Go "chill" from the northernmost point of Taiwan to the southernmost point of Japan

The tour begins with a flight to Taoyuan Airport, Taipei. Visitors have nearly 2 days to explore the nature, history, and culture of Keelung. Then, experience a luxury cruise, then 2 days to enjoy the beautiful subtropical island.

Keelung: Calm but not sad

Located about 30 km from the capital, Keelung is the second largest port city in Taiwan, but not as bustling and eye-catching as Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung. However, this place still contains many interesting destinations in terms of history, nature and people.

Order a cup of milk tea, bring an umbrella in case it rains and hit the road!

Những công trình kiến trúc đồ sộ toát lên nét văn hóa, truyền thống của Đài Loan — Massive architectural works exuding Taiwanese culture and tradition

Dãy nhà cầu vồng cảng Triều Kinh (Zhengbin), Cơ Long — Zhengbin Rainbow House, Keelung

Keelung has mountains on three sides and the sea on one side. Just go up Keelung Tower and you will see the whole city from a height of 60m: Lih-Rong An Building, the Keelung sign in Hollywood style in Los Angeles (USA) and peaceful intersections and streets (somewhat deserted compared to a busy Monday in many other places).

From the tower, visitors can walk to Chu Pho Dan or Zhupu Temple on Trung Chinh Mountain. On normal days, the temple is like a museum of local spiritual life, a blend of Buddhism, Taoism and regional beliefs. This is the most important religious address in the area and is the focal point of every Ghost Festival (15th day of the 7th lunar month). At that time, people from all over the city come here to worship their ancestors - a custom that has existed since the time when Taiwan was under Japanese rule.

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Một chùa thờ Phật trên núi Trung Chính, Cơ Long — A Buddhist temple on Zhongzheng Mountain, Keelung

Near Keelung Tower, there is also Dianji Temple and Miaokou Night Market. You can visit Dianji Temple in the morning/afternoon and return to Miaokou in the evening. Keelung at night is most bustling at night markets like this. This is the opportunity to enjoy famous local dishes such as guanfu beef soup, ding bian cuo noodles, Shenji pao-pao ice cream or Hong Kong soft fried noodles, Japanese tempura, Korean squid soup...

Hậu trường một hội đình/ hội chùa tại chợ Đại Đạo Trình, Đài Bắc — Behind the scenes of a communal house/temple festival at the Taidaocheng Market, Taipei

Thế giới tôn giáo rực rỡ tại Đài Loan — The vibrant religious world in Taiwan

The presence of the temple helps explain the formation of night markets in Taiwan. For example, in Miaokou, in the past, because many pilgrims came to Dien Te Temple on special holidays, street food vendors often gathered to sell. Gradually, the stalls were managed in rows, with order, forming the night market as it is today.

One of Keelung’s strengths lies in its natural and geological beauty. Visitors can visit Heping Geo Park or “the island on the island” to watch the sunset/sunrise. This is considered one of the most beautiful sunrise viewing spots in Asia. The park has many beautiful geological landscapes, and an observatory overlooking the vast Pacific Ocean. It would be interesting to open Google Maps and see yourself as just a tiny dot in front of the giant ocean!

Đường phố Cơ Long từ trên cao — Keelung street from above

Cut off phone signal, have dinner in international waters

Saying goodbye to Keelung, on the third day of the journey, visitors check in to board the Norwegian Spirit to Okinawa. Currently, Norwegian Spirit is being The procedure is not complicated, you will be given a file with all relevant documents and direct instructions to submit with the visa at Keelung seaport.

The total check-in time at the counter takes less than 5 minutes if there are no problems. You will then be given a room card. During the cruise, the card is both your room key and a debit card for on-board payments. Additionally, depending on the service, you can also pay directly by international card and/or cash.

There are many types of standard rooms such as no window, with window, with balcony; standard penthouse, deluxe, suite for you to choose from.

The cruise ship has 13 floors, of which the 7 upper floors are for tourists to experience, the 6 lower floors are for operations and logistics. Along with that, there are 13 high-class restaurants, from buffet to à la carte, from Asian to European food, 7 of which are free. With a capacity of about 2,000 people, the amenities on board are diverse and meet almost all the needs of tourists with theaters, spas, gyms, swimming pools, casinos, clothing shops, high-end cosmetics, suitcases, handbags...

After about 3 hours at sea, the ship approaches international waters and passengers will start to lose 4G signal from Taiwan. As for the author of the article, I decided to turn off the phone and go sightseeing and order some recommended dishes. The staff on board are friendly and pleasant, ready to help you as much as possible.

If you need to access the internet, you can choose to buy a satellite internet service package but it is quite expensive. If there is no obligation, spend that peaceful time walking around the boat or go to the lobby to listen to music, enjoy some common activities.

Choosing to go on a cruise will save you time and increase your experience, compared to having to take a connecting flight and apply for a visa twice for Taiwan and Japan. About 1 hour before leaving the ship, the groups will be gathered to complete the entry procedures for Okinawa, which is also very simple and quick due to close coordination between the Taiwan Tourism Bureau and the Japan Tourism Agency. After this step, you can stay in Japan for 7 days before returning to the cruise without a visa.

Okinawa: Subtropical Paradise

Okinawans are friendly and have a slower lifestyle than in big island cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Hokkaido... so it will suit the main relaxing, chill vibe that you bring from Keelung.

Okinawa was once the Ryukyu Kingdom with indigenous inhabitants, located between mainland China, Taiwan and Japan. Therefore, traditional Okinawan costumes are not like the kimono or yukata on the big island of Japan today, but are much more colorful, especially the accessories worn on the head.

Set ăn Ryukyu truyền thống — Traditional Ryukyu Set Meal

Experience a traditional Ryukyu set meal with pickled vegetables, soba noodles in bone broth, rafute pork stewed with salty-spicy-sweet awamori wine, bitter melon… Occupied by the US during World War II, Okinawan cuisine has been influenced by some of the culture of this country. That is why spam canned meat and some cultural crossover dishes like taco rice are also often present on the menu of the region.

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Local Okinawan produce includes molasses, which is well adapted to certain weather conditions in the southwest coast, especially during typhoons and droughts. In addition to molasses, there are also sweet and sour kumquats, which resemble a cross between a grapefruit and an orange. Okinawans are known for their longevity, and kumquats are often touted as one of the “keys to a hundred years of life.” Consider purchasing these at convenience stores, grocery stores, or supermarkets along the way.

If you have time, visit the Churaumi Aquarium to immerse yourself in the tranquility of the ocean. The space is not particularly large, but large enough to make you feel small in the midst of something larger and more important.

Đồng hồ mặt trời tại lâu đài Shurijo, Nhật Bản — Sundial at Shurijo Castle, Japan

Okinawa is also famous for Karate and Eisa dance. Visitors who want to learn more about Karate can choose a day tour to visit the Okinawa Museum, go to Okino-gu. In addition, if you have the opportunity to enjoy traditional arts, do not miss the Eisa dance with traditional songs here and shout "Hiyasasa" (Go far!).

If you are looking for souvenirs, buy a pair of shisa lions – Okinawa’s lucky mascots. Buy them in pairs, as the open mouth of a lion scares away evil spirits, the closed mouth of a lion keeps good spirits in!