Whether you know Taiwan intimately or want to see it through an expert's eyes as someone who has never been, Formosa Moon is an enchanting wanderWhether you know Taiwan intimately or want to see it through an expert's eyes as someone who has never been, Formosa Moon is an enchanting wander through Taiwan, written as a love story between Taiwan expert and Lonely Planet author, Joshua Samuel Brown; and his partner Stephanie Huffman, a newcomer to Taiwan and to Asia.
Formosa Moon is told from two perspectives, each chapter partitioned off by icons of the authors so the reader can experience both sides of each adventure. The couple recounts their tales of traveling around the island and falling in love with Taiwan's complex history, its sweet but slightly zany citizens, all while offering a deep exploration of Taiwan along with practical information for newcomers and expats alike.
Formosa Moon introduces Taiwan in such a way that will never make you forget how utterly unique and charming this tiny island is.
Brown is a leading expert on Taiwan and well known for his personal tours of Taiwan. When he creates the ultimate Taiwan itinerary and journey for his love so she can experience his beloved second home through his eyes, we come full circle to Formosa Moon, a beautifully honest adventure about life in Taiwan, designed to seduce Brown's love and their readers into falling in love with Taiwan. Ultimately, as we learn about Taiwan, we also learn about the love between these two travelers that share an mutual respect for exploring, and on both sides, for enduring some not so tempting parts about Taiwan.
In Huffman's case, dietary restrictions become a real adventure and challenge, but in this challenge, readers learn what to expect and what not to expect from culinary cuisine in Taiwan. On Brown's side, we read about some adventures he has done in the past that turned out equally as uncomfortable for him as the first time around.
Having lived in Taiwan since 2006, parts of this book are things I know well about Taiwan, but it's like I forgot what I've seen myself - much of it through Brown's suggestions to me in his other books - and was reminded once again of how unique this island is. This book will make you fall in love with Taiwan.
I loved how the authors set up the chapter list, so this gets an extra A+ for originality for its chapter headings. I rarely look at the chapter list, but I had a good laugh at the opening in this one. Some of my favorite chapters in the book are:
*But first, an offshore adventure *Our whirlwind tour kicks into high gear *The moon represents my heart (One of the most beautiful chapters in this book.) *Puppets and astrological errors *The winding road to autonomy *Keeping up appearances *Dark night of the soul *A peculiar mingling of love and death *We find ourselves managing a hotel (This chapter is hilarious.)
Best Takeaway Quotes:
“Once it drew me into its gravity, this strange and alien land I’ve chosen to call home for long stretches has been the one true constant in my life. Taiwan has granted me a near-constant reprieve from my most feared nemesis, boredom, but at times she’s driven me half-mad. Taiwan has been my muse, the source of inspiration for much of my creative output as a writer, while at the same time never quite letting me forget that the language in which I write is not the lingua franca of the place about which I write. I have loved Taiwan for nearly all of my adult life. At times this love has shone as brilliantly as the moon over Kenting during the Mid-Autumn Festival, at others far less brightly, like a crescent moon during the long rainy season in Taipei,…. So when I sang it was this love for Taiwan, waxing and waning, but always present, that I felt.” ~Joshua Samuel Brown, Formosa Moon
Yuraw thought for a moment before saying that he would like to sing us a song. I was totally delighted as the deputy chief of Smangus began singing to us in his own language, drawing pictures in the air with his hands of mountains, rivers, and trees. His voice was strong and deep, and the fire pit glowed a dull red as the darkening sky wrapped around us. The love he felt for his community was palpable and for a moment the area transformed into a timeless space where the remoteness seemed the only thing in existence. -Stephanie Huffman, Formosa Moon
Grandfather Shi must have loved Ita Thao. His relatives were certainly making his last hours there memorable ones. Though the ceremony did not have strippers (at least none that we saw), there was no shortage of other elements designed to produce 'hot noise' that's an indispensable feature of any Taiwanese funeral. Designed to celebrate the life of the deceased and ensure their smooth passing into the next world, Grandfather Shi's hot noise included gongs mixed with rigorous Buddhist chanting, pop music, karaoke, and later, a live band complete with drummers and an accordion. All of this was taking place under a covered tent set up in the alleyway next to the Cherry Feast Resort, where we'd booked a three-day stay in advance.". ~Joshua Samuel Brown, Formosa Moon
Publication Date: October 2018. You can pre-order through Amazon. A beautiful and a very enchanting wander through Taiwan.
Back when I started traveling solo in 1999, it was tough to find guide books strictly for solo female travelers. I had read plenty of travel memoirs,Back when I started traveling solo in 1999, it was tough to find guide books strictly for solo female travelers. I had read plenty of travel memoirs, but resource guides for women were few and far between. Online resources for travel and for women travelers didn't exist back then.
Kristin Addis's new travel book, Conquering Mountains: How To Solo Travel the World Fearlessly takes the most stressful parts of traveling solo and streamlines it into an easy to follow format for anyone to use. This is a fantastic book for first time travelers who are looking for that something extra to help them get over the fear of getting started and following through on their journey.
Kristin has compiled a complete how-to travel guide based on her three years of solo travel. She has also included 15 other established female travelers to contribute advice to her book AND 6 in-depth case study interviews from female travelers.
In her book, she includes advice on learning how to get over the fear of traveling alone, building self-confidence and dealing with critics, tips for saving money for your adventure, additional advice for making money while you're on the road, and banking advice.
She has also included a great section on planning for your trip, covering everything from ticketing and budgeting advice to healthcare, safety advice and packing lists.
Conquering Mountains: How To Solo Travel the World Fearlessly is a terrific resource guide that will take you all the way through to the end of an amazing and successful solo journey.
This is the book the Kristin wished had existed before she started traveling solo three years ago. If you're looking for a great resource guide that offers loads of tips and advice on everything you'd want to know as a woman on the road, buy it and read it. You won't be disappointed.
"Great people do things before they're ready. They do things before they know they can do it. Doing what you're afraid of, getting out of your comfort zone, taking risks like that, that's what life is: You might be really good. you might find something out about yourself that's really special. And if you're not good, who cares? You've tried something. Now you know something about yourself." - Amy Poehler
How Not to Avoid Jet Lag & other tales of travel madness is a collection of 19 stories written during Joshua Samuel Brown's 10+ years on the roadHow Not to Avoid Jet Lag & other tales of travel madness is a collection of 19 stories written during Joshua Samuel Brown's 10+ years on the road as a travel guide writer.
Josh is an expert Lonely Planet writer, but I've felt his talents have been wasted there for years. (If you've read Vignettes of Taiwan or follow Snarky Tofu, you'll know why I've said that. If you haven't, read Snarky Tofu AFTER you've read How Not to Avoid Jet Lag & other tales of travel madness.
I was completely and utterly enthralled with Josh's book. It's packed full of funny travel stories, quirky observations, and amusing inner monologues. In typical JSB fashion, it's the type of book you can laugh out loud to, and it is just as absurd as I expected it to be. Some of these tales I remember Josh telling me about when he lived here in Taiwan, while others are new.
This isn't your average travel novel. JSB has an insatiable lust for travel and adventure, and he always manages to find a little bit of trouble to get into. He also has a gift for making the average, mundane experience into a story that is utterly unique and completely unforgettable.
Loading...
