that is so cool. I really regret having spent so little time in taiwan in the last 24 years since i left. I only spent two weeks in 2009 (left in 99) and that was a revelation especially on first arrival as it seems like a new country and yet was still the old taiwan i knew. And another two weeks in 2012 which got me to kenting. Got off the plane straight to the HSR and to ktown for the night , rented a car and drove to kenting. Love that place. So awesome to go there again after so long.
now its been near 13 years since that trip. I would love to have the time and wherewithal to spend a month or two in taiwan and visit all my fav places plus discover a whole lottle new places to go.
Also would love to do Bangkok and maybe this time visit a place outside of Bangkok for once. Maybe phuket or something? And maybe would love to visit Vietnam (never been). There is a new island resort place with many direct flights from taipei i see. See if i can search for the name. Its supposed to be the second prettiest island after bali in asia (also never been to bali).
wife went to this place calle le pirate island that was incredible she said. nice place to stay and food all inclusive for about 30 usd a day? incredible. Plus you can take in that island along with a visit to komodo island and bali itself. IF i was based in taiwan i would be doing it.
Plus that island in vietnam etc. Lots of new air routes and airlines flying from taiwan to these exciting places now. so much better then when i was doing visa runs back in the day. Now theres so many new places its amazing.
but at times i feel like i am voyager 1 and am millions of miles away from taiwan and heading further away with every second.
When I was in Chiayi in 2000 there was only one bar scene: the Calgary. They had all you can drink draft for 1000NT on Saturday nights and the entirety of the small expat community gathered there.
Tainan is much livelier than Chiayi and only an hour or two away. It’s the 4th largest city but doesn’t feel like it. Definitely more of a big small town vibe. It would be by far the best choice if you don’t want to live in a big city like Taipei.
Tainan had its charms and for me i often visited it for business and fun and it always was special in its own way. The town had a nice “feel” to it. Hard to describe. It was relaxed the vibe. Once you checked in at the hotel and was out and about for the evening, it felt a lot more relaxed than TAipei. It was almost 'you are on vacation and time slows down vibe".
Taiwan has changed so much i am sure and i am sure its got a lot of nice things about it. I was in taiwan when it was what is today “old” taiwan. A different time a different place, a different Taiwan. Strange how certain memories still reside in your mind after decades? Well in Tainan i remember the little black dog at one of the shoe factories I used to visit, he was so cute. And his name was fittingly 'little blackie". I remember the restaurant we went to and they had this very pretty organ player and she was not only pretty but played so well and since i was seated behind her i still remember her pretty legs darting back and forth on the pedals… Weird the things you remember? I remember the newest hotel at that time that gave me a “permanent” discount card of 20pct because I was one of their first visitors. And the strange thing was i never got an actual card, but the card was my face basically. I showed up and got the 20pct . I remember in the 90s the cafe that was called strangely JUST BE FISH. Weird name, weird place punky people and it was one of the first internet cafes in town. But cool tho. Drawings of fish all over the walls, but they did NOT serve seafood. More like burgers and the such simple foods to eat while you internet away.
I also got another one of these “face cards” of ten pct discount at a high end record shop in taipei who refused to give me a ten pct off card because i didn’t purchase the required number of records in one trip, but since i bought so many on different trips the owner told his employees when they see me give me the discount. Love these “face cards” as you don’t forget to bring them with you. I also have one of these at a taipei cafe i went so often people thought i was the owner after years and years of going there. I think i was there more often than the actual owner
Used to go to Tainan by 737 from sungshan when the HSR was not around there were lots of domestic flights from sungshan to mainly ktown and tainan and hualien and taitung. And offshore Makung. There were planes that ONLY did domestic flights. If memory serves in the mid 70s when i started flying around taiwan . It was something like 700nt one way to Ktown, about 650nt to tainan, 450 to hualien, about 600 to makung. I may be off by a few bucks. And “oldtimers” then told me the prices was half that when they were flying… yeah probably in DC3?
Times they sure are changed. I predicted a long time ago that taiwan would have lots of direct flights to japan to cities other than the big ones, and now that has happened. There are so many flights where there used to not be. Its pretty amazing.
Great time to be alive in taiwan, i think? although the taiwan of olde is bygone but it was pretty awesome a place to be, at least for tommy.
Dam if I could give myself a like I would like my above post but I guess firreign peoples in Taiwan In the 70: still there be numbered.
Noting that I myself am
Not there even but am in spirit
I think Tainan would be an excellent choice too. Low cost of living and tons going on. The big university in the city and all the cultural institutions are also big plusses. The negatives are too far from the mountains and unpleasant dangerous traffic.
Hualien or Chiayi might be better for someone who is going for more immersion but as I wrote above, immersion has its downsides. Also, it should be mentioned that like Tainan, Hualien and Chiayi have awful public transportation. You pretty much have to ride a scooter, which is even more dangerous in these places than in the rest of Taiwan. Overall, the traffic is a bit better in Chiayi and Hualien because they are smaller. Lots of insane southern/eastern driving and some congested big roads though. You’ll need a scooter in these places too.
I should mention that a student can probably get away with riding a bicycle in all three cities if you are careful to find housing near where you study. Bicycling in Taiwanese cities is actually a lot safer than it looks because drivers are used to having slower vehicles to the right. Please follow traffic rules though for your own safety.
i will say tho where you learn mandarin will affect your accent . If you learned in beijing you are going to sound pekinese. In taiwan (no matter where really) you will pick up the taiwanese accent. One a mainlander can spot in three words from you. As they do me.