This series is about places that we've been able to visit because of our freelance lifestyle. This isn't just so that I can share my travel photos; there is a larger point! We have been able to take more holidays or stay longer because we could combine our work with travel. I want more people to get involved in online freelancing and I hope that this series will inspire you. Yes, you.
We've Worked in... Taiwan
I may have mentioned before that Agi is a passionate runner. Seriously, as I write this she has gone to do a 50km run (a marathon and a bit) for training. Well, Agi has a friend, Karen, from the running club in Bangkok, who recently moved to Taiwan. Agi, her other friend Monika and Karen all wanted to do a (no joke) 100km trail run (up and down MOUNTAINS!) in north Taiwan. So off we went!
There were a number of set backs before we even left. A typhoon came in and laid waste to the proposed running trail so the organisers cancelled the race. In its place they offered a (paltry!) 15km race for everyone who had registered. Being the intrepid adventurers we are, and because we had already bought our plane tickets, we decided to brave the typhoon rains in Taiwan. On the way there we flew with V Air, an airline I'd never heard of, but they were great. They bring their mascot down the plane for photos during the flight!?
We had a day in Taipei to kill before meeting up with our friends so we went exploring. We went to the top of Taipei 101, which had a disappointing view on account of the typhoon (duh). However we did get to learn about the world's largest and heaviest wind damper through a bizarre video narrated by the damper babies. I have to hand it to the marketing people at Taipei 101. They took a 660 ton steel sphere and made it into cute / scary characters that they can sell. The video is simultaneously extremely strange and really interesting. Take a look, it's only 2 mins.
We stayed in a capsule hotel which was kinda cool. Although we were warned NOT to turn off the AC as we would probably suffocate... that's the button right next to your bed... which you might accidentally knock during the night... sleep well!
I did some work the next morning in the hotel common room. If you're a digital nomad who wants a cheap, comfortable night in a nice area of Taipei with a good working space then I can recommend Inn Cube Minquan!
That afternoon we got a train up to Fulong in the north where we met Karen and her family. It's a really nice small town. We were staying in a campsite on the edge of town so off we went to set up the tents! The next day Agi, Monika and Karen went off to do their run while I explored the area with Karen's husband Ben and their two kids Manu and Eddie. Quote of the day:
Me: That's a cool t-shirt Manu, what is it?
Manu: Pokemon
Me: Who's your favourite Pokemon?
Manu (raises eyebrow): Do you even know about Pokemon?
We went to the beach, wandered around the town and visited the temple. I do like Chinese temples, if only because there are not enough dragons on European churches.
After Fulong we went to stay with Karen for a few days in Taichung. We did some great things:
- Went to the hot springs where everyone was too scared to go in the nude section
- Road bikes around Sun Moon Lake which looks like a lake in the Italian mountains
- Stuffed ourselves with food at the night market. They even had good bread which is sorely missing in Thailand!
I was able to fit in some work each morning because I bought a Taiwanese data SIM card (one of my freelancer top tips). $15 USD for a 4G card with more data than I could use! All in all we had a great time and I would love to go back to Taiwan and see more of the country
Another great trip enabled by freelancing! Get in touch with us and see how you can freelance and have more holidays.