Taiwan aka: 大圓, Tâi-oân, T'ai-wan, 臺灣, 台灣, 台湾, Táiwān, Táiwan

Just about my entire extended family lives here. I recommend you ask the locals about restaurants. You will be able to find little places in alleyways that you would have never seen before. Get to know the people, they will help you have a better experience. Tapei 101 isn’t worth it. I wasted my time. Go to “Time Square.” Gaoshong (sp?) is pretty good, it’s been a while though. I’m usually in Taipei, the food there is great, the shopping, and most of all, visiting my family. I’m going back this summer, and my mom and I are going to travel outside of Taipei, to the countrysides and such.

very cool place ~ lots of things to do. there was a lot of things that shocked me (such as a night market) ~ had a lot of weird stuff… but overall really cool and took a ton of pictures :D

I’m from Singapore, and Singapore is known for our mixed culture and foods from different culture. But upon my visit to Taiwan in 2000, I have not forgotten all the food I had the chance to savour. I am still missing it as I am typing this entry.

My advice when you are visiting Taiwan, just try any food you see… you will not be disappointed.

I have many Taiwanese friends, whom I met at college. I would love to go visit them and enjoy all the sights and foods I have heard so much about. I find the Taiwanese to be a very enjoyable, relaxed, health-conscious, ambitious, and enthusiastic people. I would enjoy learning more from them and about them.

I spent one summer there with my extended family, and it was amazing. The weather is fantastic – tropical, but really hot and humid. Many days would get over 100 degrees. (Of course, over there they use celsius!). They also love Americans and will treat you kindly. Shopping is definitely a bazarre experience for anyone who is use to going into a store, picking up something, paying, and then leaving, with minimal social interaction. In Taiwan, you are usually met with a salesperson who will tell you “welcome” and “can I help you find anything?” and even follow you around to make sure you find something you want.

Sometimes it’s a little annoying.

But overall I’d recommend visting.

I only went to Taipei because it was raining the entire time I was there. The city was pretty nice, some good markets, great clothes, great food, interesting temples. I didn’t like the National Palace Museum much but i’m not really one for museums. Taipei 101 is worth a look in too.

The only time I’ve been to Taiwan was January 1985. I had a great time. I would not have made a special trip to go, but the ticket I bought in Hong Kong to get me back to Japan had an optional stop in Taipei, so I took advantage of it. It turned out to be a wonderful experience.

The weather was decent; not too hot, a little wet, but not oppressively so.

I will never forget the Taroko gorge; that was a highlight of the trip. It was very romantic – swirling fog and a traditional pagoda on a hillside. After hiking through the area, I found out that there was a hot springs down in the gorge. I took a trail that included a rope bridge like the kinds you see in movies like Raiders of the Lost Ark. I then did a skinny dip in the springs.

Since I had just come from the PRC, and relations between the two countries were pretty closed, I had lots of young people asking me questions about life in China. I appreciated their interest.

It was really easy for me to get around. The young people spoke the best English in East Asia; the old people spoke my next best language, Japanese. I went to a speciality tea shop which was run by an elderly gentleman, and I could tell he was most amused that this young American woman did the entire transaction with him in Japanese. But the train station ticket seller, I could tell, was rather disgruntled about having to use the language of the conquerers.

At that time, Taiwan was the most economically developed place I had visited in Asia, other than Japan. This made my life relatively luxurious, which I appreciated. There is something to be said for hot baths, clean sheets, and reliable transportation, as a traveler!

I lived in Taiwan for 2 yrs..This place is called Ye-liu..located in the north of TW, if anyone happened to go to Taiwan, I highly recommend you to visit there!! Another place not to miss is “Taroko” National Park, will post some photos later if i could find it.. :-)

I’m partially Taiwanese (but I know no Taiwanese, and I just started taking Mandarin Chinese at school), so when I was younger we’d visit my relatives a lot. It’s getting harder to now that I’m in high school, and especially with all the shit going on – my grandfather tries to make me get a (fake) Taiwanese passport every time I go, haha! – but being there is just amazing. The people, the culture, the food… amazing.

The thing about being partially Taiwanese is that everyone always asks me what I feel about the Taiwan/China conflict (or the current president – DICKSUCK), and that can go ON and ON and ON.

Anyway, the betel beauties or whatever they call them … they get a LOTTA shit, but you know, betel girls are people just like all of us; it might look sketchy to go up to talk to them but some of the most amazing convos I had were with betel girls. Not that they were very deep convos since I’m still learning Mandarin (and I’m even farther behind in Taiwanese, lol) but definitely fun!

nm to say huh

I’ve been living in a place called ChungLi for 4 months now. I would recommend that you come with little fear of bizarre food (though the morning omlette called dan bing is very good!!! )and driving in crazy traffic. Get yourself a scooter so you can bust around the country. It’s the only way to get around!
It’s a beautiful country once you get out of the cities.
Taroko Gorge is a must.