First gondola ride
[Written 2/22/2025]
Greetings from the beautiful island of Taiwan!
My sister and I are currently waiting for our crystal gondola ride here in Taipei Zoo. The type of cabin we’re waiting for – the crystal cabin – has transparent flooring which enables riders to scan the flora and fauna of Maokong beneath their feet.
The thrill it brings pulls throngs of tourists, creating this long-winding line we’re part of. The ever-so-efficient Taiwanese have anticipated this, as they posted this sign, that slightly sounds like a warning, that the waiting time is around 30 minutes.
I thought I could handle this waiting time while standing. But I can already feel my back and feet giving up, throbbing from the constant walking and standing we’ve done in this 7-day trip. So far, we’ve walked an average of 13k steps a day, according to my sister’s step-tracking app.
I didn’t expect the long distances we have to traverse as we reach the correct train stations, wait for incoming buses at designated stops, and walk in between busy streets and shops, and adding to that, getting lost from the posted directions on Google Maps.
Three days in, I finally gathered that this city is made for vigorous walking. The train lines, albeit connected and annexed to each other, are sandwiched by endless stairs and escalators stacked in between underground levels.
I’ve never walked such long stretches in a city like this before. My back is constantly sore, and I’m occasionally out of breath, but the harmonious ecosystem that is their transportation system never ceases to amaze me.
It’s truly brilliant – the engineering behind the subway – and how they worked them around the city. They even have an underground mall, pulsating with restaurants, shops, and arcades. And yes, I mention arcades with emphasis because they are everywhere! Gashapons, claw machines, betting cards…
I have already amassed a tiny collection of 4 trinkets from the gashapon machines and the cutest one I got was the Mofusand-Sanrio collab. The machine popped this adorable white cat donning a Hello Kitty hat.
Anyway, we’re nearing the end of the line. And it’s our last day here. So, I’m going to absorb what’s left of this city now.
Hopefully, the next time I visit, I’ll just be sauntering through the streets, train and bus stations, with a chill itinerary at hand.
Toodles👋