Instagram as a visual diary
Seoul, South Korea: Buddha’s Birthday lanterns. Love it or hate it, call it photography or not, there’s something romantic about Instagram. Captured spur of the moment with a smartphone, these digitally-enhanced, square-formatted images are both visually appealing and a great tool for documentation. For about a year, I’ve been uploading photos on Instagram, and in some...
Prayers and fortune telling at a Taoist temple
“Before we eat dinner at the night market, we’re going to pray,” Olivia’s mom said as we stopped in front of a Taoist temple in Taichung. My Taiwanese friend Olivia turned to me, “We’re only doing this because you’re here. We rarely go to the temple.” I smiled, thinking about all the times my parents...
Secrets of Taroko
After a few days in Taichung, my Taiwanese friend Olivia and I traveled to Hualien, a naturally-preserved, remote beach town on Taiwan’s east coast. The sun was shining, the air was crisp, and we spent a few days biking, walking along the beach and drinking beers on the rocks, while listening to the waves crashing...
Stinky Tofu and Sweet and Sour Soup: dinner in a Taiwanese night market
“Sarah must be used to living in Korea; she’s taking pictures of her food,” Olivia’s dad commented as we were eating snacks in the night market in Taichung. Olivia, a Taiwanese friend that I met in college, translated for me, and I laughed, setting my camera down and admitting that he was 100% correct. Ever...
![A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]](http://www.mappingwords.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/market1-290x290.jpg "A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]")
A traditional Taiwanese market in Taichung [pics]
I stayed with my friend Olivia and her family for five days in Taichung. One day, Olivia, her mom, and I strolled through a traditional market, where her mom would buy some ingredients for dinner. I love visiting markets and grocery stores throughout the world, because I am constantly intrigued by varying atmospheres and types...
Skipping along Daxi Old Street
Okay, I didn’t really skip–since my backpack, seemingly filled with bricks, was weighing me down, but my friend Alicia and I did stroll along the street. A few weeks ago, on spur of the moment, I booked a flight to Taiwan, taking advantage of some free time between ending my job and relocating to a...
2012 In Photos: the year that I never fully unpacked
Last year I summarized my travels through a photo essay called, 2011 In Photos: a year of transition and travel, so I decided to do the same for 2012. This year, thanks to my three extensive vacations and a slew of Adventure Korea-sponsored weekend trips, I never fully unpacked, continually leaving items throughout various backpacks...
Drinking Tea and Staying Healthy Abroad
“Drinking a daily cup of tea will surely starve the apothecary.” ~ Chinese Proverb. Last week, I blogged about a visit to the Boseong tea plantations in Jeollanam-do, South Korea, and it inspired me to write about my overflowing cupboards of tea. As I’ve traveled through east Asia, I’ve collected various types of tea. I...
Strolling around Lotus Lake in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
I visited Kaohsiung, a city located in southern Taiwan, to couchsurf with my host, Alicia, and her family. Alicia is 25 years old and has lived in Taiwan her entire life. I was quite surprised to hear her speak flawless English with an American accent! Since I couchsurfed during the week-long Chinese New Year vacation,...
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