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JJFBbennett travels to Taiwan

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JJFBbennett travels to Taiwan

Navigating the Metamodern City: Reflections from Taiwan


What happens when ancient culture, vertical hyper-modernity, and raw street-level life collide through a traveller's lens?

In my short video series exploring Taiwan—from the rain-slicked avenues of Taipei to the summit of Taipei 101 and the quiet contemplation of Liberty Square—travel becomes more than just sightseeing. It becomes an inquiry into metamodernism, architecture, art, and the everyday rituals that anchor our lives.

Get ready for some serious wanderlust! I'm diving into JJFBbennett's incredible adventures as he explored Taiwan's stunning islands. Follow along on a journey that captures everything from Taipei's bustling energy to the historic elegance of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial.

Experience the trip through a vibrant travel photo library and an exciting video playlist that brings the entire destination to life. It’s an unforgettable look at Taiwan that will have you planning your own getaway in no time.

1. Reaching for the Sky: Why Do We Climb Towers?

From the heights of  Taipei 101, the sprawling urban basin unfolds beneath a shifting sky. Why do human beings feel an innate compulsion to build and ascend these vertical monuments?

Climbing high above the metropolis isn’t just about the panoramic vista—it is an exercise in perspective. From hundreds of meters in the air, the city's frenetic pulse becomes an abstract circuit board of light, movement, and silence. It exposes the tension between technological ambition and our human scale.

 2. Rain, Art, and Street Aesthetics

Taipei has a distinct atmospheric poetry when the weather turns. The rain transforms concrete, neon signage, and alleyway surfaces into reflective canvases.

Wandering through the city's arty enclaves and quieter quarters reveals how modern Taiwanese culture embraces both heritage and spontaneous contemporary expression. Between sacred temple altars and modernist street installations, the city constantly negotiates the sacred and the everyday.

3. Liberty, Space, and Memory

Taking the train to **Liberty Square** brings you face-to-face with the architecture of civic identity and history. Grand plazas and monumental gates do more than frame photos—they hold space for cultural memory, democratic expression, and quiet reflection amidst a bustling modern capital.

4. Grounded in the Senses: Markets & Bowls

No philosophical exploration is complete without grounding yourself in the sensory fabric of the city:

Linjiang Night Market: A rush of steam, sizzling grills, sweet aromas, and the electric energy of street life.

The Ritual of a Warm Bowl: Sitting down for vegetarian ramen before heading into towering skyscraper districts offers a grounded moment of nourishment and pause before taking in the city's monumental scale.

Watch the Playlist

Catch all the visual vignettes, philosophical shorts, and street walks in the full playlist:

🎥  Watch: JJFBbennett travels to Taiwan on YouTube 

What resonates most with you when exploring a new city—the panoramic heights, the quiet artistic corners, or the midnight street food walks? Let’s connect in the comments.

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