A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

I'm finding that it's easy to get caught up in the routine of going to work all week, coming home exhausted to watch TV or read a book, and then spending the weekends seeing the main sights of Taiwan. But one of the things I was most looking forward to when I finalized my decision to move abroad was getting an apartment and exploring the mundane jaunts of my new neighborhood.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to do just that. I took the weekend to relax and gave myself the time and permission to wander and see what might be found, without any true destination. And what I found delighted me.

One of my earliest finds was a local elementary school track that I could workout on. Finding my way back from there, I stumbled upon a small temple tucked in next to rows and rows of apartments. I found a local fruit stand, a small park, a breakfast place I want to try and many local shops promising noodles, rice and whatever else sounds good for lunch. I made a split second decision to step into a store and found a massive treasure trove of cheap goods, anything I could want under the sun. (I will definitely be returning when the first paycheck comes in and I get to revamp my apartment). A local bubble tea place. Another ornate temple. When I took the circuitous route back from taking out the garbage, I found an alley painted and decorated with dogs, and at the end of the alley, yet another temple. All places that are within a city block of my apartment.

I also took advantage of Taiwan's Youbike system and rented a bike. I stretched my wandering a little further, hitting a department store for a yoga mat and cruising through a new subsection of the neighborhood. All for $15NT. It was a great reminder that I have so many different ways to explore the city right at my fingertips.

Through all of my wandering, the area where I had been living for two and a half weeks started to feel a little more like home. If you are new to an area, or even if you aren't, I highly recommend setting out on foot for a day of finding the little nooks and crannies of your city. Find a new coffee shop, restaurant, park or artsy alley. No matter what, it will certainly be a beautiful day in the neighborhood.