Day One in Chiayi, Taiwan: Lost, Dizzy, and Grateful

This blog is an installment in my Taiwan, Two, Three… (2025 Series).
Some places don’t just welcome you back—they remind you who you are.
Here’s to familiar streets, new stories, and the courage to walk them alone. ✨🇹🇼
📅 Travel Dates: November 14–18, 2025

Ah, Taiwan! I finally made it. After months of planning (and probably too much daydreaming), I was ready to wander, eat, and somehow survive solo in a foreign country. Little did I know… my first day would feel like a full drama season, complete with plot twists, motion sickness, and a bento meal finale.

Smooth Start, Rocky Middle

The trip began well. Two hours from Manila, and we landed safely in Taoyuan. Immigration? Smooth. Security checks? Quick. Pre-booked SIM card? Picked up. Airport MRT? Nailed it. THSR to Chiayi? Navigated like a pro… almost.

Almost.

Because of my early flight, I almost fell asleep on the train, but sitting in the middle seat made it impossible to get comfortable.

Bus Mishaps & Motion Sickness Madness

Chiayi Station. I was ready to conquer the bus to Fenqihu. Except… I completely forgot my research and hopped on Bus 7329 instead of 7329A. The 7329 does NOT go to Fenqihu. Halfway through, I realized my mistake.

So I made a split-second decision: just go all the way to Alishan, even if I planned to visit the next day. From there, I would figure out how to get to Fenqihu.

Three hours of winding mountain roads, dizziness, nausea, and a very tired ME. I was a cocktail of sleep deprivation, low appetite, and grogginess. Motion sickness? Check. Almost throwing up? Double-check.

Sunset Surprises & Mini Panic

Finally, Alishan. Despite the motion sickness, I managed to get off, take a restroom break, breathe some cold mountain air, and check out the Alishan Gate just a few meters away. The sunset surprised me—gorgeous, soft, and completely unplanned. The original idea was a sunrise trip, but life had other plans.

The air got colder, and anxiety slowly crept in. How do I get to Fenqihu? Shuttle buses? None. Anxiety? Rising. Darkness? Looming. I had to improvise. Turns out, a transfer at Shizhuo would do the trick—but buses were limited, the stop was deserted, and the mountain chill was real.

A quick stop At Shizhuo

The bus made a quick stop at Shizhuo, near the 7-Eleven. It is a quiet rural stop—just a few stores, a few cars, and a cold breeze. It was already 6 PM, and there are no mountain shuttles at that time.

Trying to calm myself from another bout of motion sickness, I overheard some travelers talking about Fenqihu. One of them said their hotel was in Fenqihu. Sign from the universe!

When they told me there were no more shuttles at this hour, we decided to share a cab. A little courage (and my classic CJ energy). We even went to 7-Eleven to ask the staff to help us book one.

A few minutes later, we were on our way to Fenqihu—dark, foggy, misty, and cold outside. It was an almost 10-minute ride.

I made it to Fenqihu safely.

Dinner, Bento, and Sweet Relief

After checking in—and running into a friendly Filipino hotel staff—I went looking for dinner. My hotel was just a short walk from Fenqihu Train Station. By 7 PM, the mountain air was already freezing.

Fenqihu is known for its bento meals, so when I saw the popular restaurant “Lunchbox” a few meters away, I headed straight in. They served braised pork and braised chicken bento meals (or a combo), priced from 180 NTD. After finishing my hearty meal, I walked around a bit, but most stores were already closed. Even the 7-Eleven shuts at 10 PM.

I went back to the hotel, freshened up, and called it a night. After surviving confusing bus routes, mountain roads, and motion sickness, I ended the day with a classic Taiwan-style bento in a quiet mountain town. The day wasn’t very kind to me, but I almost forgave it.

My first day in Taiwan wasn’t smooth, but it was real. It was chaotic, dizzying, and at times embarrassing. Today reminded me: solo travel isn’t just about smooth itineraries.

It’s about rolling with the punches, laughing at your mistakes, and being grateful for the little victories—like making it to Fenqihu alive and devouring a hot bento in the mountains.

I’m grateful I’m still standing, still laughing at my almost-throw-up moments, and still wandering.
Classic CJ the Moves™.