Hi Noonie, I will go through your post and give you my point of view, mostly about the situation in Taiwan, where I live and know more:
Noonie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:30 pm
I see myself visiting several shops each day, where I can drink tea, as well as buy some tea and tea ware (but the focus is on drinking tea, and exploring the culture). Here in Canada, I've visited several tea shops where you sit down with a pitcher of hot water, your choice of tea and the accompanying teaware and have a nice long tea session...talking 'tea' with the employees.
That touches firstly one of your later comments – without Chinese, and a rather medium level of it, I think it will be difficult to go somewhere different daily. A lot of people speak good enough English, but not everwhere and not always in teashops. There are tea rooms in the major cities where you can more likely do it. Wisteria in Taipei, and a few others in Taichung and Tainan as well (the most visited cities). Teashops want to sell tea, so unless you also spent enough money for their time it might be more of a bother than pleasure for them. It is often easy as a Westerner to mistake an invitation to have a cup, to be just that, the longer you stay, the more it would be good manners and expected that you buy something.
There are a lot of teashops in Taiwan, but a lot of it is selling crap and it is easy to get distracted. Better to focus on a few and try to make a connection – because that is paramount in getting good tea in Taiwan. Teashop are often not willing to sell their best tea to just anyone. A good introduction by someone goes a long way to open the door for better teas. Tillerman has said it in another said: Buying tea in Tw is easy, buying good tea not so much!
Also the most shops and tea rooms are in Taipei, but prices are double, triple what you can find in the other cities. Tea is better bought there, rather than wher it is harvested. The good stuff is often bought in bulk and already reserved for the shops. Go to plantations by all means, but do not be tempted to buy there. As a tourist it is a recipe for failure.
Noonie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:30 pm
Some thoughts as I look ahead:
- Ideally I would not have to travel too far between sub-regions within either country - I would like to see the different cultures between towns/areas, but not have to travel many hours to do so.
That is easiest in Taiwan, the whole country can be traveled length-wise in 2 hours by high speed! Lots of culture and food going on everywhere! East is most impresing in terms of nature, South for food! Tea: Taipei and surroundings has: Tieguanyin, Baozhong and Oriental beauty, all the high mountain is in the middle around Taichung, as well as Ruby black tea. Other lesser known teas are a bit spread everywhere in between.
Noonie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:30 pm
- I could try and learn some of the local language ahead of time, but would be speaking mainly English. Hopefully the locals are accommodating to english-speaking tourists
- I love sushi...which puts Japan slightly ahead of Taiwan (though the scenery in Taiwan looks unbelievable)
From experience I would say Taiwanese try harder to communicate and speak more English, or are willing to use it. Japan is a bit more closed off and less easy for Westerners.
Sushi is a lot cheaper in Taiwan!!! Japanese often come to eat it in Taiwan as it is so expensive back home. Style is slightly different, but nonetheless good! Best place is Taipei for that. A lot of Japanese chefs there as well.
Noonie wrote: ↑Sun Dec 17, 2017 6:30 pm
- I love cycling...and would perhaps rent a bike a couple of times and do some road cycling (maybe Chip has a comment, as I believe he's a cyclist)
- I'll likely be going alone; I've travelled alone and would find benefit in the alone time (at home it's not very quiet or relaxing
- Price is important...flight, decent hotels/B&B's (I want clean and comfortable), local travel
- Don't really want to rent a car, but could if it's highly recommended
- Would be flying out of Toronto...I think both are long hauls, but the shorter/easier the better!
Cycling is big in Taiwan and the mountain roads are very beautiful to ride! Do not come in summer though, the heat is crazy, Late autumn/winter is better. Also in time for the winter harvest!
Overall, food and daily life is cheap in Taiwan. Accomodation can be on Western levels, but if you look longer it is manageable. Airbnb exists in larger cities. Hostels and home stays are good! Tw is not as clean as Japan, but still pretty clean!
Car is highly recommended if you want to explore the whole country, public transport is only really an option in Taipei and Kaohsiung. Especially nature, the best spots are not reachable without, but then you will also nt find them without help… that is a bit of an issue.
Any more questions let me know, I am sure I will add onto this in the future, when I think of something!
