@thefridayfive 2025.12.26

[halfcactus]

1. You have the summer and plenty of money to travel abroad. Where all would you go?
Australia to visit a high school friend who recently got in touch with me after a decade of hearing nothing from e/o to tell me she's moved. :') Less realistically I'd like to go to the cool art/design museum countries (Amsterdam, Vienna, Prague). But really, I wish I had the money to see overseas online + offline friends (don't we all).

2. What foods would you be sure you got to eat?
Whatever has servings I can finish. And snacks! I don't really eat much when I travel bc I eat too slow and it stresses me out.

3. What landmarks would you be sure you got to see?
I'd watch at least one musical! And maybe find Gixi if she is accessible haha

4. What airline would you use?
A non-budget airline. :')

5. Would your knowledge of other languages influence where you went? (i.e., would you be more likely to go to France if you spoke French?)
Yes and no... Being able to speak Chinglish and understand the local accent makes Taiwan even more chill than it already is because I'm not panicking as much and can wander around more. The first time I went (2019—my Chinese would be at HSK1.5 level at best haha), I got myself and my brother on the wrong train and had to alight at the next station, a nice idyllic town just outside of Taipei where the station staff didn't speak English. Managed to communicate enough to get back on track, which made the experience less scary, though I'd chalk most of that up to the platform uncle being very sweet and super invested in getting us on the right train.

But I suppose if I had money I’d stay in a fancy hotel that accommodates English speakers and take private taxis and not worry about getting lost 😂 That said, my travel list right now is Thailand and Vietnam (separately) and I'm not fussed about language barriers.