A Step Into the Past

Taiwan felt like stepping into the past in the best way.

There was something about it—the old streets, the temples, the lanterns overhead, the way modern city life existed right alongside traditions that felt untouched by time. It was one of those places that constantly reminded me how much history and culture can live inside a city that still feels energetic and modern.

I went with Brooke for our first girls’ trip together, and we stayed in Ximending, which felt like Taipei’s version of Shibuya—busy, bright, and full of life. We quickly realized one very important thing: Taiwan takes 7/11 seriously. There was one on almost every corner, and not only were they everywhere, but they somehow all had different themes. The one near our Airbnb was fully Hello Kitty themed, which obviously made us stop in more times than necessary.

Taiwan had this effortless mix of playful and traditional everywhere you looked.

One morning we had a traditional Taiwanese breakfast at Yonghe Soy Milk—warm fresh soy milk, crispy fried buns, egg crepes, and savory breakfast dishes that were completely different from what I’m used to at home. It was one of those meals that made me realize how much food shapes culture while traveling. Even breakfast felt like part of the experience.

And of course, the bubble tea lived up to the hype.

We went to Chun Shui Tang, the birthplace of bubble tea, and yes—it was worth it. There’s something very satisfying about having the original version of something in the place it was created.

But the part of Taiwan that fit the theme of A Step Into the Past most was Shifen Old Street.
The town is built directly around train tracks, with shops and lantern vendors lining both sides. Every so often everyone clears out, a train rolls straight through the middle of the street, and then life immediately goes back to normal. It felt surreal in a way that photos do not capture.

We bought a lantern and wrote our wishes on each side before releasing it into the sky. What made it even more meaningful was learning that the lantern colors each symbolize something different—red for health and peace, yellow for wealth, orange for love, blue for career success, and pink for happiness. Suddenly it felt like more than just a pretty travel moment; it was a tradition layered with meaning.

Watching the lantern rise above the tracks while dozens of others floated into the sky around us was one of those moments that felt simple but unforgettable.

Nearby, we visited Shifen Waterfall, and the walk there felt like another reminder of how varied Taiwan is—busy city one moment, lush green mountains and waterfalls the next.

Back in Taipei, we visited Longshan Temple, wandered through old streets, and saw how naturally history blends into everyday life there. That was my favorite part of Taiwan: nothing felt preserved for show or overly curated for tourists. The old streets, temples, traditions, and food weren’t presented like exhibits—they were just part of life.

Taiwan never felt like it was trying to impress anyone.

It simply was what it was.

And maybe that’s why I loved it so much.

Between the lanterns in the sky, the train tracks through old streets, traditional breakfasts in the morning, bubble tea from the original shop, and Hello Kitty 7/11 runs at night, Taiwan felt like a place where old and new coexist effortlessly.

A place where history isn’t behind glass or written on plaques— it’s woven into everyday life.

Taiwan didn’t just feel beautiful.

It felt like a step into the past.