Taiwan

It's very common to see the statues of Buddha or Guan Yin (the Goddess of mercy) in the mountains of Taiwan. They are found in temples, shrines, caves, or sometimes just on big rocks. On Elephant mountain in Taipei, there are many statues of Buddha, too.

Taipei's jade market can be a very surprising place. The first surprise is that the jade isn't all green. The second surprise is that the stallholders don't seem very enthusiastic about selling jade.

Join the crowds strolling through Taipei's Flower Market on Sundays. It's good for people watching even if you're not buying, and in summer all that vegetation keeps temperatures surprisingly pleasant in the shaded market.

“Food is one arena where Taipei — the world’s most underrated capital city, according to Monocle magazine — blows Beijing away. Its food incorporates more influences, spans street food to haute cuisine with greater aplomb and is out and out more delicious”, according to The New York Times.

Apart from joining our cooking class, here are some more ideas for activities to do in Taipei if you like nature, culture, and exploring.

1. Elephant mountain hiking trails

2. Dental services

3. Buying glasses

The slowest journey on the high speed railway

Jake visited me to study in June 2008. He is responsible for very important safety work on Taiwan's 'bullet train', the High Speed Railway (HSR). Most people's trip on the 300 km/h High Speed Rail takes less than 90 minutes. But for Jake, the journey took weeks. He traveled by foot.