Once you meet someone...

Taiwan is a beautiful little island! It may be small and not as well known as other travel destinations in Asia, but it is full of wonders and amazing places to visit! Last weekend, I had the chance to do a day trip to Jiufen and Keelung with my older host brother, his friend, and a fellow exchange student.
In the U.S., when someone says “We’re going on a car trip,” I prepare myself for three or more hours in the car. It took us maybe forty-five minutes to drive up to our destinations, which really put into perspective for me how small this island is. The drive, however, was absolutely stunning. We passed by Taipei 101, which was shrouded in fog in the early morning. Paired with the fact that Sunday was the first day of my exchange where the sun was shining with no clouds in the sky, and the view was spectacular.

Our first stop was Jiufen, a cute little mountain town just past Keelung. After finding a parking spot, we walked up the Jiufen Old Street. It is a tight road that winds its way up. It is lined with shops for all sorts of things! Souvenirs, clothes, and of course food. This street is also what inspired some of the looks for Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away, and I could definitely see the resemblance!

After we were done exploring the colorful street, we began to make our way towards Keelung. Before stopping in the port city, however, we first stopped at Chaoning Park to take some photos and admire the view of the ocean. I find myself terrified of the deep ocean, but the coast I think is breathtaking!

Lastly we stopped at Keelung to walk around and eat some food. It is a fun little city! It has the letters K-E-E-L-U-N-G up on a hillside, much like the letters found in Hollywood! We ate some delicious Japanese ramen and then walked around to take some more photos. I must give credit to @yanwen_chen on Instagram for taking such amazing photos!

It was such a fun little day trip, and the company I had was amazing! I think doing exchange is one of the best places to make friends, and I enjoyed hanging out with and getting to know the beautiful Beatriz from Brazil. She is so full of vitality and kindness, and she is absolutely radiant! I am happy to be able to spend the year here with her and the other exchange students from around the world.