# The Wedding Trip Some information and recommended itineraries for your travel planning! Please reach out if you have specific questions (heim.steve@gmail.com) ~~Join the Discord~~ channel to connect and coordinate with other wedding-travelers! <!--(https://discord.gg/Ad3FX5z2dS) --> ## Pre-trip Recommended viewing to get a sense of **Taiwan**: - **Cape No. 7**. [link](https://www.dropbox.com/s/97y5xudv17m4xp3/Cape.No.7.2009.BluRay.720P.DD5.1.x264-EPiC.mkv?dl=0) A light-hearted music-themed romcom with spoken language varying between Taiwanese, Mandarin and Japanese. - **A Sun** (Netflix) a modern drama. Do not read the Netflix description, it completely gives away the important plot points. Quite heavy. - **A City of Sadness** [link](https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wyxqghmklpq6716aav6v8/A.City.of.Sadness.1989.SD.DVD.x264.AC3-TBB.mkv?rlkey=kz19qtkpmaelcg110tqjdqujq&dl=0) Historical drama that first broke the silence about the 2.28 incident. First movie to feature Jiufen, an old gold-mining town that is now a very popular (and highly recommended) tourist spot. Quite heavy. And it seems like Netflix actually carries quite a few Taiwanese movies. Recommended viewing to get a sense of **Japan**: - **Midnight Diner** (netflix) turns out I've only watched the follow up _Midnight Diner Tokyo Stories_, both seems good. ### Wedding: 7th December, 2024 Hotel in Kaohsiung 6th-8th will be covered by us, at Hi Lai hotel in Kaohsiung. Transportation to/from the venues will also be organized. ## 臺灣 Taiwan 台灣 (Traditional, roman, slightly simplified). The right-most is the version you'll see most often: the 台 (Tai) is simplified from the archaic version, but this is still traditional mandarin (not simplified mandarin, as used in China). ### General information - get an EasyCard (for most public transporation), also available in [app form](https://www.easycard.com.tw/en/mobilecards) - YouBike [guide](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/youbike-users-guide/) - [e-sim](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/best-esim-taiwan/) or [travel sim](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/sim-cards-taiwan/) - Locals tend to travel a lot, but mostly on weekends; consider doing non-hot-spot things on weekends. ### Suggested Itinerary - **xx.11 - 29.11**: Taipei and day-trips out of there - **29.11 - 30.11**: Alishan scenic area for hiking and tea - **30.11 - 2.12**: Tainan city famous for food and narrow city streets - **2.12 - 4.12**: Xiao Liu Qiu for freediving discovery! - **4.12 - 8.12 (or 9.12)**: Kaohsiung **Alternative** if you aren't doing Xiao Liu Qiu freediving discovery: stay longer in Taipei, and include an overnight in Jiufen + Yehliu Geopark. Move Alishan to be during the week rather than weekend. If you're very into architecture, also consider Taichung. ![suggested_itinerary](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/H1VhdGyA0.png) <!-- ![Screenshot 2024-08-19 at 9.05.45 AM](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SyrVmTgjC.png) --> #### Comments Taipei (and day-trips out of Taipei) can easily fill a full week, so you can absolutely consider skipping Alishan, especially if you're not into hiking. _If_ you skip Tainan, but are also want to do more outside of Taipei, then consider: - Taichung + Lukang, especially if over the weekend, and for architecture - Tainan, especially known for food ### Taipei Taipei is big, and there is super a lot to do, including a lot of day-trips (or one-night side trips). #### Events - 20-23 Nov: [Qingshan Parades](https://www.travel.taipei/en/event-calendar/details/56235) - [Chrystanthemum Show starting 29 Nov](https://www.travel.taipei/en/event-calendar/details/56238) (near shilin) --- Organized below are suggestions loosely organized together as things to do in one day. #### Tamsui \& Hot Springs - **If on the weekend, consider** [Wulai](https://hoponworld.com/wulai-day-trip-from-taipei/) instead. A little harder to get to, less crowds - Visit [Tamsui](https://www.nickkembel.com/tamsui-taiwan-fishermens-wharf-old-street/), with several