Evan Breslow

Thailand and Taiwan

Bangkok, Taipei

November 2025

Seventeen nights split between Bangkok and Taipei, my first time in either. Bangkok was heat, malls, a ton of eating, and a night at Rajadamnern watching a Muay Thai title fight; Taipei was cooler and slower, tea houses in the hills at Maokong and a day out to the coast at Yehliu. A one-off dinner trip south to Taichung was the only time the itinerary stretched past either city.

  1. A red-lit temple archway with a twin-dragon incense burner in the foreground and rows of paper lanterns hanging overhead
    The incense burner, lit red for the night
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  2. Taipei 101 and the surrounding skyline seen through green tree branches under a cloudy sky
    Taipei 101 through the leaves, from the mountain
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  3. The tiered spires of Wat Arun rising above the Chao Phraya River at dusk, with boats crossing the water in front of it
    Wat Arun at dusk, boats crossing the river
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  4. A clay teapot and white cups on a wooden tray in the foreground, with a stone table and stools on a dark terrace and the lit-up Taipei 101 tower on the skyline beyond
    Tea on the terrace at Maokong, Taipei 101 lit up below
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  5. A white marble arched bridge over a park pond, with an orange-tiled temple roof rising above pine trees behind it
    A bridge into the park, temple roof above the trees
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  6. Wind- and wave-carved sandstone formations pitted with small hollows, rising from a flat rock shelf under an overcast sky
    The wind-carved rocks at Yehliu
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  7. An octagonal skylight patterned with the eight trigrams in black and gold, glowing around a red and gold yin-yang symbol at its centre
    A bagua skylight, trigrams around the yin and yang
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  8. A Muay Thai fighter raising his arms in the ring at Rajadamnern Stadium, spotlights crossing overhead and a packed crowd filling the stands behind him
    A title fight at Rajadamnern Stadium
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Activities

  • Free walking tours of BangkokDid two of them, a few days apart, with GuruWalk.
  • Muay Thai at Rajadamnern StadiumBangkok. A title fight, packed stands, ringside lights.
  • Elephant MountainTaipei. Short hike up for the Taipei 101 skyline view.
  • Yehliu, Shifen, Golden Waterfall, and Jiufen day tourFull day north of Taipei. Yehliu's unique geography was the highlight.
  • MaokongGondola up for the tea houses, looking down on Taipei 101 lit up at night.
  • Taipei pub crawlWith TourMeAway, meeting at Minquan. The nightlife was a great vibe, especially Maji Square.
  • Thousand Island Lake and Pinglin tea plantation half-day tourOut of Shiding, from Taipei.

Food & Drink

  • JL Studio, TaichungA day trip south from Taipei, just for dinner.
  • INDDEE, Soi Lang Suan, BangkokDinner on the way home. Favorite meal of the trip.