Tag Archives: Taiwan

2017, A Year to Myself

2017, A Year to Myself | The Atlas Heart

I never expected 2017 to be a year to myself, but then again, I guess you never really know what life will bring you with each new year.

I should know better by now.

Even though I didn’t expect it to be a year to myself, I can say with full clarity now that I’m so very glad that it was. This was the year that I found my independence again, understood fully what I deserve in my life, and embraced my alone time.

I’m someone who is already pretty good at being alone. I’m an introvert, most of my pastimes are solo ones – reading, playing my guitar, listening to music, cooking. And my work is very much a solo pursuit, from writing to doing digital marketing for clients.

I’m used to being alone, but 2017 was a year where I really just had myself to pull me back up from my bootstraps, to lean on, to make sense of stressful, happy, and sad situations.

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1 Comment Asia, Europe, North America, Travel

Looking Back on 8.5 Months in Asia

Wat Phu, Pakse - Laos Travel

“‘Live each day as if it’s your last’, that was the conventional advice, but really, who had the energy for that? What if it rained or you felt a bit glandy? It just wasn’t practical. Better by far to simply try and be good and courageous and bold and to make a difference. Not change the world exactly, but the bit around you. Go out there with your passion and your electric typewriter and work hard…something. Change lives through art maybe. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved, if you ever get the chance.”  // Emma Morley (Excerpt from One Day)

When I stepped on that flight to Hong Kong last October, I had no idea how much my life would change in the course of eight months.

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Is Taiwan Cheap? Travel Budgeting for Taiwan

is Taiwan cheap | Tachung, Taiwan - Asia Travel

Note: this post contains affiliate links

Is Taiwan cheap to travel? I’m here to answer all of your budgeting questions about this underrated Asian country from my month and a half of living in Taiwan.

Taiwan was exactly what I needed after fast-paced Hong Kong. It was also a much needed relief on my budget. Although Taiwan is definitely not the cheapest destination in Asia, it was a hell of a lot cheaper than Hong Kong.

I adored the good humored and playful nature of Taiwanese culture, and the friendliness that I came across time and again.

Besides a couple of rogue bus drivers who refused to let us off because they were late for the rest of their route (um, what?), I had very few negative experiences in the country. In fact, Taiwan is right up there with Vietnam as one of my favorite countries in Asia thus far.

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38 Reasons Why Life in Taiwan is Better

38 Reasons Why Life is Better in Taiwan | Life in Taiwan | Asia Travel

Note: this post contains affiliate links

Life in Taiwan is better for a lot of reasons. Here are 38 reasons why visiting or even living in Taiwan might be a good option!

I’m writing this on a train back to Taipei. By the time this post is published I will already be in Myanmar, but right now I still have a few more days of life in Taiwan.

As I’m sitting on the train, I can’t help but appreciate the memories I have from this country. Taiwan ended up being a place I loved even more than I thought I would, and I’m truly sad to be leaving so soon.

I spent just over a month living in Taiwan and I feel like I barely scratched the surface. I traveled the west coast, made it down to the southern tip, and back up the east coast.

I noted the changes in local culture with each new area of the country, but also how they had a few common threads. Living in Taiwan is something I could see myself doing for awhile if the timing worked out in the future. For now, I’m grateful for what this country has given me.

These are the 38 reasons why life in Taiwan is simply better.

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1 Comment Asia, Travel