Dion's Taiwan Tours is proud to offer an exclusive and all inclusive 5-day package tour of a typical Taiwanese town. Yuanlin, where Dion's Taiwan Tours is based, while certainly not renowned for its scenic beauty, definitely has a variety of Taiwanese experiences that will leave you begging for more.

Day 1

You will be met personally by Dion and his faithful assistant, Jia Hui, at the airport. While you will be expected to carry your own luggage, the taxi will be hailed and directed to the train station for you, in Chinese to avoid being taken to the police or fire station, and your train ticket will be purchased for you, again in Chinese to avoid ending up in Taipei instead of Yuanlin. The two-hour train trip will be spent in an air-conditioned carriage in the delightful company of Dion and Jia Hui.

After arriving in Yuanlin, you will be driven on the back of a scooter, with your luggage, of course, to Dion's 5-star, self-catering, fully air-conditioned home, with unlimited internet access, where you will spend the next 5 nights and much of the next 5 days. A quick stop and then off to the night market, where you will sample some typical Taiwanese atmosphere and cuisine, including stinky tofu and a jelly-like soup thing, of which you will eat about two half-spoons full.

Day 2

The adventurous sort will want to find their own way around Yuanlin town, with the aid of a hand-drawn map, provided, free of charge, by Dion. Much of this day is spent wondering what the hell you are doing, as both Dion and his assistant, Jia Hui, are working at their second jobs as school teachers (as the tour operating business is just getting off the ground). Not to worry though, for later in the evening you will be taken to a Taiwanese pub of sorts, where again you will be delighted by genuine Taiwanese hospitality and cuisine and a genuine Mexican beer or two.

Day 3

The day will begin early with a trip to Dion's kindergarten classrooms where you will be stared and laughed at and listen while Dion tries to explain to a group of 6-year olds who you are. The rest of the day can be spent recuperating from this early morning experience and in the evening you will be rewarded for your adventurousness by a genuine home cooked Taiwanese meal, cooked by Dion's personal and extremely competent chef, Jia Hui.

Day 4

If it is raining cats and dogs, you may want to stay indoors and surf the web or watch TV. You will need to build your strength for the evening, when you will accompany Dion to an adult class to explain exactly 1) who you are, 2) what you are doing in this part of the world and 3) answer a lot of taxing questions. This exercise will give you an opportunity to interact with interesting and impressive people.

Day 5

In the morning you can relax and pack your things, because the afternoon and evening will be packed with activity. Lunch at a Taiwanese restaurant, a walk around downtown Yuanlin with Dion and his shopping assistant, Jia Hui, including buying gifts for loved ones and visiting two temples. The early evening will be spent at a buffet restaurant, specializing in Taiwanese and Japanese food, with Dion's friends, who will also pay the bill. The late evening will be spent in another of Dion and Jia Hui's frinds' home, where you will have coffee and engage in political talk about Taiwan and China.

After returning to Dion's home, you will be kept awake watching videos while you wait for your 3:13 am train from Yuanlin to the airport for your early morning flight out of Taiwan. The three hours on the train will not only allow time for reflection, but will also test your stamina and ability to survive alone in a non-English speaking environment. Dion will take you, on the scooter again, to the train station and wish you luck in finding your way to the airport.

I hope Erik enjoyed his stay as much as Dion and Jia Hui of Dion's Taiwan Tours enjoyed having him.

3 June 2002

Dion Marc Delport

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