In a city where the rain is a constant companion, a clear sky feels almost ceremonial. When Guillaume and I woke up to a horizon of uninterrupted blue, our carefully planned café workday dissolved without hesitation. In Keelung, sunshine doesn’t feel like a backdrop to productivity; it feels like a reason to step outside and move. This is how our … Read More
I travel for many reasons: curiosity, culture, and especially food. Trying local dishes is one of my favorite ways to understand a place. At the same time, I care deeply about nutrition, energy levels, and long-term health, so I am always looking for ways to enjoy local cuisine without relying too much on fried or heavily oiled foods. When I … Read More
Keelung for Bookworms Tucked between misty green hills and a bustling harbor, Keelung—Taiwan’s storied “Rainy Port”—has long inspired writers. From maritime legends and ghostly folk tales to contemporary fiction and vivid travel sketches, this coastal city offers a world of stories waiting to be discovered. For story-tellers and book enthusiasts, Keelung is the perfect place to turn a rainy afternoon … Read More
Peace at Lovers Lake There are many reasons to come and visit Keelung, one of those rare cities surrounded by nature with a balance of urban life and quiet oases just a short trip away. There is the bustle of the night markets, the history of the museums, the quiet of the temples, and also the beauty of Keelung’s nature. … Read More
If tea is the national drink of Britain, vodka is the national drink of Russia, and soju is the national drink of South Korea, then bubble tea must be the national drink of Taiwan. The origin of the bubble tea is not clear: it is sometimes said that it was invented in Taichung, some other times in Tainan. Bubble tea … Read More
How did I get to Keelung and heard about Pudu? Six months ago, I decided I wanted to travel to East Asia. I didn’t know where I wanted to go, but with a newly earned bachelor’s degree in Asian Studies and an interest in conducting research, I knew I wanted to immerse myself in a culture I had never experienced … Read More
Everyone talks about the tasty food in Taiwan, and how could they not! But I’d like to talk about its forgotten brother: Coffee. In this article I will tell you all about the up and coming Taiwanese coffee shop scene, so buckle up! Why am I writing about coffee? I used to own a cafe in Europe for several years … Read More
Have you ever wondered what happened to the Shinto shrines built by the Japanese colonial regime in Taiwan after World War II? Why were there Shinto shrines in Taiwan? There existed a de facto state religion in the Japanese Empire, the so-called State Shinto 国家 神道 (kokka shintou). In Japanese colonies, as well as areas occupied by Japan during the … Read More
Similarities in Faraway Places It is a rare wintry sunny morning in the often rainy port town of Keelung. I ascend the rooftop of Keelung For A Walk, sticky aromas of coffee and cigarettes clinging around me as I gaze upon the hills that cradle the town and welcome in the sea air. The morning sun graces us with her … Read More
Visiting Keelung History Up Close Before we get to the Ershawan Fort in Keelung, let’s talk history. If you’ve ever been sightseeing in Taipei, you’ve probably noticed that there are hardly any pre-World War II sites left. Taipei is, generally speaking, a city that was deprived of its historical shape by the politics Kuomintang Party governing after the war. It … Read More