My Bike Adventure Gone Wrong in Taiwan

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Here’s what happened:

My friend Sarah and I decided to explore Sun Moon Lake on e-bikes, soaking in the beauty on our final day before returning to Taipei. Everything was picture-perfect until a minor mishap on a downhill stretch led to a not-so-minor accident. 

My basket flew open, and in my attempt to shut it, I lost balance and crashed in what seemed like slow motion.

I was scraped up and bleeding. I knew immediately that stitches were in my immediate future – it was the first thing I said to Sarah when she ran over to help me up.

We needed to make a quick decision—I couldn’t possibly bike all the way back to our hotel.

So, after a few minutes of letting the shock wear off, we doubled back to the nearby visitor’s center for help, where I was helped by incredibly compassionate volunteers who sprang into action.

⛑️ My number one safety tip for travelers, no matter where you’re going or how long your trip is, is to buy SafetyWing insurance to protect your trip.

The real stroke of luck was when a Taiwanese couple – a doctor and a nurse! – overheard our struggle to communicate.

They not only helped translate but provided professional-level first aid, insisting on calling an ambulance—which, to my surprise, was free!

Fast forward to an ambulance ride, immediate hospital care, a tetanus shot, and five stitches later, all for just $200. It cost only $21 to get my stitches removed in Thailand. My medical care was so cheap that I didn’t even hit my $250 medical deductible!

Not going to lie, I was really bummed out from the frustration of the fall and the daunting task of daily wound care.

I was downright pissed at myself for the accident, honestly, a feeling that didn’t go away for over a week. I’m not sure if this is a normal reaction to an accident or if it’s my perfectionism doing its thing. But the kindness of strangers and the competent care I received kept me going. 

A big shoutout to my friend Sarah for staying calm, ensuring everything that needed to happen did, and not letting the accident ruin her good mood. This was one time that I was very grateful not to be solo!