Travel Blog – SarahVation

Get spirited away in Jiufen

Hello Pals,

I heard that Juifen (九份) was a town to be seen outside of Taipei not on the weekend. As we had set days, we travelled here from Luodong on a Monday.

From 1971 as a mining community, to 1989 as a movie set to then in the 2000s, known as Studio Ghibli inspiration.

Miyazaki himself has denied that Jiufen was the inspiration for Spirited Away, and while I do admit it was cute (lanterns and old towns and views.) I’d probably say it’s just super good marketing. I didn’t love it as much as the reputation precedes and found it too crowded and overhyped. I can admit it’s a quaint little spot in its own way, outside the main street and while I’m glad I saw it, I would not return.

If you would like to know “what to see in Jiufen” click ‘read more’

Taipei; it’s a delight.

Hello Pals,

I went to Taiwan April 23, so i’m (a bit) behind on the updates and I am also really unsure on where the majority of my photos went for this trip? But hey i guessyou get what you get and you don’t get upset!

Taipei is such a beautiful city. It’s easy, full of history, kind people, great food and countless things to do.

If you would like to know what to see in Taipei. click ‘read more’

Before you go: Taiwan.

Hello Pals,

Before heading to any country, it’s best to make sure you’ve got the basics down and making sure you’ve got the essentials like visas and vaccines

🛂 VISA Depending on where you’re from, you may need a visa. For countries who will need a visa, click here	💉 VACCINES Click here to make sure you’ve got the necessary jabs! Australia – myGov has all vaccines avail from ’96.
💬 LANGUAGE Mandarin has been the official language since 1945. Taiwanese Hokkien is considered the local language. You can learn common phrases such as hello, goodbye, please, and thank you by watching a YouTube video here.	💰 CURRENCY New Taiwan Dollar. Code: TWD. Check your exchange here.

Here’s a list of things you should know before you travel to Taiwan.

DUMBO

Hello Pals,

DUMBO is considered one of Brooklyn’s best neighbourhoods. It’s name comes from the acronym for “Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass” and not the 1941 animated film by Walt Disney which is surprising.

There are a few “insta” shots in dumbo that people go there for, but it’s also got so much more than that. I’ve been twice since living in NYC ( nearly 5 months!!)

Before New York State abolished slavery in 1827, DUMBO was home to Brooklyn’s free black community. Brooklyn sits upon the unceded ancestral land of the Lenapehoking people. I honour the generations of displaced and enslaved people who built the country.

If you would like to know “What do to in Dumbo, Brooklyn NYC.” click ‘read more’

Spending a day on Roosevelt Island.

Hello Pals,

It’s full name ‘Franklin D. Roosevelt Island’ is a bit too wordy so tends to be shortened to simply, Roosevelt. It’s held a lot of different names over the years – Minnahannock, Hog, Blackwell and Welfare. By the 1960’s the city and state saw an opportunity to redevelop the island into what it is today.

The island is a 6.5 km / 4.1 m loop, all paved taking around 1 hour and a half. This makes it a perfect half-day trip while in New York!

If you would like to know “How to spend a day on Roosevelt Island” click ‘read more’

The Capitol aka Washington DC.

Hello Pals,

Washington is the Capital of the United States and is a territory surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. Yes, it’s a political city (looking for a man in finance®, 6’5, blue eyes) it’s also home to the Smithsonian, one of the largest collections holding 21 museums and the National Zoo which are FREE (not pay as you wish, not donations (although appreciated) they are free.

I’ve been to Washington DC twice, once in 2022 (just after Covid so masks may still be in photos) and again in 2024 when my cousin visited. It’s simply impossible to see everything so I recommend planning a basic itinerary from the museums, galleries and monuments below. I suggest looking here for a full list of everything.

Washington DC sits upon the unceded ancestral land of the Nacotchtank people. I honour the generations of displaced and enslaved people who built the country.

If you would like to know “What to do in Washington D.C ” click ‘read more’

Cork + Blarney Castle

Hello Pals,

Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland. It’s known as “the real capita” of Ireland. A mixture of heritage and new. It’s a good location for tourism outside of Dublin as either train or bus connects. Sure, it’s got the notable famous castle of Blarney but also has so much more (the butter museum) (which was closed.)

We spent 2 nights in Cork and managed to fit quite a bit in, even if the aforementioned butter museum was closed (still mad.)

If you would like to know how I spent “two days in Cork.” click ‘read more’

The Mixture in Mérida

Hello Pals,
Mérida is the largest city within the Yucatan and is the capital. The origin of Yucatan is unclear, possibly a result of a loss in translation between the Mayan and the Spanish. I spent four days in Mérida, looking at the Neo-Classic, Neo-Gothic, Baroque and French architecture littered throughout the city. If you’ve got the time, it’s also a great place as a hub for day trips.

If you would like to know how I spent a “few days in Mérida.” click ‘read more’

Valladolid: It’s more than Chichen Itza.

Hello Pals,
Valladolid quickly became one of my favourite places within Mexico, and maybe even took the number one position. It’s vibrant colours, cobblestone streets, food halls and cute cafes – Valladolid has much to offer. It’s rich in history but showcases mostly, as a lot of Mexican cities, the Spanish Influence. If you look out – you’ll still be able to see examples of Maya Architecture.

While in Valladolid, I also managed to spend half a day at Chichen Itza, organising it by myself (okay well a friend organised it and we just tagged along.) You can read about that too.

If you would like to know “How to spend a few days in Valladolid ” click ‘read more’

Jump Into Tulum

Hello Pals,
Tulum has become bustling within the last decade, especially with artists and influencers flocking for the pristine hotels, beaches and cenotes. Originally known as Zama (dawn due to it being one of the first places dawn breaks in Mexico.)

If you would like to know “How to visit cenotes on your own in Tulum” click ‘read more’