Taipei Photo Diary

A visual diary of five grounding days at my home away from home.

Taipei tugs at my heart. I consider it my second home. My dad splits his time between Taipei and Shanghai, and each year I make a pilgrimage to be near him, to reconnect with this part of my roots.

I’d thought about writing a travel guide, but the truth is, this trip wasn’t about checklists or recommendations. It was about presence and connection, which I wrote about here last week. So instead of a guide, this is more of a visual diary. A snapshot of five full days that grounded me in the simplest, most meaningful way.

I’ve experienced Taipei in all kinds of ways: bringing friends, boyfriends, playing tour guide and hitting all the must-see spots. But this time was different. It was just me. No real plans, just time carved out to be with my dad. We ate at our usual haunts. Let the days unfold slowly.

There’s something undeniably powerful about physical proximity, especially when your only living parent lives halfway across the world. Just being in the same room can open a channel that FaceTime never could. As we both grow older, I feel that time more acutely. I’ve softened, and so has he. Conversations that once felt stiff or avoided altogether now flow more gently. I credit a lot of that to the inner work I’ve done, specifically the tools I picked up from the Hoffman Process that helped me show up differently: with less judgment, more compassion, and a real openness to connection.

This wasn’t just a visit. It was a reset. A reminder of how much can shift when you're simply present, with no agenda other than to be together.

Thanks as always for being here. It means more than you know. Enjoy my snapshots from wandering around Taipei. I included a few links, restaurant names, and outfits too :)

Love, Cat xoxo

---

Taipei, Taiwan. April 2025.

I stumbled on this perfect view of Taipei 101 at sunset. Here’s the Google Map of the intersection.

I always take the red eye from LAX to Taipei and arrive around 5am. I go straight to the gym to avoid jet lag, but it definitely didn't work this time :)

Here's my favorite workout set thats <$50 and my Bose headphones that actually stay in my ear, hallelujah

Home is where the mah jong table is

This is Lao Wang Ji Beef Noodle. My dad has been coming here since he was in elementary school nearby. There are only a few things on the menu. Must get the pickled cabbage. Come here when it opens. The line can be long closer to noon, but it goes by quickly.

Left: Doen Traveler Top, Sezane Aglae Skirt. Right: J.Crew Floral Skirt, Doen Martina Cardigan, but here’s the Gap x Doen collab version that’s a lot cheaper.

Kiosk. A very cool coffee shop that people work at. I always come here and log in a few hours of work and drink an incredible cappucino.

Kiosk.

Hēi táng gāo. 黑糖糕. Brown Sugar Steamed Cake.

Doen Martina Cardigan (or the Gap collab version here), Sezane Bag, J.Crew Skirt, Sezane Suede Boots.

Huashan 1914 Creative Park. I always pop in here to see what's new. It's an old sake winery turned into a cultural hub with shopping, food, and art.

Spent a lot of time with my dad going through his paintings. He moved to California in the 70s and got his masters in art. This was from a trip to Africa. The Niger River in the 90s.

Jujube fruit, also known as a Chinese date. Taste like an Asian pear hybrid apple.

Salomon girl forever

Binjian Market

All my travel essentials are here!

The Sezane bag I used all week

Baggy Levi’s I wear all the time

Shilin Night Market

欣葉台菜創始店. One of my grandmother's favorite restaurants.

My dad’s self portrait for grad school in 1980.

Left: My dad and grandfather in Beitou Park 1959. Right: My grandmother and grandather at the Taipei Botanical Garden in the 80s.

If you made it this far, I love you and thank you for being here. It means the world and I love putting this out there for you!

LOVE, CAT xoxo