In January 2024, after three months in South Korea and nine in Japan, I continued to Taiwan for two and a half months. It felt like the middle ground between the two countries, but with a myriad of cultural shocks. I began volunteering at a hostel in Taipei for a month (“Nihao | ??“).
Taoist temples, reptiles, memorial halls. Great dates made me wonder: was Taiwan better than South Korea and Japan? (“The Best of All Worlds | ?????“). Every day brought it with fun mountains, dates, and parties. After months of social and romantic problems, everyone was treating me so well, that I didn’t suffer one bad moment in Taiwan (“The Taiwanese Roll | ????“).
I reunited with a Taiwanese friend from Japan in Donggang, where we explored Liuqiu Island and celebrated my first Chinese New Year on my trip’s one-year anniversary (“One Year of Traveling | ????“). Back in Taipei, cherry blossoms, kinky bars, and the best dating week of my life peaked on Valentine’s Day, when I fell in love with more than one local guy (“Falling for Valentine | ?????“).
Taiwan was a revelation for a Middle Eastern queer. I’d never been to such a liberal country, nor felt more desired. Taiwanese people were the warmest and most hospitable.
I celebrated this discovery in Beitou hot springs on my second birthday on this trip (“Birthday Boy | ??“). Then I was ghosted, and I cursed myself for my stupidity at Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival (“19 Going on 29 | ?????????“).
Peak blossoms in Yangmingshan and a new romantic mission made way for better dates, as well as my bloodiest hiking injury yet. My head was bleeding as I resolved to understand the meaning of love. Even if it traumatized me. I was confused by the idea that I was in love with multiple people at the same time (“Tantaluss Playground | ???????“).
After one month at the hostel, I went south. Yanshui Beehive Fireworks, the world’s most dangerous festival, resulted in one of the scariest nights of my life. The annual Lantern Festival, on the other hand, was accompanied by temples and delicious food in Tainan (“One Month in Taiwan | ?????“).
I visited museums, salt mountains, snoozy Kaohsiung, and realized that love was the bravery in baring your soul and trusting someone. After condemning people in South Korea and Japan for playing games with me and disappearing, it hit me that a broken heart followed a warmed heart. Then, in stark contrast to every guy I’d dated, a new beau cried at the prospect of saying goodbye (“The Pain Applicant, Part 1 | ??????? 1 ??“).
But my chest was aching for the people I was in love with, none of whom wanted me in their lives.. A temple stay that ended in expulsion, farewell to my best friend in Taiwan, and a new German-Palestinian friend from Gaza proved that I’d out-grown my social anxiety, and sought challenge from a special someone . I didn’t mind losing my peace of mind for someone who would ruin my day and then make it, as long as they stuck by my side (“The Pain Applicant, Part 2 | ??????? 2??“).
At Guanzihling mud hot springs, the date that cried and I had to part. I hiked Alishan and Yushan, the tallest mountain in East Asia, on a winter night. Surrounded by pitch-black snow and ice, I realized that I couldn’t hate someone with whom I was in love, even if they’d left me in the dark. Nor could I deny that every low on this trip had followed a high. As the sun rose above the summit, it dawned on me that pain was the fate of love, and the essence of life (“The Pain Applicant, Part 3 | ??????? 3??“).
I began chasing both adventures and trauma.
Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, and Baishatun Mazu pilgrimage continued Taiwan’s mix of beautiful nature, delicious food, and extreme festivals. Improved dates showed who was willing to wait for me, and who would forget our time (“Waiting to Forget | ????“).
Back to volunteering in Taipei, lonesome nights out recreated my alienation in South Korea. A new Korean volunteer and I grew close in an instant, as he introduced me to the dark world of Asian beauty standards (“Two Months in Taiwan | ?????“). When we hiked Taroko Gorge together, he made me realize how strong it was of me to embrace pain, yet weak to flaunt its impact (“Beautiful World, Ugly Humans | ???????????“).
Back in Taipei, I was told “I love you” for the first time. Yet this only emphasized how unrequited my romances had become. My visa was expiring, and I was in love with too many, too much (“Tantaluss Punishment | ???????“).
All my life, I thought that I would never know love.
Then, a 7.5 earthquake and romantic Jiufen shook me into understanding the meaning of love. Caring about someone despite the distance, despite the pain, and despite the time apart. On my final nights, I found the dates that had made their mark, and wrapped my trip on a high (“The Meaning of Love | ????“).
After fourteen months, I grew from a misfit robot in Israel to a sociable romantic in Asia. Even though my blog ended in failure, I finished my trip proud and penniless, following my mission to explore the world and experience life, and flew back to war in Israel (“Zaijian | ??“).