I’d never been to Asia and stepping into the Taiwanese culture was thrilling, disorienting, embracing and shocking—I loved every minute of it. The Taiwanese Culture amazes—in custom, religious, attitude and lifestyle—and it was beautiful to see and experience.
For such a small island nation, Taiwan has so much to see, do, eat and experience. From Taipei to Hualian, city to country, hyper crowded to hyper local—we explored it all, with the locals as our guide.
This lush island nation has so much variety in fresh local products, it’s no surprise that the food is outstanding! From street food to gourmet, famous food chains to home cooked meals, we dive into Taiwan’s food culture.
USTOA’s Live Like a Local Series
My first Night Market in Taipei was overwhelming, sensational and addictive. I was enthralled by stall after stall of the exotic foods, wild clothing and the buzzing energy of the streets. Shillin & Ning Xia are MUST-STOPS in Taiwan—see why.
The Northern Territory is built for adventure and almost everything we did involved some sort of mini-adventurous activity. We hiked the mountains of Kings Canyon and 4 Wheeled through the valleys, dodging camels. We even rode domesticated camels through the bush at sunset with Uluru glowing in the background.
Not to mention, we got up-close and personal with some of the Northern Territory’s “friendly” wildlife. The Outback is not for the faint of heart. 🙂
A rough landscape requires hearty food–and that’s just what we got in the stunning Northern Territory. From campfire “damper” to hunks of meat over an open flame, to some more refined local specialities including Kangaroo, we chowed down throughout the Outback.
The Northern Territory is the “Red Heart” of Australia, located in the center, this landscape is ruggedly beautiful and pre-historic feeling. I take you to UNESCO World Heritage sites, like Uluru, and I camp in Kings Canyon, the most remote place I’ve ever been. From Camel treks to 4 wheeling, to walks with local Aboriginal guides, the Northern Territory is like a different planet. And it’s wonderful.
The Aborigines are the oldest still living culture in the world and it was an honor to get to meet many of the locals residing in the Northern Territory. I was able to learn about “Bush Tucker” or food in the wild, dot painting and more about how their people have lived in the harsh Outback for thousands of years.
Environmental Consciousness on Tour with Swain Destinations
We travelers know that the reason we travel to destinations is because of the beautiful, well preserved environment. That is why it is important to travel with hotels, restaurants and tour operators that think about their footprint on the environment and do their best to help their surroundings. Swain Tours, a USTOA member, makes sure to only use hotel & activity partners that have conservation as a priority. See all the instances of conservation in South Africa.
Freedom to have your Experience while on tour with Swain Destinations
You might think that being a tour means a strict schedule, group activities all the time and no chance to choose what you do. Well, that’s not the case on tours with United States Tour Operator Members.
My trip to South Africa with Swain Destination proved that the ultimate goal of the tour was for us to have our own best possible trip–so we added in more things, had spontaneous roadside stops and had some time for rest. It truly felt like our own trip, just a bit easier & better!
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