Although I was born in Taipei, Taiwan, I moved to Canada when I was six months old. Living somewhere for six months does not give much time for one to grow attached to the culture of a place; however, perhaps being born there and growing up in a Taiwanese family naturally increases the pride and joy I have for my country. The familiar Taiwanese dialect surrounds me from the moment I step out of the airport to when I step out on the streets, as food stall owners attempt to stop potential customers to taste their foods. The aroma of beef noodle broth, pan fried vegetables, lamb meat skewers, tropical fruit, and moist rain mix together to produce a very particular “Taiwan smell.” And the sights – oh the sights – there is more to the country than the bustling streets often advertised. I have visited Taiwan a few times now and yet, there is still so much of it I have yet to see.

One afternoon, my cousins decided to take my sister and I around Xinyi. (Now that my cousins are older too, we are allowed to go off to farther places on our own). I was so excited when I found out that the plan that day would involve both the city and being on top of a mountain.

Our first stop was the Eslite Bookstore in Xinyi. My cousins and I walked between shelves of books while admiring the interior space, read out random pages of books to each other, and commented on everything we thought was beautiful.

Next, we walked around one of the shopping districts. Despite the fast pace of the city, we chose to take it slow that day and just soak in the sunshine and our time together, stopping every once in a while to finish a conversation, to watch groups of dancers perform, to observe fashionable wear on passerby, or to appreciate the art we saw around us.

Around late afternoon, we headed towards the trail entrance to Xiangshan, or Elephant Mountain. This hike is well-known for its easily accessible hiking route, its short distance from the famous Taipei 101, and the beautiful views it offers on the mountaintops. It only took us about 40 minutes to climb the 1.5 km of steep, winding stairs, although the humid weather made it feel like a longer climb at times. It helped that amidst the sweating and the slapping of mosquitoes every few seconds, my cousins and I had each other to share silly jokes and laugh with.

Once we got to the top, we were faced with a panoramic view of the city!

We stayed at the top for a while and watched as the sun moved from between the tree leaves to dipping behind the mountains and finally, making its departure by colouring the sky with remnants of its light. A row of photographers watched nearby as well, waiting for perfect opportunities to snap photos of the sunset or to stop their time lapse videos of the setting sun. Once bathed in a golden glow, we now felt the cool evening air sweep over us instead.

My cousins and I took the train to meet up with my parents afterwards. Our loud hoots and calls to each other slowly settled into a calm exchange of words as we rested our tired legs on transit. My parents later listened to our adventurous day over hearty bowls of noodles followed by yummy mango shaved ice.

The day was perfect. It was rejuvenating for both the soul and body. Elephant Mountain has become a memorable place for me not only because of its beauty, but also because of who I went there with. My impression of the mountain has become attached with what I love about my cousins and about spending time with my family.