:help: Here’s the situation:
A group of colleagues from abroad -US, Europe and Latin America- will come to Taiwan for training. Our boss has asked me to help with the task of buying a little souvenir for them, something that as soon as you see it, it will be obvious that it is from Taiwan. The boss does not want any ceramic stuff -breaks easily-, or paintings -damage easily-, and is not that keen on wood -too heavy, he says. Any suggestions? Most appreciative for your cooperation.
I’ve been given some nice bookmarks–metal in the shape of Taiwan.
Buttercup has got a cool key ring thing made out of thick leather in the shape of Taiwan.
how about one of those hairy old betelnut remains you see on the floor? they are cheap and you can find them everywhere
A student gave me that. Dunno where it was bought.
Also got a grim looking Tshirt with neon people dancing and the word ‘aboriginal’ on it.
How about one of those 3D glass blocks with Taipei 101 engraved in it? They usually come in a small box and are thus protected. Example
Should be able to find them at some souvernir shops. Or head to the Handicraft Mart and look around on the Ground floor or in the Basement, they have lot’s of small souvernirs that are identifiable as being from Taiwan.
hi
Where do you live? You can go to Damshui, they have a lot of shops with souvenirs.
Go to the 101 souvenir shop, they have lots of suitable tat.
Action Figurine Betel nut girls
The Taipei 101 shop (up on the viewing floor) has some huge pencils and fat rulers with pics of Taiwan on. Or are they pics of Taipei 101? Anyways, not too pricey:) I give my friends back home receipt slips from 7-11 here…they think its the coolest stuff on earth:)
As Mucha Man always says, The Chinese Handicraft market is a great place to get souvenirs
Another great present one of our coworkers gave ratlung is a chop (one of those stamp things).
And yet another great present we got recently is a chinese dragon puppet
hope this helps!
The Handicraft Mart has the largest, most convenient selection. The gift shops at the National Palace Museum and other museums (e.g., History; Zhu Ming (sculptor)) etc. are also good bets.
Zhu1ming2 = 朱銘
Juming Museum: 208 No.2 She-shi-hu Chin-shan Taipei: 2-2498-9940
http://www.juming.org.tw/talk/index000x.asp
Thank you so much for all your suggestions. Unfortunately, my boss has already been to the Handicraft market, and he didn’t like the stuff there. We have a rather flexible budget, several hundred NTs per person for this memento, so I guess he wants something nice, not too cheap but not too expensive.
Actually, we showed him the Taiwan shaped key chains - both in metal and in color-changing material. I thought they were really cool, but he didn’t like them.
I like the idea of the glass figures, and the puppets. A mini Yunming statue would be nice, too.
Sincerely, when asked about this issue, my thoughts were also on the blue-slippers, dried cherry tea and cho to fu department! Just kidding. 
Thank you again for your ideas. I have more ideas now.
Disposable lighters with sleazy half naked girls on them.
A stick of RAM with a ‘Made it Taiwan’ sticker on it.
In addition to some smaller gift you could also give a packet of Chinese tea, if your budget allows (with several hundred NT it shouldn’t be a problem I reckon).
TainanCowboy’s suggestion FTW. Nothing says ‘Taiwan’ quite like that.
Ling Life Cigarettes and/or a bottle of Kaoliang.
