Family Trip 2025
Trip to Taiwan and back
I want to apologize for not coming up with content for the past couple of months. My wife and I were in countdown mode for this family trip to Taiwan. This was a colossal effort to prep and to execute, and uploading new content got deprioritized.
Traveling to Taiwan with a One-Year-Old: A Homecoming Adventure
After months of planning, endless packing lists, and the occasional "are we crazy for doing this?" moments, Wen-Yee and I finally made it back to Taiwan with our little one-year-old tornado, Connor. Flying business class was our splurge—and honestly, the best decision we've ever made for international travel with a baby. Those lie-flat seats were a game-changer for a squirmy little boy who thinks sitting still is a form of torture.
Family Feasts and Face-Stuffing
You know those family reunions where you can't remember half the people's names, but they all acknowledge you? Yeah, that was our first week in Taiwan. My side of the family pulled out ALL the stops with a massive lunch gathering at a traditional restaurant in Taipei. The lazy Susan was so overloaded with dishes that it actually started moving in slow motion!
"Oh, Spencer, you remember your third cousin twice removed?" they'd ask while shoving another piece of braised pork belly onto my plate.
"Of course!" I'd lie, smiling through my food coma.
A few days later, we did it all again with Wen-Yee's side of the family. More food, more relatives, more "My goodness, Connor looks just like you when you were little!" as they casually mentioned to Wen-Yee. I swear we met enough "uncles" and "aunties" over the two lunches to populate a small village. I'm pretty sure I was meeting for the first time, though they insisted otherwise.
The family meals were excessive but heartwarming. There's something special about watching your child being doted on by relatives who only know him through Line messages and photos. Even if Connor won't remember them, I'll treasure those moments of family connection that span generations.
Taiwan's Winter: Still Too Hot for an American Baby
We strategically planned our trip during Taiwan's winter, thinking the milder weather would be perfect. What we failed to account for was that our son is essentially a tiny furnace who spent his first year in California's more moderate climate. What locals considered "chilly," Connor treated as "scorching."
Dinner with relatives quickly became impossible. We're those annoying new parents who stick to the sleep schedule like it's sacred scripture—because it IS. One memorable night at my parents' place, poor Connor was so hot and bothered that we stripped him down to just his diaper at the dinner table. There he sat, nearly naked among fully-dressed adults, happily shoving rice into his mouth (and hair and ears) while the ceiling fan worked overtime above him.
"At least he's eating well!" my mom commented, seemingly unfazed by the half-naked baby at her formal dining table.
Making Memories He Won't Remember
The irony of traveling with a one-year-old isn't lost on us: we exhausted ourselves taking Connor to places like Taipei 101, which he absolutely won't remember, the National Meseum Palace, and Sky Lantern at Pingxi. We have approximately 1,387 photos of him looking mildly confused at various landmarks.
"He might not remember, but it's shaping his brain development!" Wen-Yee would justify, as she dragged her jet-lagged husband (that's me) to yet another tourist spot.
The truth is, these trips are more for us than for him. Sharing places I loved growing up and watching Connor experience them, even if just for the moment, brings its kind of joy. Plus, we now have photographic evidence to show him one day: "See? We were fun parents! We took you places!"
Food Nostalgia vs. Reality
Wen-Yee and I had plans to eat ALL the things we missed from childhood. Stinky tofu! Beef noodle soup! Bubble tea from the original founding place! Soup dumplings! The list was endless.
Reality hit us around day three when our aging digestive systems waved white flags in surrender.
"Why is everything so salty?" Wen-Yee whispered to me after a particularly sodium-heavy meal of braised pork rice.
"And greasy," I added, discreetly popping an antacid.
Our stomachs, now accustomed to our more balanced American diet, simply couldn't keep up with our nostalgic appetites. I found myself doing the unthinkable—seeking out "lighter" options in a country known for its incredible street food. The shame!
Fruit Paradise
While our culinary adventures had mixed results, Connor discovered his true love: Taiwanese fruit. This child, who sometimes turns his nose up at perfectly good bananas at home, transformed into a fruit monster in Taiwan.
Those sweet, juicy grapes became his obsession, and Wen-Yee and I couldn't get enough of the wax apples—that crisp, slightly sweet flavor that you just can't find in the States. Each bite was followed by Connor's full-body happy dance, which involves a lot of shoulder wiggling and excited kicks.
"We're going to have one disappointed baby when we go back to our winter produce," I noted as Connor devoured his fifth bunch of grapes in two days. Wen-Yee just laughed, already looking up how to import Taiwanese fruits to the States.
Luxury on a Budget
One of the best things about Taiwan? The affordability of what would be luxury services back home. After some research, I found a professional photography studio for a family photoshoot. For about USD $280, we got a three-hour session, multiple outfit changes, 150 raw photos, and five professionally retouched images that made us look like we belonged in a magazine.
The massage experience was even better. After nearly two weeks of carrying a 22-pound baby up and down subway stairs, our backs were SCREAMING. We found a traditional Chinese pressure point massage place where $50 got us an hour of what can only be described as "therapeutic torture." You know it's working when it hurts so good. The massage therapist found knots in my shoulders I didn't even know existed, and I left feeling two inches taller.
In San Francisco, these experiences would have cost triple, easily.
The Car Seat and Stroller Conundrum
If there was one logistical nightmare of our trip, it was transportation. We rented a car seat, feeling smug about our safety-first approach. We used it exactly once—in Wen-Yee's relative's car. We wouldn’t be able to install it in all the Taxi cabs and it’s rather bulky to carry around.
After that experience, we abandoned the car seat plan and became MRT experts instead. Taipei's subway system is incredibly baby-friendly once you get the hang of it. Yes, there are stairs sometimes, but there are also elevators if you know where to look, and kind strangers always offered to help when they saw us struggling with a stroller.
For trips outside the city, we reluctantly went without the car seat and held Connor tightly on our laps—something we'd never do at home but seemed to be the norm there. Wen-Yee's relatives found our car seat anxiety amusing: "We raised all of you without car seats, and you turned out fine!" (The classic parenting argument that makes safety experts cringe worldwide.)
As for the stroller, we brought back a Graco Bravo, the traveling model, which was already lighter than many of the strollers in the US market. However, these Asian parents walk around with something even lighter, much lighter. These slimmer strollers made Wen-Yee jealous, and she almost pulled the trigger to get another stroller even though we already owned multiple. We are aware that those exist, but we bought the Bravo one because it came with the infant car seat as a three-in-one.
Coming Home to America
As our three-week adventure came to an end, we had mixed feelings. Relief at returning to our routine and baby-proofed home, but sadness at leaving the warmth of family and the convenience of Taiwan's baby-friendly culture.
Connor, our little adaptable traveler, took it all in stride. While he didn't come home with any tangible souvenirs or new words, the experience of being immersed in a different culture, even at his young age, is something we value deeply.
As for us parents, we're already planning our next trip back—maybe when he's three and can remember some of it. And maybe next time, we'll just rent a car seat locally. Or better yet, take the high-speed rail everywhere.
Looking back at the photos on my phone as we boarded our flight home, I couldn't help but feel grateful. Watching Wen-Yee share her childhood favorites with Connor and seeing my parents hold their grandson for the first time in person—these moments made every travel hassle fade into the background.
Our little American-Taiwanese kid might not remember this trip, but his parents certainly will.
