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Returning to Taiwan after traveling abroad always triggers feelings both familiar and uneasy about local road culture. An unexpected evening encounter in Tamsui sparked deep reflections on what went wrong with Taiwan's unspoken consensus born of chaos.
A record of an urban-legend-like late-night horror experience. When an elegant classical soprano is blasted through the broken speaker of an old bicycle tailing behind you, how does it transform a symbol of civilization into a shrill wail? A reflection on how setting, equipment, and atmosphere reshape the musical experience, instantly dragging a modern street back to the 1793 execution ground.
Fleeing peak holiday hotel rates led me to an enigmatic, secluded haven in Kagawa Prefecture, Shikoku: Shishijima. With no stores or restaurants, under thirty residents, a 1,200-year-old camphor tree, and touching encounters with local warmth.
Back when I was studying in Hsinchu, I used to ride my scooter to buy Black Cat buns. On my round-island trips, I'd pick up Gongzheng buns in Hualien and Donghe meat buns in Taitung. Years later, they no longer amazed me. From the changes in meat buns to the making of software monsters, an observation of how time turns beautiful things bloated.
Tamsui's temperature has always been Taiwan's leading indicator of cold. Facing the old family dog's sleep-incontinence problem since early summer, the Wanderer went through a chestnut-roaster burlap sack, a black plastic bag waterproofing fiasco, and finally a winter purchase of plastic puzzle mats. A humorous essay on caring for an aging furry child and a bit of life philosophy.
A deeply moving chronicle of a dream about my late best friend Little Hsiang. Amidst the lead-gray sea and profound serenity of Dongsha Atoll, exploring the existential meaning behind his parting words: 'I'm heading off to class.' Reflecting on the solitary geography of Dongsha Island, a traveler's lingering devotion, and piecing fragmented memories into an eternal vigil through the written word.
Shattering the myth that 'Japanese electronics are always cheap and high quality.' A firsthand encounter with exorbitant SD memory card pricing at BicCamera in Akihabara, Tokyo, detailing the massive price gap between brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce platforms. Offering smart money-saving shopping tips for travelers in Japan, including leveraging Amazon.jp to sidestep physical retail markup.
A living interactive Google Map recording every corner of the Republic of China explored by the Wanderer. Spanning Taiwan proper, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu, documenting decades of adventures, road trips, and directional misadventures.
A playful exploration of the Chinese transliteration of former U.S. President Donald J. Trump. Beyond the cross-strait spoof name "Trump the Nation-Builder," this proposes "Chuang-Pu"—a refined transliteration blending his real-estate background with the luxury feel of construction projects. A linguistic inspiration drawn from new development ads in the old hometown of Tamsui.
