Island Adventures: Recent Episodes
Emma Benack, RTI
Take a trip throughout Taiwan's most well-known and hidden gems, from historical sites in the far reaches of the country to new urban hot spots.
Emma Benack shares some more suggestions for the best day trips in and around Taipei. She talks about visiting the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park, where there's always new, interesting exhibitions, and also speaks with travel vloggers Lukas Engström and Myrthe Jonker about hiking Teapot Mountain and exploring Yangmingshan National Park.
Lukas Engström: https://www.youtube.com/@LukasInTaiwan/featured
Myrthe Jonker: https://www.youtube.com/@MyrtheJonker
Emma Benack shares some of her favorite places to visit around Taipei and talks with other travel bloggers about their own recommendations. PJ from The Travelling Welshman and vlogger Myrthe Jonker share about their experiences visiting the old streets of Jiufen and the teahouses and museums in Pinglin.
The Travelling Welshman: https://www.youtube.com/@thetravellingwelshman/videos
Myrthe Jonker: https://www.youtube.com/@MyrtheJonker
Emma Benack speaks with fellow RTI host Brendan Wong about his bucket list pertaining to exploring the water and smaller Islands that surround Taiwan.
In the second half of this interview, Emma Benack speaks with Julie Chou, an artist who has collaborated with the various communities in Taiwan like Treasure Hill and the Taipei Artist Village. Julie describes how she got started on her first art projects that she used to apply for international grants, and how she eventually found her way back to creating a new kind of art in Taiwan.
To find out more information about Treasure Hill and Julie Chou, you can visit this site:
https://www.artistvillage.org/artist-detail.php?p=4107
Emma Benack speaks with Julie Chou, an artist who has worked on projects with Treasure Hill Artist Village for many years. Treasure Hill is a former veteran's community in Taipei that has transformed throughout the 20th and 21st centuries into something that is now open to the public as an artist village. It's a place where the public can explore various art studios and exhibitions and also interact with artists who live there as a part of a special grant. Julie talks a bit about her journey with Treasure Hill from the village’s initial opening, and later goes into talking about the site's earlier history and her own journey as an artist.
To find out more information about Treasure Hill and Julie Chou, you can visit this site:
https://www.artistvillage.org/artist-detail.php?p=4107
In the second half of this interview, Emma Benack speaks with the editor-in-chief of Travel in Taiwan, Johannes Twellman. Johannes shares about some of his travel experiences learning from Taiwan's Indigenous people on the East coast, and differences he's observed between how Taiwan and European countries have grown over the past 20 years.
Emma Benack interviews fellow RTI co-host Brendan Wong, who grew up Taiwan and went to university in the United States. Brendan eventually returned to Taiwan to complete his military service and then later came to work at RTI. Brendan shares travel recommendations as well as his valuable outlook as a Taiwanese returning from abroad with a new perspective.
Emma Benack speaks with the owners of the bar Bad Mama in Keelung: Adam Hunt and Gemma Lin. Gemma and Adam spent about 10 months designing building and renovating this bar, which started out as 150-year-old derelict building in a tiny alleyway. They talk about their vision for Bad Mama as more than just a bar, designing handmade furniture to create an interesting atmosphere, and their business plans for the future.
You can find out more information about Bad Mama by visiting:
https://www.facebook.com/BadmamabarKeelung/
Emma Benack speaks with Kayla Cosmos, a travel Youtuber, about her decision to leave Taiwan's small island of Kinmen and move to the main island's southern coast in Kaohsiung.
During the second half of Emma's interview with Kayla Cosmos, a travel vlogger, Kayla talks about Kinmen's tense history as a Taiwanese military base sitting right next to China. Kinmen's atmosphere is very different from some of Taiwan's other outlying islands like Xiaoliuqiu and Green Island, and Kayla shares some of the places that left a deep impression on her.
