A few quiet days working and wandering in Houtong, a small cat village near Taipei.
I spent my time looking for cats, working in cafes, and walking through a quiet town.
It was a short trip, but it gave me a small, tangible sense of what it means to “work while traveling.

Arrival in Taipei

I arrived at Taoyuan Airport from Sendai, Japan.
This time, I gave myself a small goal: to work while taking photos of cats.

At the airport, I joined a campaign for new arrivals called Taiwan Lucky Land,
where you could win 5,000 NTD. I didn’t win, but it made me smile —
a little boost to start the trip.

Since it was already late, I went straight to my hotel,
located near Shuangcheng Street Night Market, where I had stayed before.
The area has a local vibe, and there’s a dumpling shop I really like.
But it was raining that night, and the market had already closed.
So I grabbed some snacks from a convenience store and went to bed early.

Morning in Taipei — Looking for Cats

The next morning, around 7:30, I started my day.
The hotel room had large windows, and the morning light felt refreshing.

After doing a bit of work, I decided to take a walk around Senlin North Road.


There were small “cat houses” in the park, but no cats to be seen.
After walking for nearly an hour, I finally spotted one.


The photo was a little out of focus — I was too excited —
but still, it felt good to find my first cat of the day.

Before Heading to the Cat Village

I stopped by the Starbucks on Senlin North Road to get some work done.
It’s a big, calm café where locals and travelers blend together.
Working in a place like that feels like standing between two worlds —
a mix of the ordinary and the unfamiliar.

After a short rest, I decided to head for Houtong Cat Village.

Houtong Cat Village

I took the train from Taipei to Houtong,
though I got the schedule wrong and arrived much later than I’d planned.

At the station, cat sculptures greeted me,
and on the stairs — a real cat.


Stepping out into the plaza, I found myself surrounded by cats.
For anyone who loves them, it’s pure happiness.

Cats walking freely, cats approaching tourists,
cats lounging as if they owned the place.


They were so used to people that taking photos felt effortless —
and before I knew it, time had slipped away.

I found a café that looked nice and thought,
maybe I’ll do some work here.
But it was just closing.
Maybe next time, I’ll come a little earlier.

When night fell, the village was softly lit —
a quiet, glowing scene that felt almost like a dream.

What I Felt in the Cat Village

At first, I thought I’d mostly work
and take a few cat photos on the side.
But it turned out the other way around.
I didn’t get much work done,
yet I met so many cats — and felt unexpectedly calm.

Taking photos became its own kind of therapy,
a simple rhythm of looking, noticing, and pausing.
It reminded me how good it feels to just slow down.

I was truly glad I came here.
Every photo felt like a small, quiet memory —
the kind you keep, not for show, but for yourself.

Tomorrow, I’ll work back in Taipei.

Reflection

Working while traveling isn’t efficient at all.
But maybe this kind of loose, quiet workation
is what suits me best.

And taking photos of cats along the way —
it’s a small thing,
but it’s made travel a little more enjoyable.