Travel Blog » Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

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.

Taiwan

Map of Taiwan

Taiwan's Flag

Hostels in Taiwan
Latest Taipei Blog Entries
Taipei Photos

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]

By Forts
September 5th 2009

Job hunting Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Miramar

Over the next couple of days there is a flurry of activity on the job front. Melissa is offered a job by the lady she went to see over at Dazhi and I get called up by a school called "Uncle Jason's." Aside from the name, which is supposed to sound friendly but from my cynical viewpoint sounds like a perverted family member. Anyway Irene from Uncle Jason assures me that they will sort out the ARC for me if they offer me a position. This is excellent news and I head over to see them. They are just past City [View Full Entry]

By Forts
September 1st 2009

Green noodles, wet concrete, tragedy, and good news on the job front. Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Green Noodles

So the plan is to do job applications in the morning and explore the city during the afternoon. We now have a phone which is a godsend. I take Melissa over to Taipei 101, where we discover "Jason's" supermarket in the basement which sells everything you could ever wish for, Shillin night market where we eat the biggest fried chicken in the world, and Taipei Main station where we finally try the delicious beef noodle soup that Taiwan is famous for. She takes me to Tianmu, a popular ex-pat area between Beitou and Danshui where we wander, eat Japanese food and [View Full Entry]

By JRenee
September 1st 2009

Taking Taiwan Asia » Taiwan » Taipei » Danshui

pigs feet are for ...

The food, oh the food! The food is quite worth mentioning, because it's nothing like I've ever experienced elsewhere. Meats and vegetables are fresher than I have ever seen. The tastes are amazing, and utilized in ways I have never thought of, and has awoken taste-buds I didn't know exists. There are more vegetables to choose from here than I've ever seen in an American grocery store, and it looks like it was JUST PICKED five minutes ago, and is there right in front of you. Even the chickens are killed right there, and they put them in water to drain [View Full Entry]

By Forts
August 30th 2009

Peking Duck Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Peking Duck

I feel like I should credit this food blog that is directing us to such fantastic places as we explore the city. If you're interested please go to http://hungryintaipei.blogspot.com/ or if the link is stripped simply google "a hungry girl's guide to Taipei." This occasion takes us to a restaurant in Zhongshang near the Mitsukoshi department store called Celestial which lays claim to the best Peking duck in Taipei. Now duck is probably my favourite meat and I love crispy duck pancakes when I eat them back home so I'm really excited about this place. We order and sit back [View Full Entry]

By Forts
August 29th 2009

New apartment, Melissa arrives and Mexican food Asia » Taiwan » Taipei » Danshui

New Place

Ok so a lot has happened since I last wrote anything on this site. Melissa has finally arrived and we've moved to a bigger apartment. We've also eaten some fantastic food and explored some really cool parts of the city. First, the apartment. Basically I had initially agreed to rent the studio from Martin for a month. A couple of days before I arrived however he emailed me to let me know that his sister-in-law had in fact just let it out so I could only have it for ten days. Not wanting to leave me in the lurch he [View Full Entry]

By Bra
August 27th 2009

Ilha Formosa Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Deliciousness on a stick

Taiwan. Perhaps the most under-rated country in Asia. Everyone I've met since Arriving in Korea has expressed interest in traveling to Japan, China, and various Southeast Asia countries. I've met very few with Taiwan on the top of their list. Granted, there may not be as many notorious sites in Taiwan such as The Great Wall or Mount Fuji, but with that being said there are just as many stunningly beautiful and breath taking places in Taiwan as you'll find anywhere in Asia; without the crowds. I admit, I originally went to Taiwan because I couldn't get the vacation days I [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Asia » Taiwan » Taipei

Taipei Travel Blogs, page 3

Taipei Travel Blogs

Taiwan