You can check out more of Kayla's adventures on her Youtube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM4BPP1iHW0pGn-rjaj-MbQ
Emma Benack speaks with Jake Hannah, the creator of the blog Taiwan Foreigner, about his home for the past few years: Anping in Tainan, the oldest district in the country. Jake explains some of his favorite things to do in the areas and shares a favorite hiking spot outside of the city limits
Emma Benack talks to Jake Hannah, an American freelance writer living in Tainan, about his travels described in his blog Taiwan Foreigner. Jake describes his trips to Taijiang National Park and Sun Moon Lake, and he explains how his two-month study trip to Taiwan ended up stretching in to 5 years and counting.
Explore the Raknus-Selu Trail's connection to tea and then learn about the history Taiwan's most popular tea-based drink!
Learn about some specific sites around Taiwan that share a special connection to the country's past... This episode starts out in Tainan, the country's original capital, at the shrine for the leader Zheng Cheng-gong. Later, you'll hear about Turtle Island that has a mysterious past that sounds like it's straight out of a Bond film.
This episode features two places that have stood out featuring some of the most special experiences or unusual things to see in Taiwan: the UFO Village in New Taipei City and the Lantern Festival in Pingxi. If you're looking to check out places with unique atmospheres, consider adding these spots to your travel list!
In the last segment of this interview, Emma Benack speaks with Dutch travel vlogger Myrthe Jonker about the biggest challenges and rewards she's faced in developing her Youtube channel content, as well as some of her best recommendations for international tourists to visit now that Taiwan has finally opened its borders after the pandemic.
In the second part of an interview with Dutch travel vlogger Myrthe Jonker, Emma Benack asks Myrthe about transitioning her videos from Dutch to English, what she thinks of Taiwan's food culture, and some of her favorite dining spots - one of which features real alpacas!
Emma Benack talks to Myrthe Jonker, a Dutch travel blogger living with her family in Taipei, about how she ended up in Taiwan and what it's like to be living inside one of the country's most famous national parks, Yangmingshan. Myrthe also talks about one of her favorite adventures to Pinglin, which included seeing some beautiful tea farms and even a tea museum!
Watch more of Myrthe's Taiwan adventures at:
https://www.youtube.com/c/MyrtheJonker
Emma Benack quizzes fellow Taiwan Insider hosts Natalie Tso and Itamar Waksman about Kaohsiung trivia, including famous buildings, politicians, and religious sites.
On the second half of Emma Benack's interview with Herel Hughes, an American traveling around Taiwan for the third time, they talk about Herel's dreams of driving around the whole island and surfing on the east coast, as well as some of her favorite memories in Jiufen and at a jazz festival in Taichung.
Emma Benack speaks with Herel Hughes, an American living in southern Taiwan, about her travels around the country over her past few visits. Herel shares about her experience scuba diving by Green Island, which is off the east coast of Taiwan. She also talks about other islands around the country that she hopes to visit in the future.
In the second half of an interview with Jennifer Turek, a leading member of the group Taipei Hikers, Jennifer talks about what she's noticed is special about Taiwan trails as well as some of her most challenging adventures.
Emma Benack speaks with Jennifer Turek, a Canadian's who's been living in Taiwan for almost 20 years and is a leading member of the group Taipei Hikers. Jennifer talks about some of her favorite hikes in Taiwan and what it's like to bring people together to explore new trails.
In the last segment of an interview with Chris Stowers and Danny Wen, the hosts of the documentary special "Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail", the two talk about their special interactions with Hakka people on the trail. Later, the two hosts also recommend some of their favorite places and food in Taiwan.
In the second part of an interview with Chris Stowers and Danny Wen, the two hosts of the new documentary special “Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail”, Danny talks about his own Hakka heritage and its connection to the documentary.
Their documentary special “Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail” follows a historic trail that holds a deep cultural meaning to Hakkas and the Indigenous people of Taiwan.
