古早味 Taste of the Past

Most of my visit this time has been a lot about tradition and going back to the past. From seeing my first traditional puppet show to visiting an old (staged) street. This visit has been very different from my past visits.

Experienced the lantern festival up in the mountains. Tradition is to write your wish on the lantern and send it up to heaven. I've always seen it on TV and in movies, ​but to see it in person is a completely different experience. So beautiful and magical. This isn't something you can experience in America and even if you're in Taiwan or Asia in general, you may not necessarily go out of your way to see it either. Took an hour+ (Train, MRTs and 30 minute shuttle bus) to get there and a 3.5 hour wait for the shuttle bus to get back. Definitely worth it. The pictures speak for themselves. 

We also went into the mountains and saw the rice fields 梯田 and farmland of Taiwan. We even got to eat a local shack that served the dishes with the vegetables from the farm. so fresh and delicious. The air up there was so clean. Felt so close to nature... Not a care in the world. We even climbed up and got up close and personal with a active sulfuric rocks. So hot that the rocks were green and smoke rose from it. Naturally, I thought of kryptonite. 

Into a more recent past, I visited the neighborhood where my parents used to roam and even ate at a cafe my parents used to frequent on their dates. Grew up hearing them talk about this place. It was bittersweet to visit it.  

As I mentioned, it's been a different experience from my other visits back. Perhaps, being the first time here since my dad passed changes my perspective of things and is a bit shifted. Especially being able to spend quality time with my uncles, aunts and cousins who reminisce about the past, hearing them share their memories which include my mom and dad has something to do with it.

I've been told I seem more grown up this time around. And my spending habits seem to agree. But I think what I appreciate about this escape is that I've been able to escape reality a bit to go back to the past to better face the future. With memories, with wishes, this adventure is far from over, but with hope and with courage, I will never forget the taste of the past.