CATCH
Peter
Today’s theme is “travel”.
We’re already two months into 2026—are you feeling the fatigue starting to pile up?
OPENING
Jesse
Hi there. Thanks for pinging in today.
This is ShortWave – 16th Ping.
I’m Jesse, your virtual host on this frequency.
Peter
And I’m Peter. A kind of virtual host, I suppose.
…Which means I’ve repeated that line at least sixteen times by now…
Jesse
That’s the sort of thing someone trapped in an endless loop would say…
What’s gotten into you, all of a sudden?
Peter
2026 has only just begun, and yet—I’m already worn out.
I feel like I want to go on a trip and forget everything for a while.
Jesse
What on earth happened to push you that far…?
I’m genuinely worried…
BEER AND SAUSAGE
Jesse
Still—travel is lovely. I think it’s perfect for a reset.
Is there anywhere you’ve been wanting to go?
Peter
Germany… I want to drink beer in Germany.
And of course, sausages are non-negotiable.
From Munich to Bamberg; Cologne to Nuremberg… if I could roam all across Germany, savouring beer and sausages to my heart’s content, that would be bliss.
Jesse
If it’s just beer and sausages, couldn’t you do that without going all the way to Germany?
Peter
Jesse, no—that isn’t the point.
For one thing, Germany has a venerable law that lays down how beer is brewed; the seriousness is on an entirely different level.
Water, malt, hops, yeast—only those four materials may compose beer, that celebratory drink.
And then—astonishingly—the variety is endless.
Change not merely the region but a single town, and you’ll meet a beer with a different taste, a different pride.
Sausages, too, come in countless kinds—and frankly, whichever you choose, it’s delicious.
That’s not something you can replicate at some random restaurant.
Jesse
Hearing you say it like that makes me want to book a flight to Germany right this minute…
LANTERN LOVER
Peter
How about you, Jesse? Anywhere you’d like to go?
Jesse
Mm… let’s see…
There are so many, but this time of year… I think I’d choose Taiwan’s lantern festival.
Watching countless brilliant lights float up into the night—taking it in with your eyes and your heart… isn’t that a kind of luxury?
Peter
Ah—yes. That sounds wonderful.
It seems in 2026 it’s scheduled for March 3rd through the 15th, held in Chiayi County.
If we fly into Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and then connect via the MRT and the high-speed rail, it looks quite manageable—good access, too.
Jesse
And Taiwan has so much delicious food—that kind of joy is part of the trip as well.
You can even enjoy cherry blossoms, and there’s so much cultural richness in general.
WHAT TYPE
Jesse
Even when we say “travel,” there are so many ways to enjoy it, aren’t there?
Do you plan everything carefully and squeeze the most out of it—
or do you choose only the core pieces, and let freedom and coincidence lead the way?
Or maybe it’s the food you’re after, or the culture… or even the journey itself.
Peter
True—there are all sorts of types.
And depending on the combination, some people simply don’t travel well together… which is why it’s something to watch for, especially when you’re going as a group.
By the way, what kind are you, Jesse?
Jesse
If I had to choose, I’m the type who wants to plan things in advance—and follow the plan.
Because negotiating on the spot, dealing with trouble… it takes so much energy, doesn’t it?
So I like to prepare properly at the start, so I can simply enjoy the trip once I’m there.
And I’m also the type who really wants to savour the food culture. Not that it’s everything—but it matters to me.
What about you, Peter?
Peter
Me?
…Well. I’m the type who gets sick of it while I’m still planning, and in the end… I just don’t go.