Find out more at www.axn-asia.com/SecretsoftheRaknusSeluTrail
Full clips on Youtube:
AXN Asia Youtube https://youtu.be/FSIwlB6h_3Q
AXN TW Youtube (with Chinese subtitles) https://youtu.be/GJhVTdw8rzo
This episode features the two hosts of the new upcoming documentary special “Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail”. Chris Stowers is a writer and photographer with over 30 years of experience around the world. Danny Wen is a Taiwan-based travel and food writer, as well as TV and Radio host. Their documentary special follows the historic Raknus Selu Trail, which holds a deep cultural and historical meaning to Hakkas and the Indigenous people of Taiwan.
Catch 'Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail' premiering on September 27 at 8.30PM (7.30PM JKT/BKK) on AXN Asia and premiering on September 27 at 9.00PM on AXN Taiwan (Channel 67). Full episodes will be uploaded on the AXN Asia YouTube channel and AXN Taiwan YouTube channel on September 28.
Find out more at www.axn-asia.com/SecretsoftheRaknusSeluTrail
On the second part of this interview, Lukas Engström, creator of the video blog "Lukas in Taiwan" (外國人介紹台灣) shares more about how he makes his videos, and how that process has changed throughout his growing career as a full-time Youtuber. Lukas also introduces one of his favoriite places in Taiwan, the island of Xiaoliuqiu that is full of beautiful beaches and sea turtles. Later on, he also recommends some activities to try out in Taipei that go beyond the normal tourist bucket list.
You can check out more videos about Lukas's adventures at:
https://www.youtube.com/c/lyckoslukas
Lukas Engström is a Swedish Youtuber living in Taiwan who makes videos to help foreigners and Taiwanese discover amazing spots around the island. On this first episode, Lukas explains how he started his Youtube channel and the skills he learned along the way. Lukas also shares about one of his favorite places in Taiwan and the place that kicked off his Youtube career - the beautiful Teapot Mountain in Ruifang, New Taipei City.
Watch some of Lukas's exciting travel videos at:
https://www.youtube.com/c/lyckoslukas
Jay, the creator of the travel blog Orbit Adventure Tours, shares about Taiwan's abandoned UFO village in Wanli, an interesting relic of a failed construction project. Jay also shares tips for aspiring travel bloggers and how he finds the best places for adventures.
You can check out Jay's blog and learn more about his travels at:
https://orbitadventuretour.org/
Emma talks with Jay, the creator of the travel blog Orbit Adventure Tours, about what brought him to Taiwan and how he started his bilingual blog. Jay also shares about one of his favorite trips in Taiwan to the beautiful islands of Penghu, which included an international fireworks festival and scuba diving to an underwater mailbox.
You can check out Jay's blog and learn more about his adventures at:
https://orbitadventuretour.org/
In the second half of this interview, Emma speaks with Anusha Lee, the creator of the blog "Taiwan Hikes" about the biggest rewards and challenges of running the blog, her advice for people who want to try making a blog of their own, and her plans for future hikes.
To learn more about great hikes in Taiwan, you can check out Anusha's blog:
www.taiwanhikes.com
Emma talks to Anusha Lee, the creator of the hiking blog "Taiwan Hikes", about how she got started on both her hiking and blogging journeys. Anusha shares some of her favorite hikes, which include trips to Datong Village and Dali Village in Hualien. These indigenous Truku villages rely on pulleys or small farm vehicles to transport daily goods and take them back to their homes on foot. It's no easy task, but Anusha says Mother Nature rewards the villages with some of the most beautiful natural scenery.
For more information about Anusha's hikes, check out:
https://www.taiwanhikes.com/
Sometimes when you're going on vacation, you're just looking for a place to lay back and relax... other times it's taking on a physical challenge that makes the journey all the more fun and exciting. Emma speaks with several people about some of their most grueling trips throughout Taiwan, whether going on a hiking trip in a central mountain range or cycling a loop around the entire country. Although these trips come with some obstacles, the sense of accomplishment is priceless.
Trsvel bloggers share some of their favorite trips in northen Taiwan. The island is covered in mountains with a wide range of elevations and sceneries, so there's plenty of worthwhile trails out there for all hiking enthusiasts.
