I am about to rent a place in Taipei. Pictures look good but one reviewer on AirBnB bitterly complained that “a water outage” had occurred over several days as part of an official government measure (with the landlord being unable or unwilling to do anything about it).
Is this something that happens frequently in Taiwan - separating entire neighborhoods from the public water supply? Does it also happen to the electricity grid? And if yes, how often?
That was several years ago, not recently. And actually most places, even older buildings, have water tanks for this very reason: storage for emergencies.
Usually there are public notices about that and the landlords should at least know about it. There is usually public water delivery services scheduled in that case, big water tank trucks and people with big pails behind them. Yes, it was a bad drought.
However, this year so far the reports on water availability have been very positive. We even had typhoons last year, which were absent for a couple of years before.
In all the 20 years I have been in Taiwan, there have been 2 instances where I can recall electricity failed. And one of those was due to the idjits doing digging for the expansion of the metro station cutting off our neighborhood electric supply. Not only did they, the city council and the metro officials had to face the wrath of hundreds of neighbors -pity them against market amahs- but pay for damages. We were without power a day or two.
We also had power coming in and out after the 1999 earthquake. And some areas may lose power under a typhoon but the heroic power company employees usually brave the winds and have the lines up as fast as humanly possible.
I’m summary, it takes an Act of God or a most unfortunate squirrel to take out our power but it is not frequent nor lasts long.
Thx, I just needed to know its not systematic, like in most countries of Africa and central America.
Nope. Nor Puerto Rico.
This is Taiwan, a developed country where things work. Take it from someone from Central America.
The only not quite developed area here is traffic. There are plenty of markers and traffic signs and cameras and a lot of tech and regulations and infrastructure that we do not have in Central America. However, the human element is baffling. Bus drivers, blue trucks and occasionally taxi drivers, not to mention the suicidal scooter drivers, will be your bane. Their driving is at par and sometimes better/ worse than those of the Third world. The most dangerous place to cross the road is the zebra crossing.
So is it advisable to try and drive yourself? I many (most?) Arab & African countries your are better off hailing an Uber all day long, than trying to steer your own ride.
Ps: If they even have Uber.
Yes taiwan has uber.
Can always try to catch rainwater in an open barrel
Also many water in a creek or river nearby
I always get drinking water in the gym water fountain it has a filter. I get the biggest jug then fill it.
no
Ps: If they even have Uber .
yes Taiwan has both Uber and UberEats
Black girls white girls even Puerto Ricans
But the Mexicans and Cubans are all so freakin’
The 2 Live Crew - Mama Juanita lyrics | Musixmatch
Taiwan is first world 
Water shortages can happen, but not often. People in general are quite wasteful and have a lot of electricity and water at their disposal. It’s far better here than in USA or Canada.
No issues in driving yourself. Compared to many countries in the world (especially in Asia), traffic in Taiwan is rather calm and orderly. If you compare it to other developed countries, though, it definitely ranks more on the chaotic side. I´d say quite similar to southern Europe (Italy or Portugal). But quite many traffic fatalities…
The issue about driving a car in Taiwan is more a) cost (paying the yearly tax on a car already pays for quite some taxi rides…) b) parking (often full on weekends - and not always that affordable, especially compared to taxi prices) and c) traffic jams (highways are frequently jammed).
So often people recommend sticking to taxis/Ubers and/or public transport or getting a motorcycle. Although personally, I do feel much safer in a car than on a motorcycle. But it´s definitely less convenient for driving in the city.
If you are living in Taipei/New Taipei, public transportation is fast, affordable, reliable, and safe. Think Japan without humongous complex stations. Private car is optional because of the hassle of finding a parking spot. As said, public transportation and services like Uber are more convenient, faster and make economic sense.
From Taoyuan down Southward a car is a must. Also to get to the beach, the best mountain retreats, etc.
ps. We have Uber Eats, Food Panda and one of the highest concentration in the world in convenience stores - where by the way, they can hook you up with a pretty decent hot meal, a drink both alcoholic and non alcoholic, photocopies, parcel delivery and even call you a taxi.
If you want to, let us know about the area chosen for your Airbnb and/or share photos of the place and we’ll let you know if there’s anything iffy.
Taiwan life’s motto is convenience. If it is not convenient, it is not worth it.
Most cities still have “not quite developed” sewage systems, too. Not a dealbreaker though, and you get used to it right away. Just avoid the grates on sidewalks and street corners, especially during warm months.
Fortunately this being a developed place, sewer cover theft is not rampant.
And walking outside in the summer is not advisable and should be avoided if possible. Early morning runs or bike rides are OK, midday activity is British.
I’m not quite familiar with the slang you youngsters use these days. Could you explain what that means?
Sure. I have been doing so since I moved to Taiwan in 1988.
I walk outside everyday during summer.
You are in higher mountains without pollution. Strangers might not know your location or living situation Most people are in 90% humidity, mid 30s and pollution that makes the building in front of you look faded from the haze. It’s a hard walk to take at lunch…
It’s good to be clear about the differences, honesty and without bias.
I walk outside everyday in summer too. But I can’t only say that and that as without context it’s disingenuous. In the low lands, in the pollution etc i walk a lot in the polluted heat. Heat stroke guaranteed at least twice annually, heat exhaustion is a weekly ordeal. And skin infections due to heat/humidity are a nearly 365 days a year issue. But I do it for work, not because it’s fun to take a walk in this bullshit. Most people walking for fun do it early morning or after sunset simply due to obvious weather and air realities. Hose of us that do it daily for work tend to end up with rather severe health conditions. Cancers, dehydration related kidney diseases etc.
New comers cna think of Taiwan as Malaysia in summer, but we are more polluted. Almost all the workers I work with from Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia etc all agree it feels hotter here than there. Concrete jungles and pollution greenhouse effects are a real thing. Even in Taiwan, drive down a road that passes both forests, farms and towns. Especially on a scooter, you feel the air change drastically. Extrapolate that to your life here and it all makes more sense.
Not always. Sometimes I am in cities and still walking around during the summer time.
I should have also mentioned brain damage from heat 
Kidding. Kind of.