2024 Taiwan: Day 2

By Ryan T. ‘24

Today was another packed day, beginning with a bus ride to a tea plantation in the mountains surrounding Taipei. The “Wen Sun Farm” farm is gorgeous and filled with hundreds of variations of tea. We got the chance to learn how to pick our own tea. Afterwards, we learned how tea is turned from the leaf on the plant into a drink. This included a tea-making competition where we used our new skills to compete in making the best-tasting Baozhong tea (包种茶) that was harvested at the farm earlier. I enjoyed this experience and got to try some exciting foods at a store on the plantation, such as tea-flavored ice cream and Coca-Cola Gum. The owner of the store graciously offered to privately showcase making black tea for Nathan, Emily, and me, which was a truly one-of-a-kind experience.

After taking a quick tour and returning to the city, we visited the National Palace Museum. Here, a guide explains the valuables and their history. One of the most famous pieces is a jade that looks precisely like a cabbage. I personally enjoyed the AR (Augmented reality) art exhibits that allowed us to fly through 1000-year-old paintings or practice archery.

Finally, to finish off the day, we went to the Shiling Night Market (士林夜市). Here, we had many different foods, played games, and bought clothes. The bustle of the city at night and the warm air made the experience truly memorable and worthwhile. Over this trip, I have been able to start learning some Mandarin. Many of my friends would have heard me painfully repeat the words for tea, car, and eat more than ever before (because they are sort of similar, and I am trying to practice).

Here’s a list of some of the words I learned today:

自行車 (bike), 奶茶 (milk tea), 今天 (today), 第四天 (the fourth day)

Onto the next day!