Taiwan's northern region is full of spectacular sights, beyond just the hustle and bustle within the capital city of Taipei. Today's episode features interviews with RTI host Harrision Kaye about his time exploring Yeliu and and its geopark, as well as a feature with the creator of the travel blog "The Travelling Welshman" PJ about the serene beauty of Wulai.
Taiwan's oldest city is also home to some of its finest treasures. This episode features introductions to the western-style Chimei Museum, as well as the Guanziling hot springs, a unique variety that exist in only two other locations in the world.
Tainan is the oldest city in Taiwan, as well as the original capital of the country. As such, it's full of rich history, and some might say an even richer cusine! This episode features an interview with the creator of the travel blog "The Travelling Welshman", PJ, as well as a segment on the hidden delights in the city's narrow alleys.
Just because some of Taiwan's islands are especially tiny, it doesn't mean they aren't worth a visit! This episode features interviews with travelers about their adventures on the little islands of XIaoliuqiu, famous for its turtles, and Turtle Island, which doesn't have sea turtles but is shaped like one.
Taiwan may be an island all on it's own, but there are also many small islands surrounding the country. Each island has its own unique flair and attractions. This episode features trips to the islands of Penghu and Lanyu (or Orchid Island): the first is famous for its seafood and crystal clear waters, and the second is well-known for its indigenous culture.
Francesca Chang, the creator of the travel blog "Attorney on a Journey", talks about how she developed her own platform and continues to find authentic, "slow travel" experiences around Taiwan. Francesca also shares about some of her favorite trips, including the Alishan Four Seasons Tea Festival, a beautiful tea ceremony with musical performances, and eco-sustainable tourist attractions in Keelung.
For more information about Francesca's adventures, check out:
https://www.attorney-on-a-journey.com/
https://www.instagram.com/attorney_on_a_journey/
https://twitter.com/attornyjourny
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx4wUICIFGy-u0c7_iHowiw
https://www.facebook.com/AttorneyOnAJourney/
Meet Francesca Chang, the creator of the travel blog "Attorney on a Journey". Francesca left a toxic work culture as a lawyer in the US and eventually found her way as a travel blogger and life coach in Taipei. In the first part of this interview, hear about Francesca's experiences traveling through the Shuangbin area of Taiwan and how she learned about the culture of the indigenous people she met there. She also talks about her inspiring backstory and how she's reconnecting with her Taiwanese roots.
For more information about Francesca's adventures, check out:
https://www.attorney-on-a-journey.com/
https://www.instagram.com/attorney_on_a_journey/
https://twitter.com/attornyjourny
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx4wUICIFGy-u0c7_iHowiw
https://www.facebook.com/AttorneyOnAJourney/
In the second part of this interview, JB, the creator of the travel blog Will Fly for Food, shares his tips for people considering starting a blog of their own and the challenges he's had to overcome. Later, JB talks about his favorite foods, drinks, and places in Taiwan, as well as what he misses the most about traveling in Asia. Last, listen to a quick intro to the Grand Hotel - Taiwan's first five-star hotel - a magnificent building with a rich history that stands right behind Radio Taiwan International.
Hear from JB, the creator of the travel blog "Will Fly for Food", about how writing about his world travels and love for food turned into his career. JB also shares some of his favorite memories from exploring all around the island of Taiwan.
To learn more about JB's experiences traveling in Taiwan and beyond, check out:
https://www.willflyforfood.net/
https://twitter.com/willflyforfood_
https://www.facebook.com/willflyforfood.net/
https://www.youtube.com/c/WillFlyforFood-TheTraveleaters
Emma speaks with Ami about the challenges and rewards of building her online hiking guide in order to give English speakers more resources to learn about Taiwan's trails. Ami gives advice to aspiring travel bloggers, and also talks about some of the most difficult and memorable trails that she has explored in Taiwan.
