Not all of us make a lot of money, in fact I would say many Taiwanese do not make more than 30k a month (with most starting at 22k a month). Not much we can do about the depressing wage situation in Taiwan but I’d say we can talk about stuff we can do around Taipei that doesn’t involve spending 300-500nt each time.
Here is what I’ve found so far:
There’s an area on Yangmingshan, nice view, right at the end of the small 15 bus (the bus is small and frequently crowded, and does not run too often). Large open space, cattles roaming around, etc… A nice place to go to get away from the crazy life in the city but try to pick a non holiday/weekend day to go, because a lot of Taiwanese are also thinking the same thing… Be prepared because the temperature there is about 5 to 10 degrees colder than down here, so if it feels nice and cool with shorts and T shirt, you need a coat up there.
Huashan culture park is a collection of various old factories that have now been turned into some kind of a tourist attraction. Sometimes they’ll have free exhibits there.
The Rock Coffee bar at Yingjhuan Rd. in Danshui (near the MRT station), good place to meet people but they’re connected with a missionary organization so just be prepared for the usual preaching. They do give out free drinks though.
Mods: If such a thread already exist feel free to merge it…
Wandering around the Zhongshan Underground Mall, or the other underground mall at Main Station (forget what it’s called) is always amusing – there’s always something interesting going on.
For example, one day I randomly came across a shop in the middle of a bunch of other closed shops consisting of one small woman sitting amongst about 30 harps. It was a little surreal.
there’s endless stuff to do.
Just use a little imagination.
There’s various threads on stuff like urban exploration etc.
But I could do with a few new ideas myself.
…
You could start learning Chinese.
Chinese books are cheap, and they could keep you busy for about 10 years.
A lot of parks have got those rock climbing walls. I dont know what gear you need,
but late at night there’s no one around to stop you from fooling around on them.
Visit Bitan, wander around, cross the bridge, hike up Hemeishan, explore the trails along the river, come back, grab a roti at Athula’s, relax and people-watch.
City Cafe at 7-11 is pretty cool.
For about NT$30 you can get a coffee as good as Starbucks, use free Wi-fi
and hang out with all manner of folks.
A while back I met a Taiwanese guy who’d given NT$150,000 to a Russian in Hawaii who claims to be
the second coming of Jesus Christ.
As he said, maybe the guy is a fraud, but what if he really is Jesus?
As for me, I’ll stick with giving NT$30 to 7-11 for the coffee.
[quote=“anotherlaowai”]A while back I met a Taiwanese guy who’d given NT$150,000 to a Russian in Hawaii who claims to be
the second coming of Jesus Christ.
As he said, maybe the guy is a fraud, but what if he really is Jesus?[/quote]
Can you introduce me to him? Because I need some cash… I mean I’m the real Second Coming of Jesus!
In addition to Huashan, there is another cultural park called Songshan Cultural Park near SYS Memorial Hall. Similar concept, but not as many shops and restaurants. There’s a large space to walk around and usually there are a few free exhibits.
In a similar vein, there is a Taipei Artist Village at Treasure Hill near Gongguan MRT station. Might also want to check out the Taipei Arts University near Guandu MRT station, I think they have an arts festival this week and next.
Keep your eye out around the department stores in Xinyi District. There was a free photography exhibition at Mistukoshi a few weeks ago (might have ended now) and Eslite has random guest lectures from time to time. Both Eslite and Page One (at Taipei 101) have a fair selection of English books that you can read.
Bike rentals through the U-bike program (mostly in Xinyi area but expanding) are free for the first 30 minutes and pretty cheap thereafter. The city-sponsored bike rental shops along the riverside parks (e.g. near Taipei Zoo MRT, Gongguan MRT, Xindian MRT) are fairly cheap. You can get an English “Taipei City Cycling Map” from these shops (and probably the visitor center).
There are several second-run movie theaters, I know of one near Tonghua Night Market and I think there is another near Minquan West Rd MRT. You can watch movies all day for a low flat price. Alternately, there is a Citibank (?) credit card that gives 2-for-1 discounts on Vieshow movie tickets from Monday to Thursday. Of course Vieshow is still pretty expensive to begin with.
I know Bitan has been mentioned but i was hanging out there this afternoon watching 5 serpent eagles fishing in the river. Later they had a short aerial battle with a couple white herons. All a 3 minute walk from the MRT station.
Mid-week many teahouses in Maoking let you bring your own leaves and just pay for the water fee (around NT150).
Beitou public hot springs are only around NT30-40.
Volunteer at the Sanctuary in Sanzhi (near Baishawan Beach). take dogs for walks, wash them, feed them, hang out with great people in a really lovely 2 acre plot of land above the ocean.
[quote=“Mucha Man”]
Mid-week many teahouses in Maoking let you bring your own leaves and just pay for the water fee (around NT150).
Beitou public hot springs are only around NT30-40.
Volunteer at the Sanctuary in Sanzhi (near Baishawan Beach). take dogs for walks, wash them, feed them, hang out with great people in a really lovely 2 acre plot of land above the ocean.[/quote]
[quote=“anotherlaowai”][quote=“Muzha Man”]
Mid-week many teahouses in Maoking let you bring your own leaves and just pay for the water fee (around NT150).
Beitou public hot springs are only around NT30-40.
Volunteer at the Sanctuary in Sanzhi (near Baishawan Beach). take dogs for walks, wash them, feed them, hang out with great people in a really lovely 2 acre plot of land above the ocean.[/quote]
This sounds like stuff out of Lonely Planet.[/quote]
1)Biking at the riverside park, it is COMPLETELY free and with nice view overlooking yonghe
2)strolling around 青田街,永康街, there are lots of pretty buildings, antique shops and workshops. Visit殷海光故居,it is a well-preserved japanese style old house free admission. There are also lots of shops literally look like a museum. Vist 秋惠文庫 next to 鼎泰豐,it is a cafe with a MASSIVE collection of Taiwanese antiques.
3)NTU campus. NTU has a great campus with lots of trees and lawns. But there are also many museums in side the campus. I personally recommend anthropology museum. It has a great collection of austronesian artifacts. Picnic in the NTU farm is great too.
[quote=“Chris”][quote=“anotherlaowai”]A while back I met a Taiwanese guy who’d given NT$150,000 to a Russian in Hawaii who claims to be
the second coming of Jesus Christ.
As he said, maybe the guy is a fraud, but what if he really is Jesus?[/quote]
Can you introduce me to him? Because I need some cash… I mean I’m the real Second Coming of Jesus! [/quote]
Yeah, and at least you aren’t Russian, FFS! :roflmao:
Everyone knows Jesus is American.
Oh yeah, cheap stuff to do…does that little road still run along the Western edge of SongShan Airport?
Used to be able to grab a couple beers and park the bike out there at night and watch the jets making their final approach right over your head, Wayne & Garth style.
Chicks dig it.
I used to hang out a lot at the Templehof airport when I was in Berlin… nice little place, can run up a runway acting as though you’re taking off… sometimes I wish they’d do that with songsan airport but if they did that, the area will get eaten up by developers and will become crowded within 5 years.
