Enjoy your travel with Dr Mary Travelbest, the World's First Guide to Independent Travel, and since 1993, I've been helping you find yourself while you discover new adventures. Listen to your questions, the destination, my mistakes and also travel tips here.
Check out this travel for women episode!
In this episode: Finding the Best of…Beitou Hot Springs, near Taipei
Taiwan. My mistake was not asking about Wifi in advance. Tips are how to pack
like a pro.
FAQ: Where can I find the best of something when I travel? I want to
sample and see what is the very best, restaurants, locations, sights?
When you are not on a tour, you
need to find out your own schedules, and that is up to you. So here are some
ways to make this happen:
Ask the locals you meet. If you
don’t meet any, then make a point to go places where they hang out. Get to know
a few locals of a similar age and interest of yours. Maybe at a laundromat,
coffee shop, train station, or even a playground or park.
Use your common sense. Don’t
believe everything you read or you hear. Verify if you can. Be sure to read
reviews, comments and ask questions on social media. Ask on our Facebook Group,
Dr Mary Travelbest and have your group members give you advice. If you don’t
ask for recommendations, you probably won’t find the best, but you will find
you own adventure, and that you will never regret.
Today’s Independent Destination Taipei, Taiwan
The main tourist places in Taiwan are the following?
My last day in Taipei in 2019, I
visited Beitou Hot Springs, about 30 minutes north
of the downtown area of Taipei. The Shinbeitou subway train takes you to the region, and
you pass Shilin Night Market and the National Palace Museum region.
Get out and walk around and get
to know the area for yourself. It’s easy to find food, shopping and
entertainment. I ate at MankeWu H. S. Noodles
The ares is known for Red skin
chicken, fried toro balls or pork ribs were on the menu
Beitou Hot Spring Park is one
of the best hot spring baths in Taiwan. You’re treated to a relaxing soak in
sulfurous waters of varying temperatures, said to relieve muscle pains,
digestive and skin problems, and other ailments.
It was once the largest hot
springs spa in Asia. Here you see stone bridges and woodsy scenery. The
different five pools at the public baths were temperature controlled. The ones
at the top were hottest. Admission was inexpensive, about $40 Taiwan dollars
and you pay with a machine, then show your ticket, but the lines for showers
could be long. Bring your appropriate bathing suits. Once an hour, everyone
gets out for cleaning the water. Several modern
towers face Beitou Park, with modern cosmopolitan hot springs hotels, walking
distance to the Beitou Public Library and Ketagalan Culture Center.
I walked up a very
windy hill past all of these Hot Springs hotels, to the entrance of the
Yangmingshan National Park. You will find nude sulfur baths here, too. Men and women are separated.
What
do you see in this park? Rich volcanic
terrain that supports grassy plains, blossoming cherry trees, and an array of
butterflies and birdlife. A photo stop is made at a volcanic viewpoint where
you may catch a glimpse of the conical-shaped Mt Qixing, Taipei’s tallest peak
at 3,675 feet (1,120 meters) above sea level.
Millennium Hot Springs
We also visited a town called Tamsui and tried to see the Guandu Nature
Park, but it was closed on Monday, so pick another day..
Today’s Mistake
Get to understand WiFi in
different cities.
Ask in advance how to connect to the Wi-Fi or to create your own
VPN network.
I have been afraid to ask because
I did not want people to think I was a poor planner and did not think to
prepare. Ask your friends, or stop in a store that sells wireless products.
They will explain to you the difference between how you connect to Wi-Fi here
vs. where you’re going.
Ask…because it’s probably easier
than you think. If you don’t have a plan, put your phone in “airplane mode” and
leave it there for the whole trip. This saves the data.
Should you get a plan to have
long distance calls and data? Probably a good idea, and some wireless carriers
already accept that, so ask in advance.
Others charge you $10 a day when
you use it. If you are on a week-long trip, you may want to make other
arrangements.
Today’s Travel Advice: Packing tips:
Bring dryer sheets with you they
smell good and are useful for many things.
Lay everything out, then shrink
what you need and only bring what is necessary.
Cords. You can always shop for
them at the airport.
Bring power banks and charge them
up in advance before the trip.
Know how to recharge.
Universal Adaptor is worth it.
Bring one or two.
Samsung does not equal apple.
Know your port size.
Today I want to bring meaning to your travel
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