Getting lost and asking strangers for help, having no idea how to speak the language, going to a music festival alone for the first time, and ordering random dishes off the menu simply because it sounded good created the best travel memories. I took a month-long trip to Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan for the summer and left with some of the best experiences.
Going to Taiwan felt like coming back to a second home. It was my first time visiting Taiwan after fifteen years. Despite not remembering anything from my first trip from when I was five, everything felt familiar. The street food in every corner, the picturesque nature, and local shops filled with handmade goods was an exact replica of what I imagined life in Taiwan to be like. My family members have always told stories about their life living in Taiwan, and traveling there felt like a familiar lifestyle I never experienced. The spontaneous trips of watching fireworks in the pouring rain and going to a comic book convention simply because there were extra tickets made me sad to leave a place full of memories.
My next stop was Singapore, and I was immediately shocked upon the arrival to the airport. Witnessing the Jewel waterfall in person for the first time felt like an out of body experience. I’ve always seen social media posts of Marina Bay Sands and Gardens by the Bay, but visiting the famous tourist attractions in person left me speechless. I went to Singapore to visit my friend and having her describe her life in Singapore was entirely different from experiencing life there. Trying new foods at the Hawker centers and going on midnight walks to the beach made Singapore a special place in my heart.
Once I left Singapore, I arrived at Tokyo. I’ve seen hundreds of TikTok and Youtube videos about travel tips and places to go but being there in person was a different experience. It was my first time going to a music festival alone, and I was excited to explore a new city. Playing with otters and capybaras in animal cafes and trying some of the best sushi I’ve tasted, I’ve decided to go on more solo travel trips in the future. I loved the peacefulness and lack of urgency throughout the entire trip. Everyday I would create a list of attractions and see where the day takes me. My favorite part of the trip was seeing some of my favorite artists such as Olivia Dean and Laufey live during the music festival. As much as I loved traveling with friends and family, solo traveling for the first time left me wanting to go on more trips by myself in the future.
Visiting different countries in Asia made me want to travel more in the future. I loved being able to try new foods and explore new cities. Currently studying abroad in the UK, I am able to take the experiences from Asia and continue to try exploring new areas and cultures.