University of Wisconsin–Madison

Taiwan : Ace Lo (Five Senses in Taipei)

Five Senses in Taipei, Taiwan 

In the heart of Taipei, Taiwan, each day is a whole new experience full of memorable moments with my friends while enjoying beautiful city landscapes. At every corner of the city, there is always something keen to the eyes whether it’s food, music, or the culture.

A tall tower is lit up in blue and white at night.

See: The Taipei 101 Observatory building is visible from a few miles away, especially, if I’m climbing Elephant Mountain which is located at the very end of the red line on the metro. I find it so beautiful at night with the lights gleaming out of the tower. It’s like cup noodles stacking on top of each other!

Three bowls full of colorful fruit are in a line on a blue table.

Taste: There are so many different flavors and cuisines at the night markets in each district of Taipei. If you’re looking for a full meal or small snack with your friends, the night market has food vendors and freshly made drinks to help replenish your health. My friends and I go to the night market a few times a week and I always get bubble milk tea and mango shaved ice cream. Each bite is so juicy and savory that it immediately melts into my mouth!

An island with a mountain is visible across a turquoise stretch of water.

Smell: The Tamsui river separates New Taipei City from Taipei City. It is such a very long river in Taipei that I can smell the nearby ocean and I really love walking along the river as well because I am mesmerized by the sound of ferry boats and smell of the ocean.

A crosswalk and a bike lane at night. The crosswalk said "Look" along with a Chinese character.

Hear: Everyday I always hear the sound of an ice cream truck coming from the streets. One day, I went outside to check it out, but it turned out to be a musical garbage truck that was collecting trash. The music was too cute to miss it.

A square, red brick building at the top of a stone staircase.

Feel: The bonding connections that I share with my friends has brought out my inner self and so much joy to the table. We often talk about our cultural differences and learn each other’s native tongue while cracking jokes and laughing about them.

 

 

 

 

 

Ace stands next to a metal railing overlooking dry hills and mountains.

Yi Lu (Ace) Lo

Major: Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies

Hometown: Wausau, Wisconsin

Program: National Taiwan University Exchange