Taiwan

Taipei in 2018 felt like the best parts of Japan with the volume turned down. The night markets, especially Shilin and Raohe, are some of the best food in Asia: stinky tofu, beef noodle soup, pepper buns and bubble tea where it was invented. I went up Taipei 101 for the view, wandered temples with carved stone dragon pillars, and found a neon sign telling me to work hard, build faith, be happy and love always. Fair enough.

The day trip to Jiufen was my favorite part. It's an old mining town in the hills with narrow alleys hung with red lanterns and wooden teahouses stacked up the slope, and if it looks like Spirited Away, that's not an accident. From the top, green mountains roll down to the coast at sunset. Taiwan is easy, friendly and beautiful, and it went straight onto my list of places I'd live.