TAIWAN

A LITTLE ISLAND WITH a lot of punch. I watched Charlie Boorman, Ewan McGregor’s motorcycling partner, ride through there in his By Any Means series, and I could not believe how beautiful it was.
It took me far too long to get there but when I did I found dramatic gorges cut by blue torrents of water, mountain peaks and villages, toy trains through the hills, beaches and surf and temples.
The intercity trains are a dream. The people are outstanding. Taipei is clean and easy to negotiate, despite being a modern Asia mega-city. The National Palace Museum will take your breath away.
And the food is simply orgasmicly good.

TAIPEI

TAIPEI NATIONAL PALACE MUSEUM

ALISHAN TO SUN MOON

TAROKO GORGE

TAINAN