Common or garden variety, for keeping one warm at night. It’s a present for a poor unfortunate Taiwanese friend who is soon to be experiencing a Scottish winter for the first time.
Have you tried pharmacies or medical supply stores?
Anyway, wouldn’t an electric blanket work better? They sell iexpensive small ones, about 18" square, too. They’re great for a sore back or neck, but tucked under the covers with you they work better than a hot water bottle, which is harder to use (requires filling), cools down, and has a risk of leakage.
[quote=“Dragonbones”]Have you tried pharmacies or medical supply stores?
Anyway, wouldn’t an electric blanket work better? They sell iexpensive small ones, about 18" square, too. They’re great for a sore back or neck, but tucked under the covers with you they work better than a hot water bottle, which is harder to use (requires filling), cools down, and has a risk of leakage.[/quote]
I asked in a couple of pharmacies, but no dice.
Problem with an electric blanket would be different voltage and different plug. Anyway, it’s more of a symbolic gift, really. I’m sure the house he’s off to will be well heated. So I really do want a hot-water bottle. 
And on the Chinese - I’ve been saying 熱水帶 - is that likely to reap dividends or should I be trying something else (I have mustered a couple of bemused looks so far)?
熱水袋… bag, not carry, but I know you knew that…
I’ve seen them years ago at one of those medical supply stores that you find near major hospitals…
failing that you could go with this fluffy specimen… store.pchome.com.tw/wonderful/M00375524.htm
[quote=“Dragonbones”]…a hot water bottle, which is harder to use (requires filling), cools down, and has a risk of leakage.[/quote]I used hot water bottles as a kid, with no problems. The only leakage problems I ever had were from somewhere else, and I grew out of that at age 3 or so!
Of course… 
All sounds the same anyway… 
Thanks for the link. Kawaii desu!
I’ve got three, all bought at a 199 store. Just look in the section where they have cosmetics, underwear and first aid stuff. If you really want one and have no luck I might be willing to part with one. They are in good condition, although not new.
There were some hot water bottles in the random household stuff section in city super, which is inside “The Mall”. I forget what its new name is. The two tall buildings straddling anhe and dunhwa. Hotel and mall in one.
But I saw them there about a year ago, and they were more like 500 i think.
or buy off yahoo auctions:
tw.f4.page.bid.yahoo.com/tw/auction/d22779986
[quote=“lupillus”]There were some hot water bottles in the random household stuff section in city super, which is inside “The Mall”. I forget what its new name is. The two tall buildings straddling anhe and Dunhua. Hotel and mall in one.
But I saw them there about a year ago, and they were more like 500 i think.[/quote]
Far Eastern Hotel, but I thought they do not sell them anymore. the rubber of the bottle starts to crack after a year, and maybe they only sell 3-4 in 12 months at 500 Nt - piece.
Found mine in a Pharmacy (the ones which are specialized towards old people customers…)
Thanks for the help, everyone. The link Plasmatron posted of the cute sheep one is actually funnier than what I originally had in mind, so I’m going with that.
I suggest a bottle of scotch instead.
Hey guys!
I want a hot water bottle for bed warming and targeted heating of the many damaged parts of my body; it’s good for both, which is why I don’t just get a electric blanket or a wheat pack. Where can I find such a thing in Taipei?
Any Watson’s or Cosmed or independent pharmacy.
We went to a bunch of independent pharmacies and they didn’t stock them. I’ll give Watsons a go tomorrow though.
Carrefour and the likes have them, also your friendly neighbourhood, ‘All things plastic’ store stock them too.
Is there such a thing?
Is there such a thing?[/quote]
Yes red apple is one such store, Hong Pingguo They have all the plasticky stuff, and then some detergents etc. Also a big store with a green store front, I forget the name. Plus every local market has those stores with stationery, plastic containers etc. kind of like the Daiso stores, only local and in some cases better quality.
Oh okay, I thought you meant there was really a shop called “All things plastic.”
That’s odd; I thought they all had them. Ask for a ri shui dai (热水袋). Sometimes they keep them behind the counter or whatever. I got one at Cosmed last week and another at an indy place a couple of months ago.