Author: Elijah
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Mazu’s Bridge: A Festival of Faith and Cross-Strait Connection in the Matsu Islands
This is the final post about my trip to the wonderful Matsu Islands, so it’s time to say a tearful goodbye to the place that has enabled me to write so much content over the past month. This week, however, instead of talking about the scars of war or its cute furry inhabitants, I’d like…
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Beigan: Cats, Deer, and Cold War Relics
Hello everyone! I apologize for missing last week, but I was affected by a cold for the first time since arriving in Taiwan. Now I can proudly say that catching a cold is just as bad in Taiwan as in the United States. I want to share with you about Nangan’s northern neighbor Beigan this…
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Nangan: Where the Past Casts a Long Shadow on the Present
The Matsu Islands, a group of 36 islands and islets, are perched in the East China Sea, just a stone’s throw from mainland China. These islands have seen a lot of action over the centuries – fishermen, pirates, and soldiers have all called Matsu home at some point. Today I want to talk about my…
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Taiwan Travel: Overnight Ferry to the Matsu Islands (Full Guide!)
Forget airplanes – I found a more adventurous (and cheaper!) way to reach the Matsu Islands: a 10-hour overnight ferry! From quirky encounters with fellow passengers to stunning nighttime views of the coast, this journey was full of surprises. In this post, I’ll take you along for the ride on the New Taima from Keelung…
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Mystery Destination Revealed: The Matsu Islands
Welcome to this week’s ‘post’, I’m very excited to finally share with you about my mystery vacation. For at least the next three weeks I will be covering my trip to the beautiful Matsu Islands! These islands are absolutely stunning and located less than 10 miles from Mainland China (you can even catch a glimpse…
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Opening a Taiwanese Bank Account: A Retro Experience
Greetings! I just returned from a mystery destination (that I’ll begin covering in two weeks)! Here’s a quick hint: it’s a domestic trip. This is the second of two smaller posts this week. Earlier we covered how to get a traditional seal made, which is important for getting a Taiwanese bank account, and now this…
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The Mark of a New Beginning: Getting a Traditional Chinese Seal
Welcome everyone to this very special week of posts! Just a reminder that this week will feature two smaller posts, as I am preparing to travel over the National Day holiday here in Taiwan. First, I want to discuss a unique tradition across the Sinosphere that holds important implications for anyone moving to Taiwan: seals…
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ARC-ademy: My Experience Getting Taiwan Residency
Now, if you’re like me, you’ll find this week’s topic super interesting. However, I can forgive you if for some reason you find it otherwise. Today I wanted to share with you about the process of moving to Taiwan regarding applying for a Resident Visa and receiving your Alien Residency Card (ARC). Now, just a…
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My First Mid-Autumn Festival
Just this past Tuesday Chinese people (and those culturally aligned) worldwide celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival. Also known as the Moon Festival, it is the day when it is traditionally believed that the moon is at its brightest as well as historically aligning with the harvest. Before I begin this week’s post, I just wanted to…
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Finding a Home – My Taipei Apartment
Hello again everyone! Thank you very much for your support last week, we gained a bunch of new readers! This week I will talk to y’all about where I spend most of my time (including sleeping), my Taipei apartment! Finding accommodation is one of the most important and stressful tasks that needs to be completed…
