The previous blog post went on a little too long so this is the third part in the series of “Best of 2025”

The links to the entire series can be found here:

The theme of this part is Cultural and Travel Experiences. These are some of the non-work/technical related things that I found/did/stood out last year.

Travel

International

As of writing this (January 1st, 2026), last year took me to Latvia, Taiwan, and Indonesia (Bali). By far, Taiwan was my favorite.

Taipei From The Hotel Room

The people were exceptionally friendly, public transportation, TRA, and HSR were outstanding, and nearly every meal was incredible. More than anything, Taiwan felt easy to exist in. It felt like you could participate in their culture, events, activities, without having to fully buy into their commerces or communities. Want to go to a baseball game ( that’s big there), it’s cheap compared to an MLB game. Need to escape to the mountains for a day off, you’ve got buses to Wulai. Unlike in the US and other countries, I didn’t feel like I was locked in to some forced smartphone app to do everything. I could reserve what I wanted to do online, and go in person to pick up my tickets. I felt free to explore, interact, wander, and simply enjoy where I was.

Across two trips, I visited Tainan, Taipei, Alishan National Scenic Area, and Taitung. My first trip was a solo visit in April, and later in July I managed to squeeze in a short three-day stopover. Even that brief return trip I was still able to enjoy my time there.

Taiwan has officially earned a permanent spot on my “return often” list. Even compared to Japan.

Domestic

I usually avoid domestic travel — the cost-to-experience ratio often just isn’t there — but I did have two standout trips this year.

Amtrak: Seattle → Chicago (Empire Builder, Eastbound)

I rode the reverse route of the Empire Builder primarily to finally see Glacier National Park, which I missed on my first ride in 2021. While the trip wasn’t quite as an adventure as my original westbound run, Glacier national park was good to see. Additioanlly it was good to see the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin. (Also missed on the westbound route due to it being dark) Some of the diminished experience likely had to do with the government shutdown at the time but even so, it was still worth it.

Lake Wisconsin

This trip ended up being quietly recharging because it introduced me to kayaking. I didn’t expect it to stick, but it really did — and once the weather warms up, I plan to lean much harder into it.

Culture

Music

I saw a lot of shows this year — including the Oasis reunion — but three stood far above the rest:

Russian Circles — Easily the most powerful and enjoyable live performance I saw all year. It wasn’t the most energetic show I saw, but the light show and music made it enjoyable, immersive, and perfect.

Mogwai This show brings a lot of their long time fans. I didn’t have a strong feeling of the show. But it helped to appreciate their music more.

YOB Very good, but didn’t leave quite the same lasting impression as the two above.

Comedy

Three comedians really stood out:

Ian Fidance — Incredible stage presence and raw energy.

Geoffrey Asmus — Loud, belligerent, absurd — in the best way.

A Philly-based comic whose name I tragically forgot — Completely unhinged, chaotic, and hilarious. This was in the earlier months in 2025 at Zanies. The show was nearly empty, but he killed.

Interestingly, the more “industry-backed” shows — especially those tied to large brands or things like Kill Tony — consistently underperformed and disappointed. The smaller, less polished, more chaotic shows ended up being far better experiences.

Food

Two meals absolutely dominated the year:

Gajah Putih (Ubud, Bali) — Incredible food, excellent service, and a beautifully executed concept. The entire experience felt curated in the best way.

難得一面 Beef Noodles (Taipei) — 青花椒 / 大紅袍、超濃蕃茄、麻辣牛肉麵、乾拌麵、重磅蛤蜊麵 I didn’t go here for the beef noodles. But the garlic noodles they had were spicy, warming, cheap, and comforting. It’s exactly what I wanted after a hot springs soak in Wulai. I only managed to visit once while they were open, and I will seek them out the next time I’m in Taiwan.

Museums

Surprisingly, museums didn’t leave much of an impression this year. I do recall going to a modern art museum in Tainan.

I’ve also found myself increasingly discouraged by the shift toward mandatory early online ticketing, which has quietly drained a lot of spontaneity and enjoyment from city exploration.