full days to spend in Tainan. That’s one day more than what I think is necessary but I allowed a spare day in case I was disrupted coming in from Kinmen due to the airport being closed during fog season. This means that I can do “half-days” instead of the full-day explorations […]
31 March 2019
I had been worried about fog closing Kinmen airport as it is the fog season. But I woke to strong and gusty winds. Worried that the propeller aircraft may not make it in, I checked the forecast and noted that the wind was coming from the north-east. That’s the same direction as the runway orientation, […]
30 March 2019
Cycling around Little Kinmen The weather had been forecasted to be better than yesterday’s. That’s why I had reserved Little Kinmen, off the main island of Kinmen, for today. I walked from my homestay to the ferry terminal about 20 minutes away. The terminal for the boat to Little Kinmen was hard to find, overshadowed […]
29 March 2019
Half-Day Bus Tour The day was cool and was forecast to remain that way with chance of rain. What a change from yesterday’s scorcher. I put on longs and had breakfast of congee, doughsticks and some pastries. I weighed up the idea of renting a bicycle vs taking the sightseeing bus, taking into consideration the […]
28 March 2019
Flying to Kinmen I woke early again at 0500, continued to lay down a bit before tidying up and having breakfast at 0730. I was out the door at 0750 for the metro to Songshan Airport. I’m bound for Kinmen where one of my great-grandfathers originated from. Before planning this trip, I thought Taiwan consisted […]
27 March 2019
With the time difference, I woke early at 0600. Breakfast wasn’t available till 0730 so I had some time to kill. My plan for today was just to do the one thing I didn’t managed to do over a year ago on my previous visit. That was the National Palace Museum. I set off at […]
1 October 2017
Chiang Kai Shek Memorial I woke around 0600 after 8h sleep. I had intended to have an early start but the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall didn’t open till 0900. Also I got delayed when I had a message from Jack (someone I travelled with in Oman for a couple of days) who had returned […]
30 September 2017
Tien Ho Temple I slept like a baby from 2100 till 0600. It was light outside when I woke since Taiwan is to the east of its timezone. After some muesli and milk I headed out at 0730 to Tien Ho temple by foot near Ximending. The facade was actually part of a row of […]
29 September 2017
Above: Ximending by night. I woke at 0500 and lay till 0600 before going to use the shower. I was out at 0630 for the train to Terminal 1 but my brain wasn’t working. I thought I needed one in the opposite direction (there isn’t an opposite direction) and had to wait a little for […]