In the previous post, I wrote about my “Low-Energy Travel Strategy.”
The next morning, I left the hotel just before 6 a.m.
One thing I wanted to do on this trip was go for a morning run.
I wasn’t trying to run fast.
I walked, jogged, stopped to take photos, and simply enjoyed the quiet streets.
It was a slow start to the day.
Morning at Dadaocheng Wharf
I ran from the hotel to Dadaocheng Wharf.
When I arrived, I was surprised by how many people were already exercising.
Many of them were older people.
Some were walking.
Some were running.
Some were stretching.
Some were doing pull-ups.
Others were practicing tai chi or playing tennis.
It looked like morning exercise was simply part of everyday life.
Since I was taking photos as well, I spent almost as much time walking as running.
On the way back, I walked through Dihua Street and found a cat sitting in front of a temple.
Time for MeowSnap.
Just as I was taking photos, someone from the temple brought some food for the cat.
That made taking photos much easier.
Back at the hotel, I took a shower, rested for a while, and got ready for the day’s first destination.
A Morning Routine
A couple of days later, I went back to the river again.
Before I even got there, I found another cat in a small alley near the hotel.
Maybe today was a lucky day.
I spent about an hour walking, jogging, and doing a few pull-ups.
On the way back, I stopped at a small breakfast shop.
I ordered danbing and soy milk to take away.
The lady at the shop looked a little serious.
But she also seemed kind.
Back at the hotel, the breakfast tasted even better than I expected.
I was starting to enjoy Taiwanese mornings.
Remembering Seven Years Ago
The next morning, I decided to try somewhere different.
Google Maps led me to Zhongshan Linear Park.
While running through the park, something suddenly came back to me.
“Wait… I think I’ve been here before.”
It was my first trip to Taiwan in 2019.
Back then, Taipei felt very different.
It was hot.
The air felt heavy.
There were scooters everywhere.
There were so many people.
I couldn’t understand the language.
Everything felt new.
I remember sitting on a bench in this park, almost hiding from the city for a while.
Now, in 2026, I was running through the same park early in the morning.
To many people, this may not seem like a big thing.
But for me, it felt special.
It made me smile.
Back at the hotel, I took another shower and got ready for the day.
Looking back, those quiet mornings may have been my favorite part of the whole trip.
Next time, I’ll finally visit Houtong Cat Village.
If you enjoy keeping track of the cats you meet while traveling, feel free to try MeowSnap.
