Travel Journal
Forging Meaningful Connections
Taiwan, Taipei – May 2025
Every Trip a Purposeful Trip
When a life storm hit in late 2023, I made a quiet yet powerful decision: to live with intention — thanking the past, embracing the present, and welcoming the future. That philosophy became my compass, guiding how I work, relate, rest… and even how I travel.
This trip wasn’t just about sightseeing. It was about meaningful connection. A chance to meet someone who once lived in my inbox as a penpal, and now walks beside me as someone deeply cherished.
We didn’t just travel Taiwan. We shared it. Every view, meal, hiccup, and silent pause became part of a shared story.
Day 1 — Serendipities & Sulphur
Night Flights
I’m starting to fall in love with flying off at night — mainly because I get to enjoy the amazing facilities at Singapore Changi Airport. There’s just something nice about having the time to explore, unwind, and soak it all in, even if sleeping on the flight isn’t always ideal.
📍 McGriddle Hunt Begins
While the Sausage Mcgriddles just ended in Singapore, it started in Taiwan! The initial plan to have it at the airport was disrupted as they were out of stock! However, with our unweavering spirit as foodie, a spontaneous stop near Taipei Main Station led to pork sausage McGriddles! Less savoury than Singapore’s, but a novelty worth the hunt.
My first souvenir from Taiwan!
🚠 Maokong Cable Car — From Chaos to Calm
We were ushered into a crystal cabin with a glass floor — free upgrade thanks to weather urgency. Floating above trees, the city faded beneath us.
With our bellies full and spirits high, we were just about to head down when the universe gave us a little nudge. Dark clouds began to roll in just as we reached the cable car station. To our surprise, the staff hurried us along with cheerful urgency — and before we knew it, we were ushered into a crystal cabin with a glass floor. A free upgrade, thanks to the brewing storm. As if on cue, the rain came pouring the moment we reached the station below.
🚴 NTU, Nostalgia & Lemonade
What’s better than exploring a campus? Being guided by an alum of National Taiwan University (NTU). Cycling through the campus grounds brought a wave of nostalgia. With lemonade bubble tea in hand, a jump shot in front of the library, and snow ice from a popular student haunt — the campus vibe was perfectly sealed.
The campus carries a nostalgic charm—reminding me of the school from “Secret 不能说的秘密.”
🛁 Sulphur, Setbacks & Staying Light
Checked into a hot spring resort in Yangmingshan — greeted by the unmistakable scent of sulphur and the promise of relaxation. But not everything went as planned. The aircon was down, and the night turned out warmer and stuffier than we’d hoped. Still, we chose to stay light, focusing on what we could control — our mindset. We soaked in the onsen, shared quiet laughs, and leaned into the moment.
By the next day, a better room awaited — a gentle reminder that discomfort is often temporary, and presence makes all the difference.
That said… I wouldn’t recommend this hotel. Let’s just say service and transparency didn’t quite make the guest list.
Even in discomfort, connection can hold space. That’s growth.
Day 2 — Trails, Tea & Togetherness
🥢 Anchored by Breakfast
A buffet filled with local delights offered a grounding start before hiking.
🥾 Hiking Yangmingshan (Erziping Trail)
Fog, mud, and a cautious knee led us to turn back early. No summit, but a shared decision full of clarity and care.
Connection doesn’t always require reaching the summit. Sometimes it deepens in turning back.
The hike was cut short — a cautious knee and shifting weather led us to turn back early. No summit this time, but a shared decision grounded in clarity and care.
🍧 Food & Conversation
Even though the hike wasn’t fully completed, it doesn’t change one thing — as foodies, we eat to hike and hike to… eat again? 😄 ‘A’ recommended a traditional local dessert shop, and wow — the queue, the beancurd desserts, and the soft conversations that followed were pure magic. A simple, meaningful pause in the day.
Funny enough, we had dessert before lunch — no regrets. Right after, we hopped over to a nearby eatery for a round of local stir-fried delights. A back-to-back foodie adventure done right.
Spent the rest of the day soaking in the onsen, letting the warmth melt away all tension. Wrapped it up with dinner at the hotel’s highly praised restaurant — a cosy meal that truly lived up to the reviews.
Day 3 — Trails, Tea & Togetherness
🥢 Lovely Cafe on the Road
Mornings in the mountains are always a treat — made even better by a surprise visit from a cute little bird that flew right past my head as I stepped into the garden. A fulfilling start to the day, with one last soak in the onsen before we headed out for more adventures!
🎤 KTV, Bowling & Belly Laughs
Singing, bowling, and BBQ at Bei Men’s newly opened 星聚點（文创北门）— an all-in-one entertainment hub. Sometimes, joy really is the best itinerary. They operate on a minimum spending system, which you can easily meet through food purchases. Definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a fun hangout spot in Taipei!
Day 4 — Mountains, Postcards & Meaning
☁️ Jiu Fen’s Quiet Mornings
I arrived before the shops opened. The alleys were quiet, the air cool — Jiufen hadn’t yet stirred. I wandered in silence, hunting for postcards and soaking in the rare stillness. There’s something grounding about experiencing a usually crowded place in its quiet moments.
Along the street, I spotted a small teahouse — no signboard, no crowd, just open doors and the inviting scent of pu’er tea. It wasn’t hidden, just unassuming. I stepped in and found myself overlooking a breathtaking mountaintop view.
I sat with a cup of tea and wrote postcards — words flowing with ease in the solitude. A simple pause, yet one that filled me deeply. Sometimes, the quietest moments are the ones that stay with you the longest.
📮 A Tradition of Postcards
Inspired by Rock8bee, sending handwritten energy across borders. Let me know if you want one next time 🙂
🎤 Entrepreneur Toastmasters, Taipei
Served as General Evaluator at Entrepreneur Toastmasters. Their warmth and energy were unforgettable.
You never know when a simple practice becomes your anchor. Postcards. Public speaking. Tea. All portals into presence.
Day 5 — Curiosity & Closure
🏛️ Learning Through Play
A sustainability exhibition with a gamified experience. Scan, shop, reflect, and receive. Environmental learning done right.
🍲 Final Feast
Our final dinner took 40 calls to book. The porridge was worth it. The stories shared with and by ‘A’ and her friends made it complete.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a trip. It was a quiet celebration of recovery, growth, and presence. A reminder that healing doesn’t always arrive with fanfare — sometimes, it’s found in morning mist, shared silence, or the warmth of an unexpected meal.
It was about letting go of what no longer served me. Leaning into discomfort, into joy, into the unknown. And allowing myself to be fully seen — not through grand gestures or loud declarations, but through small, deliberate choices.
To choose stillness when it’s easier to rush.
To choose curiosity over control.
To choose presence over perfection.
And for that, I’m deeply grateful.
