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ENTRY 5

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Throughout my explorations of Tainan’s alleys, I’ve discovered many cool modern and digital art posters. I am particularly intrigued by how modern art studios seamlessly integrate with Tainan’s historical architecture, or how they use thoughtful contemporary design elements to stand out in the alleyways. One studio I passed utilized existing mirrors nearby adorned with small black decals to advertise their shop. They employed a sleek sans-serif typeface and a unique warped text effect, that I thought was tastefully eye-catching. I’ve also come across a well-executed poster with a warm-tone gradient and minimalist typeface promoting an upcoming event, displayed in multiple windows throughout the city. I enjoy peeking into the windows of these studios; they offer a sleek, clean contrast to traditional architecture, maintaining an understated elegance. The art style on the poster below is particularly intriguing, as I’ve always admired creative interpretations of caricature art. The shiny
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ENTRY 4

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I want to start this post by sharing the incredible rainbow I witnessed while writing. It was the most stunning rainbow I've ever seen—complete from top to bottom. I’m so grateful to have experienced it. This beautiful display was followed by an equally gorgeous sunset, which gave me a moment to reflect on how fortunate I am to be in such a beautiful country. Taiwan’s natural beauty has truly shone through during this trip, especially during our time in the mountains. I've found immense joy and inspiration in the local flora, wildlife, and overall surroundings. Rainbow 10/10  The Yoshan Tea Culture Museum was an eye-opening experience from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed the museum tour, the demonstration, and the taste testing. Learning about the immense care and effort that goes into crafting a single cup of tea was astounding and deepened my appreciation for the drink. I also gained a better understanding of the cultural significance and pride associated with proper te
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Entry 3: Welcome to Tainan

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    Tainan has been amazing so far—I might even like it more than Taipei. While I did appreciate Taipei’s highrise buildings, Tainan’s alleyways rival them for my favorability. Tainan has a big-city vibe but feels much more compact and walkable. The food here is fantastic, right down to the hotel breakfast. I’m a big fan of hotel breakfasts, even the basic American ones, so the variety of traditional Taiwanese options at this hotel has been a real treat. One of the best meals I’ve ever had was at a BBQ spot after our indigo dyeing session. Asking locals for recommendations has proven to be an extremely smart method for finding hidden gem restaurants (unsurprisingly). We shared a huge range of dishes, and it only cost around $10 USD per person. The restaurant’s cozy, rustic feel, paired with the rain outside, made it a truly memorable experience. I loved the salt pork and salt fish—they were stand-out highlights. Salt Pork -> 10/10     I also had some incredible Japanese food during
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Week One: Patterns in Taiwanese Design

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Wednesday was centered around ceramics, beginning with a visit to the Yingge Ceramic Museum. I was immediately struck by the museum’s architecture upon our arrival. The building's design, with its intricate use of metal beams and expansive glass panels, was visually captivating. The interplay of these materials created a stunning grid-like effect that drew me in. While the pottery exhibits were engaging and enjoyable, the architectural design of the museum itself was, in my view, equally, if not more, impressive. View from the top of the museum stairs Among the exhibits, I was particularly taken with the decorative tiles and a few select vases. A notable highlight was a blue, functional stacking container adorned with a cherry blossom motif. This piece resonated with me both for its form and function. The decorative tiles reminded me of similar tiles that my grandmother had in her kitchen. The vases that I appreciated most featured natural colors and a matte texture, evoking imager
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Days 1 thru 3 in Taipei

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Despite having only been in Taipei for three days, I already feel fairly comfortable with the city and have partaken in many new experiences. One of the most notable—and one of my favorite—parts of the trip so far has been tasting all of the new foods. I’ve always been an adventurous eater and cost-conscious, so Taipei has been extremely enticing in this regard. So far, the only foods I haven’t enjoyed have been stinky tofu, duck blood, and durian fruit. I particularly enjoyed my lunch today, where we shared five massive bowls of noodles among five of us. The noodles were phenomenal, and at roughly $3 USD per person, I was overjoyed. I wonder how food culture keeps people connected in Taiwan and what grievances they experience around dining out. What are the pain points for locals? For me, it’s not understanding the menu, and for the student I was with, it seemed that he was anxious about ordering the wrong items. I’ve been starting each morning by running around the area near the hote
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