Having already experienced Taipei’s MRT system earlier that week, my roommate and I felt confident enough to plan our own adventure. Armed with our previous experience and EasyCards, we independently navigated the metro system to explore the Yongkang shopping district. The clean, efficient MRT system that had seemed so foreign just days before now felt familiar. We confidently followed the color-coded lines, understood the station announcements in both Chinese and English, and moved through the stations like locals – standing on the right side of the escalators and knowing exactly where to tap our cards.
Like true adventurers, we did get a little lost along the way. But that moment of confusion turned into its own small triumph as we figured out our bearings and found our way back on track. Getting lost and finding our way again was part of the experience. Reaching Yongkang district on our own felt like a small victory. It showed how quickly we’d adapted to life in Taipei, transforming from uncertain tourists to confident travelers who could navigate one of Asia’s major cities independently.
