Why We Almost Got Stranded in Taiwan!
On our last night in Taipei, we decided to visit 7-Eleven for some last-minute pasalubong shopping. While deciding which food items to buy, all three of us were surprised when our phones simultaneously received an alarm. It was a security alert warning everyone to be more vigilant as 40 tourist passengers aboard a cruise ship that had just arrived in Taiwan had tested positive for COVID-19. The places they visited were also some of the places we had visited! We headed back to our accommodation, feeling anxious. We packed our things and sanitized everything so we’d be ready for our early morning flight.
In an effort to help contain the spread of the coronavirus, just two days after our return flight, the Philippine government included Taiwan in the travel ban along with Hong Kong and Macau. Countries were starting to close their borders, and we nearly got stuck in Taiwan. We made it home just in the nick of time. Thank God we were able to return safe and healthy from that trip. As we learned, many Filipino travelers were stranded and had a hard time getting back to the Philippines.
Taiwan made headlines at the start of the pandemic as it was one of the earliest countries to activate epidemic prevention measures against the disease. Their government really takes care of its people. The country not only holds many natural treasures, but its people are also a major reason why I want to travel there again. Needless to say, it’s my favorite Asian country to date. Let me share some highlights from our third and fourth days in Taiwan.
The Klook Experience
We traveled by bus along with 25 participants. The package included visit to Yehliu Geopark, Jiufen and Shifen waterfall. We were accompanied by a friendly and very knowledgeable tour guide, Mr. Norman. Along the way, he shared insights into Taiwan's history, culture, and modernization.
Klook's package tour was a perfect fit for this itinerary as it allowed us to delve deeper into Taiwan’s fascinating story—from its war-torn past to the powerhouse it is today. It was an interesting mix of traditional living and technology-driven communities. It rained heavily that morning, so we were fortunate to be comfortably seated inside a bus, avoiding the hassle of DIY commutes.
Here are some photos of the spots we visited.
When we returned to the city, we chose to be dropped off in front of Taipei 101. We took a quick stroll inside and then headed straight to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall.
We arrived in time for the flag-lowering ceremony, which takes place at 6:10 p.m. It was definitely worth watching. The grounds are surrounded by a concert hall, a theater, and a spacious park—an excellent spot for walking pets, meetups, and people-watching. We even saw groups of students practicing modern dance.
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| Liberty Square Arch |
Beitou Hot Spring
Our fourth and last day in Taiwan was another DIY adventure. We woke up early, excited to see the cherry blossom trees at Tianyuan Temple. However, when we arrived at the bus station, we learned that the bus had already left. We discussed our options and decided to go straight to our next destination, which was Beitou Hot Spring.
Taiwan is a relatively small country, but it has a lot to offer. We managed to do a lot in our full four days, given the circumstances. We were all thankful that God protected us during this journey. The pandemic has been brutal, especially for those who love traveling. Our world came to a halt, but God gave us time to reflect on our lives and search for the true meaning of healing.
God bless our travels.
