CHECK IN

Tour of Southeast Asia

FLY: Taipei is easily accessible from most major U.S. cities. Fly into Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, then onward to Taitung on a one-hour regional light from Taipeis Songshan Airport. STAY: The Dandy Hotel in Taipeis Daan District provides cool metropolitan comfort as well as across-thestreet access to Daan Park, the citys hub for outdoor activity. A loop of the parks soft-surface perimeter path nets you 2.2K and a prime peoplewatching vantage point. In Taitung, the new Fish Hotel (slated to open fall 2013) is your best bet for inish line proximity and luxury pampering, or stay at any number of B&Bs for a more authentic Asian experience. DINE: Din Tai Fung is now an international brand with restaurants in Australia and the U.S., but the lagship location on Taipeis foodiefocused Yongkang Street is a cant-miss. Stuff yourself silly with spicy soup, rice and noodle dishes, sauted greens and signature steamed dumplings by the basket-full. In Taitung, explore the citys winding streets for truly local snacksthink smoky roasted sweet potatoes, red bean paste stuffed buns and an array of fresh fruit and juices.
42 TRIATHLE TE OCTOBER 2013

HEAD TO TAIWAN OR VIETNAM FOR A UNIQUE RACE EXPERIENCE AND STAY FOR A MIX OF LUXURY, ADVENTURE AND CULTURAL IMMERSION. BY HOLLY BENNETT

TOUR GUIDE

GO: Monsoon season typically lasts from September through December in lush central Vietnam, with April tallying the lowest rainfall. TRAVEL TIP
Youll taxi anywhere you dont walk or ride in Taiwanan easy solution since cabs are cheap and plentiful. Be sure to ask your hotels receptionist to write your destination address in Mandarin characters, the best way to ensure that you and your driver (who might not speak English) are on the same page.

Taiwan
A DOSE OF CULTURE

EXPLORING NATURE

SATE YOUR CULTURAL CRAVING

A day in Taipei can easily include stops at several of the capital citys cultural gems. The National Palace Museum (Npm.gov.tw/en/ ) houses the worlds largest collection of Chinese art, with exhibits spanning from giant bronze bells to miniature jade sculptures to ancient calligraphy and ceramics. Longshan Temple, in the city center, is a bustling hub of worship welcoming numerous Eastern religions as well as the publicspend 10 cents on a pack of incense with which to leave your personal prayers within the temple walls. Or take things modern with a trip to the top of Taipei 101, the worlds second tallest building boasting breathtaking views.

GET ELEMENTAL IN TAITUNG

Although a small city, Taitung is all about the outdoors, nestled behind soaring mountains and ush with forests and undeveloped seashore. Its a perfect playground for visiting triathletes to swim in Flowing Lake (a crystal-clear manmade lagoon), ride the Challenge Taiwan coastal highway bike course, tour an abundance of bike paths and run the converted rail trail that loops for miles within the city limits.

STAY: Hospitality is priority No. 1 at Laguna Lang Co, whether you stay at the Angsana Lang Co hotel or splurge on a private villa at the Banyan Tree. Either way youll enjoy deep soaking tubs, daily fresh fruit deliveries, kimono robes and even private in inity edge poolsbefore ever leaving your room. Onsite at Angsana is a meandering pool that totals 800 meters; or enjoy a stunning beachfront swim or lounge session. DINE: Moomba is Angsanas main hot spot, with a beach-casual vibe, international tapas menu and cocktails galore. Post-race the patio turns into an allyou-can-eat barbecue and social meetup. The Banyan Trees signature restaurant, Saffron, sits atop a hillside with sweeping views of Lang Co Bay. Try the Orchid Set prix ixe meal for an abundant array of gourmet Thai cuisine at 900,000 VND per person (about $40) its one of the more expensive meals youll eat in Vietnam, but well worth the extravagance.

Vietnam
WALK ABOUT

GET A BUZZ

PULSE-REVVING GRIND
Request a Vietnamese coffee and youll get a full-blown caffeine x with potent avor. The coffee is altogether intense and served inch high in a clear glasslikely to emphasize the impossibility of seeing through it.
GIVE BACK

ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Spend a day in the port town of Hoi An, one of three Unesco World Heritage Sites within a short drive of Laguna Lang Co Resort, to nd take-home trinkets and custom tailoring, or simply to stroll the architecturally preserved old town streets. A 17th-century Japanese covered bridge sets a focal point along the Thu Bon River, with countless cafs and the towns Central Market spreading in either direction along the waters edge. Dont miss Reaching Out, a retail outlet exhibiting goods handmade by local disabled artisans and focused on fair-trade business practices (Reachingoutvietnam.com). Tourists are welcome to visit the artists at work in the studio next to the store, or enjoy a refreshment in the nearby Reaching Out Tea House. If hands-on is more your taste, try a cooking class with the chef at Morning Glory restaurant. A half-day lesson runs $27 and includes an

excursion to the local market and preparation of a traditional Vietnamese meal. An added highlight for healthconscious athletes: In 2012, Hoi An joined the countrys smoke-free city campaign.

PRO-WORTHY CHARITY
Vietnam is teeming with energetic school childrennearly half of whom suffer from water-borne illnesses. Pro triathlete Chris Lietos organization More Than Sport partnered with Laguna Lang Co on a clean-water project to benet local elementary schools along the race course. Its an ongoing mission and everyonewhether visiting athletes or fans from afaris invited to help.

RACE IT! The Challenge Family pulls out all the stops in terms of athlete-centered racing, and Challenge Taiwan, the irst Challenge series event in Asia, offering half and full longcourse options as well as a relay division, is no exception. Youll be equally wowed by the personal attention provided by race staff as by the natural beauty of this unique course that has heat, humidity and spectacular ocean views that rival Hawaii.

RACE IT! With a warm 1.1-mile ocean swim, a 38-mile jungle and rice ield-buffeted bike course, and a 7.4-mile run through the resorts golf course grounds, the Laguna Lang Co Triathlon is well-suited to build on the legendary status of its sister race, the Laguna Phuket Triathlon. The 2013 inaugural event drew the likes of Chris McCormack, Chris Lieto, Belinda Granger and inaugural champions Massimo Cigana and Radka Vodickova, all eager to sample the sights, sounds and sense of Vietnam adventure.
TRIATHLETE.COM 43

HOLLY BENETT