Taipei, Taiwan

This is a story about a large group of American friends taking over Taipei. How do you organise 16+ people going into small restaurants, on gondola rides to tea districts, or even just to leave the house? An insanely detailed google spreadsheet, one WhatsApp group, many side texts, and just a lot of friendship (if you aren’t here for my cheesy memories, why are you reading?!)

This trip came at the perfect time. After being out of the States for 8 months, it was so nice to see so many people I love. A once in a lifetime trip to this amazing city to watch two friends get married.

Arriving at the airport, my entourage awaited with cameras posed. Luckily, two friend’s flight arrived only 30 minutes before mine, which made getting into the city and starting the adventure easy. We jumped right in by taking quick showers at the AirBnB before walking over to the bride’s house to begin our food journey at a morning food market.

We ate dumplings and noodles pretty much every day. AMAZING. We communicated with the aid of our friends who spoke Mandarin, a bit of Google Translate, and shared hand signals and smiles. Most places also had English menus or being small food stalls, not a large offering so easy to select options. Everyone was incredibly friendly and welcoming.  

Our group was keen to see as much as possible during our week in Taipei. Around the city itself, we explored the National Palace Museum, Taipei 101, Xinyi Place, Bellavita Mall, and more. The museum may not have been the past plan for our first day all together as docents quieted us down a few times. But, the Jade Cabbage called to us…and who can resist Chinese cabbage intricately carved from jadeite?

We travelled out of the city three of the days - the local family was incredibly impressed in our navigation of public transportation and general craving to explore. The whole group piled into several cars to get out to Yangmingshan National Park where we hiked up one of the mountains to spectacular views of the city and surrounding nature. To rest our sore muscles, we headed to Beitou Hot Springs, where most of the guy’s bathing suits weren’t accepted so new, smaller ones were purchased.

A smaller group went to the small town of Shifen. It’s no surprise this is one of the most popular day trips from Taipei - the public transit was pretty easy to follow and as soon as we arrived, we felt transported. The train runs straight through the center of Old Street, with shops and amazing food lining the sides and people standing on the tracks sending lanterns into the sky. We joined the tradition and wrote wedding wishes on our lantern before launching up. Then, it was just an easy 20 minute walk to the Shifen Waterfall - nicknamed “Little Niagara.”

A rainy afternoon almost dissuaded us from adventuring out to the Moakang Tea District. Luckily, we just put on rain jackets, semi-waterproof shoes and hopped on the train. To get up to the Tea District, we took a glass bottom gondola ride, swinging high above the Zoo and then long stretches of trees and tea plantations. We meandered from tea house to tea house, got lost on a bus ride that just took us in circles but at least out of the rain for a stretch, and even tried green tea ice cream.

Wedding Time. The bride and groom had a wedding in the United States one month before the Taipei wedding, so the running joke throughout the week was “Wife so nice, he’s marrying her twice!” We celebrated with a dinner hosted by the bride’s uncle for family and friends (and an estimated 300-500 beers consumed), hot pot lunch, a morning body and foot massage, and that was all before the actual wedding day!

The marriage ceremony is only a small part of the celebration. Other events included the introduction by the matchmaker and engagement, a tea ceremony, a women’s lunch, the blessing of the matrimonial bed with an auspicious male child cousin, the banquet celebration…WHOA. Typically these are spread out over several days or weeks but due to limited timing, this was all on one day. And that doesn’t even include the many costume changes, the bride changed from a traditional dress to her white wedding dress to a stunning green sequined gown. We wrapped up the night singing our hearts out at a karaoke room.

I can’t say it enough - this was a once in a lifetime trip and I’m so grateful to have been able to celebrate love with everyone in such an amazing place.