architectural sights (Former British Consulate Residence, Aletheia University's Great Chapel, and perhaps catch a show at [Cloud Gate Theatre](https://www.cloudgate.org.tw/en/cg/latest-show)) - Then hotspring at [Beitou](https://www.nickkembel.com/beitou-hot-spring/) - [Ketagalan Culture Center](https://www.english.katagalan.gov.taipei/), small exhibit on indiginous tribe, closed Mondays - (architecture) Beitou Public Library - Beitou Hot Spring Museum, also usually has a festival in November (date TBD) - PuJi temple #### Jiufen (and maybe Yehliu Geopark) Jiufen is my no. 1 recommendation for a jaunt out of Taipei, it is reputed to have inspired Spirited Away, and is very romantic. Doable as a day-trip, but I would try to overnight there. [Overnight info](https://lindagoeseast.com/2019/03/15/complete-guide-to-staying-overnight-in-jiufen-what-i-wish-i-knew-before/) and [general info](https://www.nickkembel.com/jiufen-old-street-taiwan/) Yehliu Geopark is highly recommended by Hui Ying, and would be its own day-trip (unless booking a tour that organizes a car to move between the locales), but I think could be combined if doing the overnight. #### Taipei Zoo and Maokong (lots of walking and tea drinking) **Recommendation 1**: zoo in the morning, and once you’re done, take the gondola (from inide the zoo) to MaoKong, visit the Tea Museum, and while away some time at a teahouse. **Recommendation 2**: go to Maokong for a hike in the early morning, have some tea, then take the gondola back down getting off inside the zoo, so that you walk downhill in the zoo. - [Maokong gondola](https://www.travel.taipei/en/pictorial/article/25455) some hiking, tea drinking, evening view of Taipei. - Use the Crystal Cabins, for see-through floor in the gondola #### Elephant Mountain - Hike up [Elephant Mountain](https://www.taiwanobsessed.com/elephant-mountain-xiangshan-taipei/). (1.5 hour return hike), or do a bigger hike to Thumb Mountain and 9-5 peak. Go for sunrise, or sunset (typically more crowded). #### Taipei Fine Arts Museum - Taipei Fine Arts Museum - Walk around Expo Park, Rose Garden, etc. - Shuangcheng night market #### Huashan area - HuaShan Creative Park - DaDaoCheng, walk Container Market etc. - Museum of Contemporary Art - [Museum of Railway](https://www.nrm.gov.tw/en/cp.aspx?n=3388) (currently under renovation, check. Also, tour requires reservation) - National Taiwan Museum (history & natural history) - The Red House (history theatre) You can also follow the Lonely Planet Itinerary ![result](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/r1PmjTxj0.jpg) #### Songshan Creativity Park and Taipei 101 - Songshan Cultural and Creative Park (松山文創園區): a former tobacco factory converted into a nice area with shops of local Taiwanese designers - Taipei 101, dinner at Din Tai Feng #### Museum day - Shung Ye Museum of Formosan Aborigines - National Palace Museum ### Taichung - [Sake brewery](https://www.thisistaichung.com/interesting/taiwan-sake-factory/) ### Alishan Alishan is one of the most well known scenic areas of Taiwan! It is known for hiking (with gigantic trees) and high-mountain tea. You get there through Chiayi, either by Forest train or bus (or car). [The Forest train](https://afrch.forest.gov.tw/EN/0000005) booking opens 6am 14 days prior, and supposedly books out fast. (Hence trying to arrive on Friday rather than Saturday). ![image](https://hackmd.io/_uploads/SkegAaxiR.png) The towns Shizhuo and Fenqihu are great side-towns with also hiking and tea farms. We will try to organize going to indigenous restaurant [Yupasu](https://www.facebook.com/yupasu2001/) on the last day, then back to Chiayi (1 hours car-ride, prob. charter a cab). Possibly stay one night in Chiayi, or we head directly down to Kaohsiung. ### XiaoLiuQiu (2-4 December) **IMPORTANT** make sure Steve knows if you are joining for this, as we need to organize the freediving course (unless you're coming but not taking part in the course). This is _the_ freediving hotspot in Taiwan, and I'm organizing a "freediving discovery" course with [VD Freediving](https://www.vdfreediving.com/). The