Travel Blogger Wins A Trip To Taipei, Taiwan

A New Adventure Awaits In A New Destination

By Kevin Wilkerson, PubClub.com Travel Blogger

I won a trip to Taipei today!

It happened at a Taiwan Tourism press and travel agents event held in Los Angeles, #TasteTaiwan, which showed a preview of TV travel host’s Mike Siegel’s excellent “Best Taste Taiwan: Ten Things You Must Do In Taiwan,” which will air on CNBC in late April.

This is not only fantastic, it’s a “pinch-me” situation. There’s a couple of reasons for this – while I have been lucky enough to have traveled to many places and even earned press trips to fantastic places like Switzerland and Carmel, CA, I’ve actually never won anything.

It’s kind of the family curse. While others are winning things like TVs, trips and cruises at events and raffles, we are always the ones holding the empty bag while politely clapping for the winners. (Once, I did win dinner for four at a restaurant – in a senior citizen’s center!)

So when my name was called, I looked down at my Taiwan beer to see if it was stronger than it seemed to be, but Siegel waved me down to the front to receive my prize.

That is where Judy Chen, Area Sales Manager for China Airlines, handed me an envelope containing a voucher for one round-trip ticket from LAX to Taipei (and she assured me the airline serves cocktails in coach!).

The second thing that’s exciting is the trip itself. I’ve never been to a country in Asia, so this will be a completely new experience.  And thanks to Siegel’s video, I won’t be going in blindfolded.

He showed lively food food markets at night (which seems to be a prelude to the nightlife), great public transportation (something that will be a welcome relief after driving here in L.A.-clogged traffic, and it only costs a buck!) and areas outside of the city that are gorgeous for activities such as bicycle rides.

Frankly, about the only thing I knew about Taiwan beforehand was something I remember from my childhood: it has great baseball teams that always do well in the Little League World Series. I would watch this in amazement and always say to myself “who ARE these guys!?”

Siegel, in a quick post-show rundown, also addressed a few important issues about traveling to Taiwan. Among them: you don’t need a visa to visit (your passport is fine) and you can get around anywhere in the country by speaking only English. Which is fortunate because that’s the only language I speak (other than a little Southern, ha ha).

Before the film, he did confess he did not spend much time in the bars, so I have some research to do in that area. Not a problem! Taiwan does at least two beers, one a tasty lager called, simply enough, Taiwan Beer.

I do however, have a few PubClub.com-type questions that will no doubt be be answered during my trip:

• Considering the fact it’s an island in a somewhat tropical location, does it have rum?

• If it does has rum, does it have a signature rum drink, like a Mai Tai?

• What is the Taiwan word for “cheers?”

• What is the dress code for going out in Taiwan?

• How are Sundays in Taipei and Taiwan? In America, the afternoons make it a great party day but in Europe it’s the most boring day of the week, making it the perfect travel day.

• What about the beaches? The video really didn’t highlight any and I have the feeling it’s not a really lay-on-the-beach kind of place.

These are questions I can quickly answer once I start exploring Taiwan. I also know one of the great pleasures of traveling to a new place is discovery. What surprises await me in Taipei and Taiwan!?

That mystery is the most exciting part about this journey and I can’t wait to depart for this new PubClub.com travel destination.

PubClub.com will be traveling in June and posting blogs posts from Taiwan about the blogger’s adventures, discoveries as well as a travel and nightlife guide to Taipei.