Why Taiwan?

Hi, my name is Ugo and I am originally from Montreal, Canada. I moved to Taichung, in central Taiwan, in July 2000, when I was 20 years old. Like most foreigners who come here, I ended up teaching English. For me it was a real challenge because my first language is French.

At first, I hated Taiwan to death. Really! I had spent the previous two years working at a mountain cabin in the Canadian Rockies where the air was always crisp and traffic nonexistent. And there I was in a huge Asian megapolis filled with 2 million people, scooters, endless rows of tall buildings and greasy air. But it didn't take me too long to realize that Taiwan also had its share of incredible places...

Still, during the first few years, a part of me was rejecting many aspects of life here. Food for example. There were lots of dishes I just wouldn't try or couldn't get used to. Like stinky tofu. Or bamboo shoots with mayonnaise and colored candy sprinkles. But now it's different, I try pretty much anything...

One part that I never had any problem getting accustomed to was the driving. Many expats dread the roads and Taiwanese drivers. For me it's the opposite. Whenever I leave the island, I can't wait to be back to jump on my bike and ride around town or in the mountains. It's by far what I enjoy doing the most in Taiwan. It's liberating!

The place also gives me many opportunities to undergo new experiences that I might not live back home. Ok, I hear you saying: "You can also pilot an ultra-light in Canada." I agree. But the thing is... the guy was giving me instructions in Chinese! And at that time I still couldn't understand yes, no, left, right, up, down properly. Taiwan is a place that can bring intense episodes like that!

On the cultural side, there is so much to witness and learn. The Chinese have the oldest history on this planet. And Taiwan has done an amazing job at keeping old traditions and practices alive. Here, I was shown how to "beat" mua ji - a sweet made of glutinous rice.

Passion number 1 is riding my bike. Photography is second! And Taiwan gives me plenty of occasions to practice this hobby. There's always something cool to shoot: ceremonies in temples, parades at festivals, mountain sceneries, political events and even protests...

The most difficult thing about living in Taiwan isn't the food, the danger of the road, earthquakes or typhoons. What's hardest for me is being away from my family and missing important moments. But I'm lucky. My mom came to visit me twice, and some of my best Taiwanese memories are shared with her.

Why make an online travel guide to Taiwan?

Most websites built by foreigners living in Taiwan are aimed at the expat community - mostly English teachers - and deal with issues that aren't really beneficial to visitors. This website is made by a traveler and for travelers. It's aim is to introduce attractions and places of interest around the island in a colorful way. In pictures!

Can I do a good job at it? I don't know. I guess I'll find out when I see my ranking at the search engine after a year or two and by the feedback I get from you. It's my first website and I don't know much about computers. And as I've said earlier, French is my first language so... there will surely be mistakes and the writing won't be too elaborate - I'm not Bill Bryson! I'm just a photographer who wants to share his passion for Taiwan with you.

I sincerely hope you find this site useful. Please e-mail me if you have any suggestions, feedback, or tips you'd like to share with other travelers. Thanks for stopping by.

Ugo
Taiwanese-Secrets.com

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