Keeping it Real: The Taiwan List

Because there's been a lot of focus on my newly created international 1000 things list, which will hopefully be done within the next two weeks, I wanted to take some time to begin a list of things I want to see and do here in Taiwan before I leave.

Despite a general lack of international fanfare, Taiwan is actually home to the world's most beautiful mountain (Yushan- Jade Mountain: link to come when I find it again!), and many other equally amazingly beautiful places, such as the Caoling Trail, Taroko Gorge, Sun Moon Lake, and Sail's Rock. 

Aside from these, which I can say are must-see from personal experience, I wanted to start my own list just for Taiwan, not only because I currently live here and want to exhaust my options before I leave, but also because Taiwan has some truly beautiful and noteworthy sites to explore.  I hope that this list will help anyone thinking about coming to Taiwan narrow down their own lists!

1. Orchid Island (appreciate aboriginal culture and scuba dive)
2. Wulai forest; trekking in beautiful rainforest and easily accessible to Taipei
3. Guanziling mud hot springs
4. Baishawan (White Sand Beach); return visit- once wasn't enough!
5. Attend the Matsu pilgrimage on Matsu (Mazu) Island
6. Scuba Dive in Kenting
7. Make my own leicha (pounded green tea with sesame, grains, and puffed rice)
8. Take the Taipei Maokong cable car at sunset
9. Hike the historic Walami trail
10. Cycle to and around Meinong (village and surrounding aboriginal farms)
11. Morning cycle to Yanchao to wander through "Moon World," aka mud volcanoes
12. Full circumnavigational ride around the island *
13. Visit one of the few sodium bicarbonate hot springs in the world: Jiaoshi
14. Attend at least 3 aboriginal festivals
15. Wander through an exhibition (Taipei and Kaohsiung)
16. Visit the Museum of Jade Art (Taipei)
17. Go on at least 15 day-trips with Taiwan's non-profit mountaineering group 523
18. Hike Shamaoshan, Yangmingshan National Park (Taipei)
19. Visit Shisansheng Museum of Archaeology
20. Guandu Temple
21.  Guandu Nature Park
22. Hike Jia Jiu Liao Stream (Red River Gorge to Sanxia)- Wulai
23. Fu-Ba National Trail- Wulai
24. Take the Pingxi trains
25. Hike to Sandiaoling Waterfall Trail
26. Shifen & Pingxi
27. Jinguashi
28. Bitou cape
29. Caoling trail (again)
30. Turtle Island (Dolphin and whale watching)
31. Take the Nanao Historic Trail
32. Hot springs in Suao (bicarbonate)
33. Visit Danshui Foreign Cemetary on Tomb Sweeping Day
34. Emei lake and tea fields
35. Soak in Zhiben hot springs
36. Bike Forestry Road 200
37. Take the Alishan train up the mountainside
38. Cycling tour of Tainan's historic buildings
39. Enjoy the view at Hsizihwan (Xiziwan) beach
40. Bike around Dapeng bay
41. Take the pups to Xiaoliuqiu Island for a day trip
42. Explore the Sandimen aboriginal community
43. Walk the Jingshuiying trail
44. Scuba dive in Kenting
45. Stay at Jinmen and see the old wartime forts (and wave to the PRC)
46. Walk around the Iron For on Mazu Island

*Just a quick note about cycling in Taiwan, it is possible to rent a bicycle from one city and drop it off at another, so anyone interested in doing a cross-island cycling trip should look into this option for maximum convenience.  Giant is a Taiwan-based company that rents full kits for both amateur and more serious cyclists and has shops island wide (it is also one of the largest bike companies in Taiwan).