Read more about Ami's hiking adventures on her blog:
https://taiwantrailsandtales.com/
Emma talks with Ami, the creator of the hiking blog "Taiwan Trails and Tales". Ami talks about how she started out writing about her hiking adventures, as well as two of her most memorable trips: the Grand Taipei and Kavalan Trails.
Read more about Ami's hiking adventures on her blog:
https://taiwantrailsandtales.com/
In this final part of Emma's interview with travel blogger PJ, who also goes by the Travelling Welshman, learn about how PJ got started on his blog and advice has for other who want to do the same. Plus, hear about his first experience traveling outside of Taipei - to the historic southern city of Tainan.
To learn more about PJ's adventures, check out the Travelling Welshman at:
Blog: http://www.travellingwelshman.com
Instagram: @tompj
Twitter: @TravelWelshman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOT7SnvGZ7qHDviWnhhW9Vg
In part two of Emma's interview with the blogger Travelling Welshman, PJ talks about what drew him to Taiwan and what he loves about the travel opportunities and connection between the urban and natural landscapes. He also describes some of his favorite adventures to Wulai, a place full of hot springs and indigenous culture, and Jiufen, famous for its resemblance to the setting of Spirited Away, but also home to other interesting spots.
To learn more about PJ's adventures, check out the Travelling Welshman at:
Blog: http://www.travellingwelshman.com
Instagram: @tompj
Twitter: @TravelWelshman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOT7SnvGZ7qHDviWnhhW9Vg
On today’s episode, Emma speaks with Tom PJ, a travel blogger whose adventures have taken him to countries around the world. His blog, Travelling Welshman, has featured countless trips around Taiwan over the past two years, inspiring many people to go out and explore Taiwan on their own. On the first part of this interview, PJ shares his story about starting his travel blog and one of his most unforgettable experiences in Taiwan: Turtle Island.
To learn more about PJ's adventures, check out the Travelling Welshman at:
Blog: http://www.travellingwelshman.com
Instagram: @tompj
Twitter: @TravelWelshman
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOT7SnvGZ7qHDviWnhhW9Vg
In a continuation of last week's episode, Emma asks Sara more about how her solo bike trip around Taiwan is going. Sara talks about some of the highs and lows, how she decided what to pack, and what she's looking forward to in the final days of her journey.
Emma interviews Sara Guo, a young woman halfway through her solo bike trip around the entire island of Taiwan. On this first part of a two-episode feature, tune in to hear about her motivations, training, trepidations, and more before taking on this impressive challenge.
Emma shares some more tips for making a smoother transition to life in Taiwan - try learning a little Taiwanese! Even though Mandarin is considered the standard language used across the country, learning a few key phrases of Taiwanese can bring you a little closer to the locals and show some respect for their culture.
Emma speaks with Chinyere Amadi about her recent trip to Henchun, a small beach town just north of the more touristic town of Kenting. There are a lot of gems to be found in Hengchun, whether it's the ancient city gate, delicious food, or just a chance to enjoy the southern tip of Taiwan without all the usual crowds. Tune in to find out more!
There's so much to learn before coming to a new country... Emma Benack makes the transition to life in Taiwan a little easier by revealing a couple key tips and even a song by one of the most famous bands in Taiwan - you'll have to tune in to find out which one!
Emma speaks with Leila, an American student who has just arrived in Taiwan, and can finally explore all it has to offer now that she's out of quarantine. Leila is studying Mandarin at Tamkang University in Tamsui, and she talks about her first impressions of Tamsui in terms of night markets, bubble tea, and what she's looking forward to exploring next.
Emma chats with Briam Rolón about a recent trip to Xiaoliuqiu, a small, beautiful island off the southwest coast of Taiwan. Although you could drive around the whole island in about half an hour, there's so much to explore! Tune in to hear about paddling in transparent kayaks, swimming with sea turtles, free-diving in coral reefs, and where to find the best beaches!
Emma speaks to Harrrison Kaye about his recent trip to Pingxi for the annual Lantern Festival - a beautiful (albeit environmentally controversial) tradition where people write their wishes on lanterns before lighting them up and sending their good wishes up into the sky.
