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Taipei Travel Blogs

Background: In 1895, military defeat forced China to cede Taiwan to Japan. Taiwan reverted to Chinese control after World War II. Following the Communist victory on the mainland in 1949, 2 million Nationalists fled to Taiwan and established a government using the 1946 constitution drawn up for all of China. Over the next five decades, the ruling authorities gradually democratized and incorporated the native population within the governing structure. In 2000, Taiwan underwent its first peaceful transfer of power from the Nationalist to the Democratic Progressive Party. Throughout this period, the island prospered and became one of East Asia's economic "Tigers." The dominant political issues continue to be the relationship between Taiwan and China - specifically the question of eventual unification - as well as domestic political and economic reform.

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By Forts
November 22nd 2009

New Place (photos) Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Do we or don't we? Despite the initial good feelings about Wei-Wei's place we are far more cautious about signing a contract than we were with Martin's which came about through a combination of us running out of time and good old fashioned laziness. There are things we need to check like water pressure, bus times and journey lengths, and we are going to try and haggle a bit. All in all we end up visiting three times before finally signing on the dotted line. Wei-Wei refuses to budge on the rent but does agree to us only putting down [View Full Entry]

By life in hong kong
November 2nd 2009

Trip to Taipei Taiwan Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

at the horse races

Well it has been two weeks since I have written, there was no time. Last week was preparation for the trip to Taipei Taiwan; I went out one night to the horse races which were fun to see. The place was filled with foreigners and then the serious Chinese who were playing the big bucks on the horses. Our flight to Taiwan left Saturday night, there were five of us on the flight which was nice. We arrived and were driven straight to the hotel. We put our bags in our room and then went to the hotel bar for some [View Full Entry]

By Forts
November 1st 2009

Apartment hunting (again) Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Since we took the decision to move, the apartment has really become a place neither of us enjoy spending a lot of time in. I email Martin and tell him we're not going to stay. He phones up in a panic and starts offering discounts but it's too late for that. Since we moved in, the entire street has turned into one noisy construction site, rudely interrupting our lives for 13 hours each and every day. They are extending the MRT westwards, under the river, to Sanchong. Added to that is the refurbishment taking place next door and if that wasn't [View Full Entry]

By Forts
October 18th 2009

Yehliu Geological Park (photos) Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

2 month update It's been two months since I arrived in Taiwan and I have to say I'm satisfied with the way things are going. I've got a good job lined up even if I haven't started it yet and we've found a new, much cheaper apartment that we're going to move to in the middle of next month. More on this another time. My visa issues appear to be resolved and I'm just waiting now to pick up my ARC. Frustrating though it is being skint, I really shouldn't complain. This Sunday we're at a bit of a loss. We're [View Full Entry]

By laikl
October 9th 2009

An Insignificant Double-Ten Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Photo 2
Eslite, Taipei

　　退房後寄存了行李，前往忠孝復興SOGO，途中亂打亂撞走進一家漢堡包店。我們說要「走醬走酸瓜」，店員聽得目瞪口呆。　　SOGO只賣我們不會買的東西，所以還是早點 [View Full Entry]

By laikl
October 8th 2009

Eating in Taipei Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Photo 2
Yuanshan Station, Taipei

　　早上在某連鎖式cafe吃了一客扮高檔但其實是用微波爐叮熟的早餐。訂酒店送維格糕點券，所以到了圓山站本店一趟，再到台北市立美術館，不過戲碼不吸引，所以享受$ [View Full Entry]

By Forts
October 7th 2009

Xindian, no-show typhoons and we may be moving again. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Xindian

Not that it makes much difference to me be as I have yet to start work but it's the weekend again and we decide to head down to Xindian. Xindian is the southernmost point on the green MRT line. Even further south than Gongguan and its wonderfully crap Musum of Drinking Water. (By the way my crap museum entry has become by far my most popular blog in little over a week.) It is famous for the bitan which is a section of the Xindian river that's been dammed and turned into a recreation area. It's possible to rent pedalos there [View Full Entry]

By laikl
October 7th 2009

Walking in Taipei Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

balcony in black and white
Taipei

　　聽說酒店附近有一家水果批發店，但找不著。　　今天路過總統府，又走進了三越百貨，晚上再到西門町，整天沒有使用過交通工具。　　第二晚轉回普通房，沒有 [View Full Entry]

By laikl
October 6th 2009

Taipei-One Night Earlier Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Kenting to Zuoying

　　民宿的職員（大概是一家人連同外傭）其實很好人，我說不方便匯款，他們便不用我付訂金；到達後又問我是否要提前離開墾丁，結果我還是要放棄最後一晚（本來這 [View Full Entry]

By Forts
October 1st 2009

Substitute teaching and old man fairy drag queen. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Embarassment in drag.

Substitute Teaching Sorry about the screwed up grammar in this one. It keeps removing my apostrophes for some reason. Studies have shown that after four months of unemployment the average male is pretty much ready for the scrapheap. At the four month mark self esteem and energy levels are so low that in many cases the professional stagnation is irreversible. The last day I did a stroke of work (discount the two hours at Uncle Jasons) was on June 10th back in Korea. Now even though I've not technically been looking for work for four months I've been aware of the [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Asia » Taiwan » Taipei