What is Taiwan to you now? I’ve been here more than 25 years and I think important parts of Taiwan have changed drastically what makes Taiwan special?
I remember chicken buses? All night buses in case you stayed in the city too long you would always have a bus to get home.
Little pinball machines in every small shop that paid out some money if you want.
Old fashioned candy shops in every village.
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The delicious cuisine. 
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Nice sarcasm.
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Funny, none of these things make me think of Taiwan.
I would have said night markets and nice people.
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He’s talking more about small town Taiwan. It’s kinda there still, just about.
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I first landed close to 20years ago and return annually for visits. Every year it is a little bit different than the year before but I find most differences to be fairly subtle.
Most notable differences for me is the youth and the way they go about life. I see far more young people who appear to be overweight than I remember - McDonalds and 7-Eleven seem to have replaced many of the little mom and pop shops? More people speak English relatively well. My generation were always going out for coffee to hang out/chat with friends after school and work. The kids still do I suppose, but seem to spend most of their time texting each other rather than chatting. I always found coffee shops to be quite lively back in the day, they seem to be inching towards a library type atmosphere now in my experience.
The food is still good though. Just need to know where to look.
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I don’t miss the Taiwan of 30 years ago to be honest. To me this place has become significantly better, for me personally at least.
Part of what makes Taiwan Taiwan is the rapid changes, so seen from that angle Taiwan is still Taiwan and will always be, as long as it keeps changing rapidly.
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Only on this site. That would be a statement elsewhere.
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My memory of Taiwan 30 years ago is that everywhere was cramped and crowded, and flooded when it rained, and the sewer made stinky tofu smell like potpourri. Downtown Taipei’s scooter traffic was horrific, way worse than any so called “scooter waterfall” today, and the fact that they just started MRT construction made everything even worse. Half of all major roads were blocked, and the intersections were covered with steel plates overlapping one another. When it rained the steel plates became a one way slip 'n slide to the emergency room. People were fighting over the cabs outside the train station, and the cab drivers drove with a death wish.
The positive thing I remember about that era is how outspoken the oppositions were, and the small but passionate gathering of supporters, despite still clear threat of political persecution.
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Unlike other forums, where it’s more like, “OMG, night market food is amazeballs!!!” 
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