They seem like ghost towns, when compared to the hub bub of the big island, but Jinmen, Matsu, and all the Penghu’s are full of lovely towns.
Chou
Um, in all seriousness, you’re in the wrong country -as far as “distinctive towns” go. Need you really be told this?
What nonsense! Have you not read the thread? Have you not traveled at all in Taiwan? You mocked someone earlier today for being “blinkered,” but I’d say this post proves pretty conclusively that the one wearing the blinkers is you. Either that, or you’re just hopelessly bitter. You left the US because you hated it, according to your other posts. Now you’re here and – surprise surprise – you hate it here, too. This tells me a lot about how seriously I should take your railings.
[quote=“timogan”]I will, however, provide a list of cities/towns where a traveler could pass an enjoyable twenty-four hours. Granted, these are not places with nightlife that would rival Taipei or Tainan, but they do have more than a few pockets of interest.
Here goes:
Wulai, Taipei County
Shuanghsi, Taipei County
Upper Baleng, Taoyuan County
Beipu, Miaoli County (?)
Huashan, Taichung County (hotels in Lishan)
Luku, Nantou County
Dongpu, Nantou County
Shuili, Nantou County
Shanmei, Jiayi County
Liukuei, Kaohsiung County
Lanyu Island (not one traffic light, if I remember correctly)
Kinmen (Jinmen) Island
Chengkung, Taidong County
Tayuling, Hualian County
Yuli, Hualian County
Guangfu, Hualian County
Suao, Yilan County
Anyone want to add to the list?[/quote] Personally recommend Shuili, Nantou. Which is next to JiJi(集集) and Checheng(車程), somewhere in between. You can either start your journey by a train (Ershui line二水線)/ bus or a bike from Jiji. There’s a “Green Tunnel” between Jiji and Shuili (which is actually encircled by trees, not a real tunnel), the nature view is gorgeous and the air can’t be fresher. Also you can find many local yammy snacks at the street vendors in Jiji downtown or Jiji train station. When you ride to Shuili, there’re less tourists so you can relax and watch the cute Shuili River(a lot of swallows and egrets hover on the sky). If you’re lucky enough you will see some grandmas doing laundry by the riverside and kids swimming in the clear water(you can also join them). After all you could take a bus to Sun Moon Lake日月潭- Lalu Hotel涵碧樓 thelalu.com.tw/en/menu_e.htm (or any smaller ones) to enjoy the evenings, and back to your busy work at the big cities next morning (or next next…).
Wonder why I know it so well? I am from the little town- Shuili 
What is that list supposed to mean? I mean, not really a listed of places to go to, right?..
Sandman,
Taiwan won’t pay you anything -in all seroiusness-as far as retirement $ goes. What are you going to do? Begin fishing for squid off of Ilan? Old Bastard, contact Sheena Easton and try and get some sort of background trumpet section for a few grand. Is that possible. Granted, she’s a bit past her prime now, and probably hasn’t sold a record in a decade or two, but you may be able to swindle something if you figure in some porn.
[quote=“Alazaskan12”]Sandman,
Taiwan won’t pay you anything -in all seroiusness-as far as retirement $ goes. What are you going to do? Begin fishing for squid off of Yilan? Old Bastard, contact Sheena Easton and try and get some sort of background trumpet section for a few grand. Is that possible. Granted, she’s a bit past her prime now, and probably hasn’t sold a record in a decade or two, but you may be able to swindle something if you figure in some porn.[/quote]
Since July 2005, Taiwan’s government has been collecting an extra 6% on top of normal salary for all residents (Taiwanese/foreigners) legally employed for their retirement benefits. This is by law. Certainly better than the 7% deduction from one’s salary in the U.S. for social security retirement benefits.
Now, whether the money that Taiwan’s goverment is collecting will be there in 30 years is an all-together different topic.
Back to the topic at hand:
Anyone ever been to the 紅葉 (Red Leaf) hotspring in Taitung County. Near the hill-town which is home to the first Little League champion from Taiwan (of the same name). Went there with the missus about 1.5years ago. Total of maybe 5 other people there. Lovely setting. Very clean.
[quote=“CTaitung”]
Back to the topic at hand:
Anyone ever been to the 紅葉 (Red Leaf) hotspring in Taidong County. Near the hill-town which is home to the first Little League champion from Taiwan (of the same name). Went there with the missus about 1.5years ago. Total of maybe 5 other people there. Lovely setting. Very clean.[/quote]
Yes, I have been there. Lovely campground right next to the springs. They springs are piped into a couple large tiled pools but whatever, it’s a great setting. Some lovely gorges to explore up there too. A few wild hot springs too but you need to befriend some locals to be taken to them.
[quote=“Alazaskan12”]Sandman,
Taiwan won’t pay you anything -in all seroiusness-as far as retirement $ goes. What are you going to do? Begin fishing for squid off of Yilan? Old Bastard, contact Sheena Easton and try and get some sort of background trumpet section for a few grand. Is that possible. Granted, she’s a bit past her prime now, and probably hasn’t sold a record in a decade or two, but you may be able to swindle something if you figure in some porn.[/quote]
Yes it will – a little, as mentioned by someone above. The rest will be taken care of as my various insurance policies mature, plus the income off various investments and mutual funds.
I don’t play the trumpet, and Sheena Easton will NOT employ me. I dated her a couple of times and we parted on not very good terms.
Squid fishing? I could think of a lot worse ways to spend my golden years.
I was in a place called Lung-yen-lin in Nantou County for the first time yesterday. It was a pleasant surprise. As far as I could tell, it is a majority Hakka population, but the two people I spoke with were Mandarin and Taiwanese speakers. I believe the whole valley at the end of Rt. 22 is called “Lung-Yen-Lin” but that is also the name of the main village. Nice walking/biking trails along the river (stream) there which lead up into the mountains. On the local road a few km past the end of Rt. 22 there is a hiking trail leading up to a beautiful waterfall. You need a car to get there, or brave the County bus system, but it is off the beaten track and worth a day trip from Taichung or Changhua.