This week we wrapped up our time in Macau, made our way into the neon glow and sea breeze of Hong Kong, and then caught a short flight to Taiwan – where something shifted. After months of metropolis-hopping, Taiwan felt like exactly what we didn’t know we needed.

Here’s what we learned this week, as we left behind the dizzying pace of city life and leaned into something slower, quieter, and just a little greener.

1. Hong Kong: Where East Meets West, and Change Is in the Air

After weeks immersed in mainland China, stepping into Hong Kong felt like returning to a place that was both familiar but still disorientingly different. The skyline still stuns, the trams still trundle along like it’s 1950, and the layers of colonial history still hang in the air – but there’s something else too. A quiet tension. A city shifting, slowly. This was my first time here in Hong Kong but Ash’s second so it was an interesting perspective, of course now viewed through the lens of having spent almost a month on the mainland. I’m not sure that on my next visit to Hong Kong it will feel quite the same as my first.

A little history: after the First Opium War, Hong Kong was ceded to Britain in 1842 and spent over 150 years as a British colony before being handed back to China in 1997. Today, it exists in a delicate balancing act under the “one country, two systems”principle. You feel it in the signage, the legal system, and the daily rhythms – an international city holding onto its identity.

We explored by ferry, funicular, foot and food. The views from Victoria Peak were as stunning as promised, and hiking the Two Peaks with Ash’s dad reminded us that Hong Kong is more than just skyscrapers – it’s also home to some of the most accessible trails we’ve ever seen in a city.

2. Taiwan Is Its Own World – And We Love It

Taiwan has something truly unique about it. After just a few hours, we knew we were somewhere different. It’s not just that the pace is slower or that nature feels closer – it’s the sense of ease here. The people are kind. Everything feels relaxed and it’s all served with a side of bubble tea and incense smoke from a nearby temple.

A little backstory: after the Chinese Civil War, the Nationalist government fled to Taiwan in 1949, setting up what they hoped would be a temporary base. It wasn’t. Despite over 40 years of martial law, Taiwan has since developed into a democratic, vibrant society with its own culture, politics, and identity – even if not all countries officially recognise it as a nation.

In Taipei, we wandered night markets, stumbled upon temples tucked behind corner shops, and hiked up into the hills where city views turned into thick jungle. The air feels different here – and so does the energy. It’s relaxed, but curious. Soft, but proud. And yes, the food is incredible.

3. We’re Done with Cities – and Ready for NATURE

Tokyo. Seoul. Beijing. Xi’an. Chengdu. Shanghai. Hong Kong. That’s a lot of megacities. We’ve marvelled at the lights, the skyscrapers, the bullet trains and the endless noodle bowls. And we’ve squeezed in hikes and outdoor escapes wherever we could – from snow-covered peaks in Japan to the Great Wall in China. But this week, we realised how much we miss the outdoors being central to our travels.

We’re not built for crowds and concrete. It’s a reason we wanted to leave London in the first place. We love waking up near trees, not traffic. So as we head into the next ‘era’ of our journey, we’re leaving the city pace behind and embracing coastal and rural life. We want longer mornings, fewer plans, and more time near the sea. See you soon Philippines!

4. We Bought a Drone – and Did Our Homework First

I have wanted a drone from the first time I saw footage popping up all over social media, everything just looks cooler from above. Finding the right place to buy one was important and it turns out there’s a lot to learn – from camera specs and stabilisation to the all-important regulations that vary by country (spoiler: not all places are drone-friendly). So you may have noticed we’ve held off on drone footage so far. That’s because we wanted to get it right.

We have finally picked one up in Taiwan after weighing up options and doing a crash course in what actually makes a good drone for travel. It’s light, legal everywhere we plan to visit this year, and ready to fly. With our travels to the Philippines now upon us with dramatic coastlines, dense jungles, and hidden waterfalls, we can’t wait to show you some new perspectives – quite literally.

5. We’re in Better Shape Than We Thought

We may not be eating quite like we did back home (farewell, regular mealtimes), and our gym visits have been sporadic at best – though we do squeeze in a session whenever we can. But despite all that, we realised this week that we’re actually in the best shape we’ve been in for a while.

We’re active every day, whether we’re hauling backpacks up subway stairs or walking 20,000 steps through new neighbourhoods. Hiking in Hong Kong with Ash’s dad was much easier than we expected, and the humid climbs around Taipei – sweat and all – felt surprisingly doable.

Turns out you don’t need a treadmill when you’ve got temples at the top of hills. Go us. This all bodes very well for snorkelling, scuba diving, hiking and sailing in the weeks to come!

Final Thoughts

This week marked a turning point. We’re moving on from the rush of the world’s busiest cities and into something slower, more grounded, more us. Taiwan has been the perfect place to feel that shift. And with the beach life ahead, we’re ready to swap subways for sunrises and skyscrapers for salt air.

We’re curious have you really thought about what makes something important to you when you travel? Let us know what’s important to you in the comments.

5 Things We Have Learned This Week… #13