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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
September 27th 2009

Ximending and Longshan Temple Asia » Taiwan » Taipei » Ximending

Ximending

Ximending Ximending (isn't that a nice word to say, go on say it again)is one of the last areas of the city we have left to explore. It's traditionally been the place to go to watch a film as it has so many cinemas. From what I've read it was hit pretty hard by the opening of the more modern cinemas and shopping malls in the east of the city so the government pedestrianised the main shopping area which has completely revitalised it. It now has over twenty cinemas and is the shopping hub of Western Taipei. It's predominately a young [View Full Entry]

By Joe Hung Chou
September 26th 2009

BoPeirLia old street visit in Taipei city Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

DSC01626

Today with friend guide , we went to visit the old street where have been re builded recently for keeping heritage and recording the old life style in Taiwan. Old buildings with traditional style, you will experience where people used to be.. different atmosphere and nice. i am so gald that Taipei city government focus on this and make it nice. Will see many artists exhibitions, it is closed to MRT Longshan temple, only 5 minits after MRT stations, very convenient. good to visit .for tourist [View Full Entry]

By Forts
September 26th 2009

Crap museums. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Magnificently dull.

Melissa is covering Ron's classes today so I'm left to amuse myself. It's been a while since I did any sight-seeing so I pick up the Rough Guide for some inspiration. It tells me that Gongguan has a night market. Even though it's only mid-afternoon I think it might be worth checking out. It's right down in the south of the city, a part i've not been to yet. Now, when I was in Korea I noticed that they seemed to specialise in rather crap museums. I'm thinking of such yawn-inducing venues as the Geoje Fishing museum and the Jeju museum [View Full Entry]

By Forts
September 25th 2009

We get a cat and I finally get some good news. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Sleep deprivation in feline form.

We get a cat I'm not an enormous fan of cats. I used to really like them, well, English cats at any rate. Then I met Melissa's cat Nica. In Korea I had a smallish flat which did me just fine. Then when Melissa moved in her cat came as part of the package. No problem I thought, cat's appreciate personal space as much as I do. We'll get along fine. Sadly this wasn't the case. Within a couple of weeks Nica's behaviour was ranking me out. She'd lie in wait for me to go for a pee in the [View Full Entry]

By LivingTheDream
September 21st 2009

Bye bye friendly Taiwan (Taipei, Taiwan) Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Imposing statue at the Museum of World Religion

(Day 535 on the road) Going back to Taipei to complete our loop around Taiwan, we opted for the high speed train that connects Taiwan's major towns. The system is very efficient and the stations and trains sparkling new. The next train to Taipei left less than twenty minutes after we bought our tickets, so soon we found ourselves going north at 300 km/ h. The next morning I accompanied my mum to the airport, where she caught a plane to Hong Kong for a three day stopover in this amazing city before flying back to Germany from there. We have [View Full Entry]

First place for the award 'Shortest hot pants in Taipei'

Taiwanese enjoying one of their countless hot springs

By Forts
September 13th 2009

We sign a contract and have a fight in Ikea. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

We only have a few more days before we have to move out the flat. I still don't have a job so it's a risky process. I'm reluctant to commit to anywhere too far from the centre as I don't want to be lumbered with a killer commute. Melissa has found a few ads and we set up some viewings. First up is one in Nangang. This is about as far east as you can get so I'm already unenthused. The apartment is in a beautiful modern tower with a gym, pool and 24 hour security. It's got two smallish bedrooms [View Full Entry]

By Momo298
September 12th 2009

Early Morning Hike Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Photo 1

There is this mountain path near my house that I've been dying to explore. I decided, while I am still out of school, to take the chance and wake up early this morning for a little hike. Even though it gets up into the high 90's (~39C) in the afternoon, the morning is nice and cool. I ended up waking up on my own around 6:30am. I had set my alarm for 7am but I was rather pleased my body got up on it's own earlier. [View Full Entry]

By Forts
September 9th 2009

Buxiban street & another interview. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Buxiban street

Knocking on doors I've decided that the only way I'm going to find a job is by knocking on doors. With every job on Tealit receiving dozens of applications from better qualified, better looking people with North American accents I need to up my game a bit. I knock up a three page "brochure" about moi which consists of a cover letter, my cv and a letter of recommendation from my last school in Korea. I debate the merits of including the letter as it looks like a forgery but decide to throw it in anyway. Korea has hagwons, England [View Full Entry]

By LivingTheDream
September 7th 2009

At last - The Ilha Formosa (Taipei, Taiwan) Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

"Taiwan really good" - me no check grammar lah

(Day 521 on the road) "Taiwan really good!". This was literally the very first thing I saw after stepping off the plane in Taipei. I have never fully understood why the Chinese and apparently also Taiwanese never bother to check for spelling and grammatical errors on their billboards and signs, but I am very glad they don't - as it always provides for some of the best spontaneous entertainment possible! T-shirts and posters with writings like "Three win the first", "Happiness just like flowers", "Fuck the hot" (serious), or a hotel named "The trusting hotel" never fail to make me smile. [View Full Entry]

Dictator on display like a hero (Chiang Kai-shek)

By Forts
September 6th 2009

Neihu - worst place in Taipei? Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Near Neihu

To all Neihu lovers please accept my apologies for the following. It was written when I had only recently arrived in Taipei and was still getting my bearings. The responses I've received to this post suggest that Melissa and I were not in fact in Neihu but in a neighbouring district. I'm not changing the title of the post as that would affect the authenticity of the blog but am willing to own up to my mistakes. Neihu I'm very sorry. It's Saturday and Melissa wants to go Neihu which is on the far north eastern section of the brown [View Full Entry]

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