What are you doing for Chinese New Year?

lostintaipei20 · January 4, 2020, 7:20am

No car
So I’m looking at public transportation. Also a nightmare during CNY.

Wookie · January 4, 2020, 7:27am

Do you have any Taiwan bank credit cards? You can get cheap chauffeurs through many of them, and they don’t charge much more for night trips.

lostintaipei20 · January 4, 2020, 8:49am

Thanks for the tip! I’ll look into that.

BiggusDickus · January 4, 2020, 10:09am

I don’t get all this negativity from foreigners about CNY. I’m really looking forward to it this year. I’m thinking alternating Costco steaks with lamb cutlets. Maybe a nice bottle of red. Cheese. Cigars.

What’s not to like?

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:11am

Sounds like you’re not being forced to spend it with the in-laws. Congratulations!

crusher · January 4, 2020, 10:13am

Pretend you are abroad
I love the inlaws home cooking it’s fantastic everytime but during the Lunar New Year then they try to go exotic and order all these nasty tasting delicacies. My mother in law is pretty cool though and cooks me egg fried rice while they all eat these weird sea food delicacies.

BiggusDickus · January 4, 2020, 10:16am

I think I’ve figured out how I’ve landed a Get out of Jail free card. Like a lot of older couples in Taiwan the in-laws can’t stand each other. Separate bedrooms, constant sniping etc. I’m pretty sure a family discussion is taking place and they don’t want my big nose around while that happens.

Back of the net for me, of course.

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:19am

Lucky bastard…

BiggusDickus · January 4, 2020, 10:20am

I’m toying with the idea of going skiing in Japan.

Sorry, this sounds like gloating - which of course it is.

Hanna · January 4, 2020, 10:20am

I’m actually not sure what to do for CNY this year. Normally I always got together with the family, but since my grandma died over the summer we’re still in the yearlong mourning period and can’t do CNY.

Sorry to be a downer. Anyone have any suggestions?

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:21am

Break a leg!

tempogain · January 4, 2020, 10:24am

You probably should make a few phone calls and insist on offering your services as an intermediary. “I really feel like I should be there, I know I can be of help” etc. If you play your cards right you could be blackballed from all future gatherings.

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:25am

Way too risky. What if they agree?

tempogain · January 4, 2020, 10:27am

Never happen!

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:28am

That’s a risk I wouldn’t be willing to take.

tempogain · January 4, 2020, 10:29am

Fortune favors the bold. Besides you could sense the winds and backtrack if necessary.

crusher · January 4, 2020, 10:31am

oh really old chap North of France for me ! Away from the peasants. Just kidding I’ll be in Ilan I guess.

BiggusDickus · January 4, 2020, 10:33am

Unless you leave the country, everything decent in Taiwan will be booked up. Having said that, I recall Taipei being quite quiet during CNY (before I got married), so maybe some foreign Taipei restaurants might be an idea. I went to Tuga (a Portuguese restaurant) recently and it was very good. It’s opposite On Tap.

Dr_Milker · January 4, 2020, 10:35am

That used to be the case, but no longer, unfortunately.

BiggusDickus · January 4, 2020, 10:38am

I visited Ilan for the first time recently, if you can believe that. We went to the place where the bridge collapsed. It was very nice, although the buildings were ugly as.

My concern during CNY would be getting through that snow mountain tunnel. I would guesstimate 7 hours to Taipei.