You don’t need to know the history of the Catholic Church to appreciate a cathedral. And you equally don’t need to understand 5000 years of Chinese culture to take something away from a visit to a Taoist temple. The incense smoke may never clear inside but that doesn’t mean the experience should make your eyes glaze over. A little connoisseurship…

10/10/2011 marks the 100th anniversary of the Republic of China. Although deposed from mainland China in 1949, the ROC government still controls Taiwan (as well as a few off-shore possessions). Despite having an immensely rich cultural and spiritual heritage, amazing food, world-class hot-springs and stunning scenery, Taiwan is normally thought of more for its exports than as a place to get into. We…

Asian Values On Their Terms Defying those who said it wasn’t in their DNA, the Taiwanese have created Asia’s most vibrant democracy and liberal society, with a raucous free press, gender equality, and respect for human rights and, increasingly, animal rights as well. The ancestors are still worshipped, and mum and dad still get their dues, but woe betide the…

[台灣 / tái wān] With legacies as varied as its adventure landscape and spirited traditions thriving alongside the cream of Asian sophistication, Taiwan is a continent on one green island. The Beautiful Isle Famed for centuries as Ilha Formosa (Beautiful Isle; 美麗島; Měilìdǎo), this is a land with more sides than the 11-headed Guanyin. Towering sea cliffs, marble-walled gorges and tropical…

WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT TAIWAN For a relatively small island, Taiwan is brimming with things to do, see and experience. Taiwan has its own personality, and it’s magnetic. I’m already looking into a return trip to Taipei. I need to experience it all. Taipei doesn’t have the mega city popularity of Tokyo. It’s not at the top of everyone’s travel…