discovery option means no certification, and is meant to give you a taste, and make sure you realize you shouldn't do this without safety, and then end with a fun dive. [Ferry schedule](https://www.xiaoliuqiuguide.com/ferry-schedules) ### Kaohsiung (4-9 December) I'll fill in options for the non-wedding days soon, but Kaohsiung is a rather big city, there is plenty to do :smiley:. #### Weiwuying - walk around Weiwuying Street Art Village to see gigantic murals - walk in the park? (I've not been, but it looks big and nice) - visit the nearby [Guandi temple](https://khh.travel/en/attractions/detail/391) - see the architecture of the [Weiwuying Center for the Arts](https://www.npac-weiwuying.org/?lang=en), and maybe catch a show/concert #### Pier 2 and Cijing - stroll up and down Pier 2 Art Center for some eclectic murals, sculptures, and exhibits - take a ferry to Cijing, rent a bicycle (see instructions for Youbike above), and cycle down the island (can also do these on separate days if you don't plan to start early) ## 日本 Japan See my general collection of recommendations for travel in Japan [here](https://hackmd.io/@eigenheim/japan) ### Add-on for the highly inked Japan is very strict about tattoos, and by default, assume that onsens (hot-springs) do not allow tattoos. Many places allow (small) tattoos to be covered with something like a bandage, but definitely check. Many ryokan will have private baths, where of course you can do as you please. **[Kinosaki](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3318.html)** (~2.5 hrs from Osaka) is the one onsen town I know of with many lovely public onsen that is completely tattoo-friendly. It's worth a visit regardless, but especially if you have a lot of tattoos, I would include that in your travel (with overnight stay at a Ryokan). ### Itinerary recommendation: Tokyo-Nagano - Fly into Tokyo. Spend a couple of days there. - **highlight** Take the shinkansen to Nagano, change to local line, and go see the [Jigokudani](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html) macaque monkeys bathing in onsen water! Stay at either Yudanaka or Shibu onsen towns in a hot spring resot (ryokan). - spend a couple of days in Nagano - option a) take the train to [Matsumoto](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6050.html), spend a couple days there. See the castle, several art museums, and go to the wasabi farm. - option b) take the shinkansen up to [Kanazawa](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2167.html), a cultural center often pitched as a off-the-beaten-path version of Kyoto (I have not been). - Go home. ### Itinerary recommendation: Tokyo-Kisoji-Kyoto You can either fly into Tokyo or Osaka/Kyoto. - Spend a few days in Tokyo. - Go to [Kisoji Valley](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6075.html), hike between Magome and Tsumago (or vice versa, depending which ryokan you book), stay at a ryokan. - continue to Kyoto, spend several days there. - **bonus** if you're really into Studio Ghibli, you could stop at Nagoya (on the way) for the new [Ghibli Park](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3318.html) ### Itinerary recommendation: Kyoto - Shimanami Kaido - Hiroshima For the more active - Start by arriving in Kyoto, spend a few days there. - Take the train to Onomichi, do the temple walk, stay overnight (recommendation: [Anago no nedoko](https://anago.onomichisaisei.com/). - In the morning, rent a bicycle and start cycling the [Shimanami Kaido!](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3478.html), a series of bridges that hop across little islets all the way to Shikoku. I recommend booking a place to stay halfway through, 70km is quite a lot. You can also hand back the bicycle partway through, and take a bus the remainder. - **optional** once at Imabari, see the town, and then go on to [Dogo Onsen](https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5502.html), for their famous bath house. - Take the train back up to Hiroshima, spend a coupel days there to see the Peace Museum, and a day trip to Miyajima. - Go home.