I arrived in the city of Taipei at one in the morning, and though it is a city of nearly three million people, it was strangely silent. I expected something like Manhattan, where you can land in the middle of the night and still find people lined up at Shake Shack, waiting for a burger at two in the morning as if it were the middle of the day. But Taipei surprised me. The streets were quiet. The city was asleep. It felt like a gentle entry into a new world.

That wasn’t the case the next morning. The city sprang to life as people, cars, and above all, motorbikes took over the streets with a vibrant noise and constant motion.

There is something endlessly fascinating to me about Asia. It is similar to home, yet different. It is familiar, yet it is strange. So many things feel new, different and exotic. The colors, the smells, the sights, the tastes – everything is vibrant and alive. Every trip to the market becomes an adventure; every hike gives you a sense of spirituality; every food gives your tastebuds something to remember.

I’ve been making my way through Taiwan, Japan and Thailand for the past four months, and I have experienced many wonderful things each day. Here are but a few of them. Enjoy!

Thanks for following along!
~ Kyria