Welcome to Taiwan! In this 24 hour layover trip, we scope out the top most instagramable places to photograph. We cover the northern coast, then head into the mountainside to Jiufen where we try street food, and finally Pingxi to make the magical sky lanterns. We booked our tour with MyTaiwanTours which took us to all these amazing sights.
Behind the Scenes Video: 1. Jinguashi We travel from Taipei to visit the northern coast at Jinguashi. We visit the Yin-Yang Sea and a copper and gold mine dating back to the era of Japanese rule over the island. The ocean even turned a copper color from the mine. We also visit the Gold Waterfall which is right next to the copper mine.
2. Jiufen
We travel a few miles north into the mountains to visit Jiufen, the town that inspired the classic anime movie "Spirited Away" by Hayao Miyazaki, Japan's equivalent to Walt Disney in film making. Jiufen is a lively and quaint area that includes tea houses decorated with lanterns and winding allies filled with street food. It can get quite crowded here during the weekends, so try visiting during the weekdays if you can! 3. Night Markets / Street Food Taiwan is a foody nation. Some call it the country that never stops eating. There are numerous night markets in the city selling everything from sweet, savory, and exotic snacks. We wander the cobblestone streets and alleyways filled with food vendors and try the bubble tea and Taiwan's traditional dish - stinky tofu.
4. Pingxi / Sky Lantern
Pingxi is a unique area where you can make sky lanterns and release them in Shifen Old Street to send the wishes to the heavens. Our lantern's wish was "Peace Love and Taiwan!". Even if you don't make a sky lantern, they are fun to watch as the sky is filled with glowing lanterns which look like mini hot air balloons. The tradition combines culture and art and draws tourists from all over the world. There is also the famous Sky Lantern Festival in February.
5. Elephant Mountain
Many people go to Taipei 101 observatory for the skyline view, but the only problem is that Taipei 101 will not be in the photo! The best way to get the iconic Taiwan cityscape photo is from Elephant Mountain which is a relatively short and steep hike. We didn't quite have time to do this hike during our layover, but the Elephant Mountain hike offers one of the best (and free!) views of the city.
What are your favorite places to photograph in Taiwan? Comment below!
During my trip to Munich, I took a side trip to the picturesque Bavarian alps to visit the famous castles: Neuschwanstein Castle and Hohenschwangau. The castles are nestled in the mountainside of the village called Hohenschwangau which is about an hour's drive from Munich. It is one of the most magical sights in Germany.
View the behind the scenes travel vlog: Schloss Hohenschwangau First stop is Schloss Hohenschwangau, which was the childhood residence of "mad" King Ludwig II of Bavaria. It was built by his father, King Maximilian II of Bavaria. King Maximilian died in 1864 and his son Ludwig succeeded to the throne at the age of 18, moving into his father's room in the castle. As Ludwig never married, his mother Marie was able to continue living on her floor during the summer months. King Ludwig II enjoyed living in Hohenschwangau, however mostly in the absence of his disliked mother, especially after 1869 when the building of his own castle, Neuschwanstein, began on the site of the old Schwangau fortress, high above his parent's castle. Tours and Photo Guide Both castles are accessible only via guided tours which give you and inside look into the interior and the history. There is no photography allowed inside the castles, although many rooms are quite impressive. The exterior of the castles can be photographed from two prime locations. One is from the town below, which will give you a view of the alps. My favorite place to photograph the castles in all their glory is from the Marienbrücke bridge, which is where I got the below photo:
Neuschwanstein
King Ludwig II lived in nearby Neuschwanstein, only a 15 minute tram ride away. It was built in Romanesque revival style, which later served as the inspiration for the Disneyland Castle. He used the castle as a personal retreat. Touring the castle, it is clear that the young king had quite an imagination. The rooms include the Throne Room, Cave Room, and Bedroom, as well as many stairs. King Ludwig II died mysteriously at age 40, and his castle now serves as a major tourist site, attracting roughly 1.3 million visitors annually.
What are your favorite castles to visit in Germany?
When it comes to travel, I don't usually retrace my steps so whenever I do, it is saying a lot. It is also rare for me to revisit the same location within a 12 month time span, so this is double-saying a lot. But I decided to make an exception because the city is one of my all-time favorites - Munich. Also, it happened to be September which is the most festive time to visit because of Oktoberfest.
My first trip to Munich was only a year ago and I immediately took a liking to the great vibes of the city and lively traditions. However, my time was cut short since I only had a half day to see the sights on my river cruise tour. Since then, I tried to find ways of bringing Munich to me by recreating the Bavarian experience at home. I went through great lengths, including ordering the authentic sweet mustard on Amazon, attending the American version of Oktoberfest, and scouting out the rare and seemingly only German restaurant I could find in my area. But alas, there is no comparison. So I listened to my travel bug which nudged me back to Munich for another round (literally - prost!). This time, I took a Munich walking tour, which covers many off-the-beaten-path places, historical sights, and the best photography spots in the city. Check Out the City Walking Tour Video:
Music Credit: "Ein Prosit" | All videos shot with iPhone 6 | Editing: iMovie
Here are the top 10 places to photograph in Munich:
1. U-Bahn - It is rare to want to take a metro ride just to see the station stops, but in Munich it is worth it. The station are colorful and photogenic. The metro system itself is easy and efficient and will whisk you away to our second photo shoot stop....
2. Marienplatz - The central plaza where you can watch the bell tower come alive with the Glockenspiel, which plays three times a day.
3. Hofbräuhaus - Das Original - German Beer, History, and Bavarian traditions. Of course, I could post a photo of the ubiquitous beer stein, but the ceilings and architecture were surprisingly cool too.
4. Max-Joseph Platz - The central square where you can find the royal residence and opera house. It is marked by the central statue of Maximilian who ruled Bavaria. That's a photo of our tour group :)
5. Viscardigasse - Without the City Tour, we wouldn't know the meaning behind these golden cobblestones. Our guide explained that the street commemorates the brave citizens who risked their lives to defy the Nazi movement. It's a hidden gem and meaningful photo opportunity.
6. Funf Hofe - The beautiful shopping street filled with alleyways and hanging gardens.
7. Munich Frauenkirche - The iconic church with the two "salt shaker" looking towers which can be seen from almost everywhere.
8. Englischer Garten - This park is larger than Central Park in New York, filled with music and wonderfully landscaped English gardens.
9. Feldherrnhalle - A central plaza where locals gather for festivities. It is also marked by the two lion statues.
10. Schloss Nymphenburg - The royal residence and summer palace built in 1664. The interior and exterior gardens are beautiful to photograph.
And... Last by not least....
Oktoberfest - This festival occurs from the last two weekends of September to the first weekend of October to commemorate the wedding of King Ludwig I, which was so extraordinary that they decided to celebrate it each year - and hence Oktoberfest was born. I went last year and the spirit of the festival, unity of people from around the world, and celebration of Bavarian culture was unmatched by any other festival.
What are your favorite places to photograph in Munich? |
Published Travel ArticlesWelcome to Run The Atlas!
We are two adventurous young professionals who turned our passion for travel into a blog to help others travel more.
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