MY FAVORITE BICYCLE TRIPS AROUND HUALIEN
There are many bicycle routes in and around Hualien that will allow you to discover beautiful vistas of the East Coast but also countryside neighbourhoods, hiking trails, and waterfalls.
A HIKER’S GUIDE TO TAROKO NATIONAL PARK
When I travelled down from Taipei to Hualien, my main reason was that I really wanted more nature, more crazy-wild sceneries and let’s face it: I was craving to go hiking again. I guess this is why I fell in love with Taroko (and the whole Hualien County) right away.
ONE MONTH IN TAIPEI
I lived in Taipei for a whole month, volunteering in a hostel, which allowed me to get free accommodation et enjoy my free afternoons discovering and taming this new country I chose to live for a whole year. It’s hard to talk about Taipei, to list everything there is to see or to experience because the city is so big that even a whole month wasn’t enough to do everything I planned to do. And as I also like to feel the vibe of a city, I also spent some afternoons hanging out in cafes and bookshops, or Geocaching around Shilin while feeding the mosquitoes with my French sweet blood.
HOUTONG, THE CAT VILLAGE
Houtong is a perfect stop for a relaxing moment, in which I highly recommend to get a cold tea or snack at one of the numerous themed cat cafes, a cat sleeping or purring on your knees. I really liked the vibes over there, a bit away from the crowded touristy places – maybe because I went there in the morning, for there were more people coming when I left in the beginning of the afternoon.
SINGAPORE I GOT A KICK OUT OF YOU
I landed in the city-state a little bit randomly.
When I decided to go back to France after my year wandering in New Zealand, I was wondering where I could stop on my way back this time. On my way to Auckland, I realized a long-time dream: going to Japan. Which new land could I explore on my way back home? Impulsively, I booked a stopover in Singapore. I met Brenna, a Singaporean girl, while I was helping at Stewart Island Smoked Salmon. We got along pretty well and my eyes were sparkling and my taste buds all excited when she was telling me about her country. This would be a perfect occasion to see her again.
Well, that was settled, I was going to Singapore!
SINGAPORE ON A BUDGET: HISTORIC & FUTURIST STROLLS
What’s good about Singapore is that even if it’s a very expensive city, you still can explore and have a good time without having to sell all of your organs. Because, besides its numerous parks and bucolic escapades, taking a stroll in Singapore is a very good way to connect yourself with the city-state’s history, and moreover to blow your mind with the crazy unique architecture. Come on, let’s take a walk (on the wild side) in Singapore!