Emma speaks with Shirley, another RTI host, about her unforgettable trip to the beautiful islands of Penghu - home to some of the freshest seafood in all of Taiwan.
Tune in to listen to the story of Zheng Chenggong, also known as Koxinga, and the shrine dedicated to him in Tainan. Zheng won control of Taiwan over from the Dutch, and while he didn't live long enough to enjoy his reign in Taiwan for very long, he still made his mark on the island's history and is remembered by this shrine that has evolved throughout the many years.
Once an abandoned warehouse site near to Kaohsiung Harbor, Pier 2 is now a vibrant outdoor art space with constantly changing art exhibits, street performances and craft markets! You never know what new surprises you'll find at Pier 2, regardless of whether you've been before. you're sure to discover something new on your next trip.
Your visit to Taiwan isn't complete without trying its world famous bubble tea! By now, you can find bubble tea in different countries aroudn the globe, and while most agree that the drink originated in Taiwan, it's a different story when it comes to agreeing on which shop invented this chewy drink first. On this episode, listen to the backstory behind Chun Shui Tang, a tea store chain that many people believe is the true creator of bubble tea. The world may never know for sure, but at leat it can agree that this "QQ" drink is here to stay!
Yehliu has a fresh seafood market where you can pick out the best of the day's catch and take it to any restuarant to be cooked up right away. On top of that, there's a geopark with fantastical rock formations, making Yehliu a destination you can't miss!
So it turns out there's more than one Bali, and you don't have to go all the way to Indonesia to see it! Bali District in New Taipei City is right across the river from Tamsui and is home to delicious seafood and nice riverside walkways. As for how similar it is to the beaches of Bali - you'll just have to take a listen to find out!
While Christmas may not be a major religious holiday in Taiwan, many stores, schools, and museums still like to get into the spirit by hosting fun holdiay events. The Christmas Market at Chimei Museum is certainly not one to miss, and while the atmosphere differed in some ways from a tradional Christmas in the west, the singing, dancing, and feasting kept everyone in high spirits.
Emma Benack and Harrison discuss their recent trip to the National Theater to meet with resident artist Huang Yu-ching and view her exhibition "Two Rooms of One's Own". Huang extensively researched the issues that women have faced in society in the past and present, led a book club to discuss these themes over the past year, and finally presented this work of art to the public.
After checking out the mud springs in Tainan's Guanziling in an earlier episode, Emma Benack takes on the intensely hot springs in Beitou! While it may be the closest she's ever felt to getting boiled alive, overall it's a great way to relax with friends and fend off the cold as Taipei takes a winter turn.
Emma Benack and Harrison Kaye chat about their recent trip to the renowned Cloud Gate Theater, which recently hosted an award winning, revolutionary performance called "Masses", directed by Wang Shih-wei. Emma and Harrison were lucky enough to interview the director before the performance, which allowed them to have further insight into his intentions and the deep meaning before the performance before they got to witness its magnificence itself. "Masses" is a about the psyche of an individual struggling to find her place in a social movement, and the audience also comes to play an important role in the overall performance.
Emma Benack interviews Briam Rolon about one of his favorite and most recent vacations in Taiwan - a trip all the way to Orchid Island! Orchid Island, also known as Lanyu, is famous for the culture of the indigenous people who live there, flying fish cuisine, and some of the most beautiful waters and marine life in Taiwan.
Emma Benack invites Briam Rolon on the show to relive their most recent hiking advenure - camping in Alishan on a trip that surpassed their expectations both in terms of difficulty and beauty. If you get the chance, it's definitely worth checking out the Shuiyang Forest in Alishan!
Come check out one of Tainan's beautiful museums - with the largest violin collection in the world and specializing in Western art (not so easy to find in Taiwan), you can't miss Chimei!
Come on a journey up into the mountains of Tainan in search of Guanziling's rare mud hot springs - nature's spa complete with hot baths, cold baths, electro-shock pools, rich minerals, and even fish to nibble your feet clean!