Travel Gem #3: Shrink your World at Taiwan’s Miniature Museum
I visited this next travel gem with my ICLP language exchange partner, a wonderful lady I called Jian Lao Shi. You see, in order to maximize each student’s access to personalized learning and language practice, ICLP assigns each student with a Taiwan native to have conversations and explore with. So after my music-loving language partner introduced me to the gorgeous concert and theatre halls across from the Chiang-Kai Shek memorial, I decided to return the favor by sharing an interest of my own and taking her to an art museum.
Though virtually unknown to tourists and petite in craftsmanship, the Miniatures Museum of Taiwan (袖珍博物館) is actually the largest exhibition of miniature artwork in all of Southeast Asia. Prepare for your mind to be blown at how lifelike and intricate these living room replicas and street models can get, such that one could assume from a photo that the creation exists in real life proportions! The themes of projects range from the strictly historical to the wildest of fantasy; one miniature treehouse featured humans hang gliding off of pterodactyls and riding brachiosauruses like camels! And if the beautiful collection inspires you to “think small”, there’s also a gift shop full of miniature decorations and dollhouse furniture. It may be the quirkier of traveling activities, but hey, sometimes it’s the little things that make a journey memorable. ;)
