THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN TAIWAN
After two weeks in Taiwan, it’s time to take stock. How did we experience this trip? What were our joys, disappointments, questions, doubts, and discoveries? This is obviously not an assessment of a country but of a journey. As we perceived it, individually, subjectively.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
Benjamin’s Travel Reflections
When I was a child, Taiwan was mainly known in Europe for its industry and the famous “made in Taiwan,” which wasn’t really a sign of quality. A few years later, Taiwan became one of the four Asian dragons and transformed not only into a wealthy island but also into a genuine democracy.
In 2024, during our world tour, we spent two weeks in Taiwan, which had become a major geopolitical issue between Communist China and the United States.
While newspapers have been constantly reminding us for a year of the risks of an escalation in the region and the repetition of the Russia-Ukraine scenario, our trip to Taiwan was as peaceful as can be. It’s hard to imagine that, perhaps, a few weeks or months later, Chinese planes could jeopardize such tranquility. It’s hard to imagine that a war could break out under the subtropical sun of Taiwan and disrupt the mundane daily lives of its inhabitants. Yet, it is the radical transformation of the island and its rapid and successful democratization that disturbs and could create an intolerable precedent for the Xi Jinping regime.
Some countries offer exceptional landscapes. Others have breathtaking archaeological or historical sites. Yet others have such a unique culture that they attract tourists from all over the world. The luckiest countries combine all three advantages. Let’s be honest, Taiwan has none of these. Taiwan is not a “must-see” tourist destination.
And yet, I was never bored during our two weeks on the island, while I sometimes felt deeply bored in Brazil or India, at sites endlessly touted as must-see.
The daily life of Taiwanese cities is fascinating. While in France, a medium-sized town comes to life only around its main street, Taiwanese cities, even of moderate size, are multipolar. Just changing neighborhoods reveals a lively street. In Taiwan, public life unfolds in the streets, with restaurants spilling out onto the sidewalks. Street vendors are plentiful, day and night. Taoist temples display their colors and dragons, adding a touch of life to streets lined with buildings that are often a bit dull and dated.
And then, in Taiwan, we find the Japanese influence, a legacy of 50 years of colonization. We notably encounter an advanced attention to detail, a fascination for all things small and cute. And of course, the funny and kawaii figurines that populate the streets, restaurants, and even temples, bringing a touch of carefreeness and joy to everyday life.
That is probably what I liked most about Taiwan: while one cannot help but think that soon, perhaps, Communist China will rule the island, I experienced these fifteen days with a real carefreeness and lightness.
Taiwan is not an authoritarian or military country. One does not feel monitored there. And yet, everything is orderly, everything is clean, well-organized, and peaceful. It is impossible for me not to think of the situation in South Korea, another democracy threatened by its neighbor and whose daily life of its inhabitants is just as peaceful and orderly. For a Westerner, order, respect for rules, and a certain uniformity in behavior are often synonymous with an authoritarian state. In Western cities, nobody waits for the green light to cross the road, nobody patiently queues on the metro or train platform, nobody leaves their phone unattended on a table. In Taiwan, the most advanced democracy in Asia, these behaviors are natural and respected by all.
Patience is a cardinal value here, and social relations are conducted with a kindness inconceivable in 21st-century France. Taiwanese people are incredibly kind, more outgoing than Koreans or Japanese, making interactions simpler and more natural. And the journey becomes all the more enjoyable as a result.
I don’t like being told that a country is great because of the kindness or hospitality of its people. I always think that this hides a less glorious reality: if a country is only valued for the kindness of its people, is it because there’s nothing else worth seeing there?
Earlier, I mentioned that Taiwan is not a “must-see” tourist destination. In other words, the island doesn’t have any world-renowned sites like Angkor in Cambodia or Luxor in Egypt. However, this doesn’t mean there’s nothing to see or do there. It’s impossible to get bored in Taiwanese cities. The landscapes are mountainous and subtropical. The sanitation conditions are excellent, allowing you to enjoy the excellent food found on every street corner without worry. Taiwanese people seem to have a genuine passion for food, and you could easily dedicate an entire trip to exploring its culinary delights.
Visiting the island during the Lunar New Year undoubtedly contributed to making the experience more magical. I will remember for a long time the Pingxi Lantern Festival, where the nine releases of lanterns in one evening are like moments out of time, and where the wishes of thousands of people soar into the wind.
Indeed, Taipei may be less exciting than Seoul, Taiwanese cuisine may not be as exceptional as Japanese cuisine, the temples may be less impressive than those in Burma or Bangkok, and the landscapes may be beautiful without being breathtaking. But if Taiwan has no “must-see” sites, the whole package offers a unique and fascinating combination: pleasant cities, beautiful temples, diverse landscapes, excellent cuisine, and varied cultural influences. While no single site is worth the trip alone, taken as a whole, Taiwan is well worth visiting.
Check out François’ Travel Reflections:
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