Going to Taiwan in December...any tips?

**smperry** · #1 10-24-2011, 01:50 PM

I'm going to a conference at National Sun Yat-sen University in Kaohsiung, Taiwan in mid-December.

Anybody have advice about what to do, how to get around, etc?

Thanks in advance,
Marshall

Phalex · #2 10-24-2011, 02:05 PM

Get a hair cut! Seriously. One of the guys I work with says that a chair massage is pretty much standard.

MakiSupaStar · #3 10-24-2011, 03:44 PM

Surf. There are some world class waves there.

**smperry** · #4 10-24-2011, 05:00 PM

You guys are confusing me. I can't cut the surfer hair and then go surfing.

**smperry** · #5 10-24-2011, 05:01 PM

PS Maki, pictures are a given.

HEIST · #6 10-24-2011, 05:07 PM

Ooooo fun! You're going to get stared at a lot. Don't take it personally, as most are just purely curious. As for things to do, I don't know much but the zoo in Taipei was huge and fun. I read this article once that summarized Taiwan really well. I'll see if I can find it.

**smperry** · #7 10-24-2011, 05:10 PM

Thanks HEIST, and yeah, as a 6'1" black dude in dreadlocks, I'm expecting stares. No problem.

HEIST · #8 10-24-2011, 05:17 PM

I can't find the article BUT it did mention that you must visit Taroko Gorge. That's what I'd do if I was visiting Taiwan

Taiwan Travel Information and Travel Guide - Lonely Planet

Lonesomedave · #9 10-24-2011, 06:22 PM

my wife is Taiwanese and I have been there a few times. here are two tips.

1) go to the Palace Museum-- it is incredible! from Jade to porcelain it is about 1,000,000 sq feet of incredible chinese history (ok, so i don't really know how big it is, but it is incredible)

2) eat in the markets. they have all these outdoor markets and they sell vegetables, fish, seafood etc, and all of them have multiple restaurants and little eating places associated with them. admittedly, when i get home, i don't want any chinese food for a couple of weeks, but while there, it is amazing.

ps-edit... hmmmm.... i didn't realize that kaohsiung is so far away from Taipai, so unless you get up there, the palace museum is probably a no-go; but you still can eat at the markets, they have them all over.

MakiSupaStar · #10 10-24-2011, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smperry

PS Maki, pictures are a given.

**smperry** · #11 10-24-2011, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

my wife is Taiwanese and I have been there a few times. here are two tips.

1) go to the Palace Museum-- it is incredible! from Jade to porcelain it is about 1,000,000 sq feet of incredible chinese history (ok, so i don't really know how big it is, but it is incredible)

2) eat in the markets. they have all these outdoor markets and they sell vegetables, fish, seafood etc, and all of them have multiple restaurants and little eating places associated with them. admittedly, when i get home, i don't want any chinese food for a couple of weeks, but while there, it is amazing.

ps-edit... hmmmm.... i didn't realize that kaohsiung is so far away from Taipai, so unless you get up there, the palace museum is probably a no-go; but you still can eat at the markets, they have them all over.

Thanks! I might fly into Taipei and take high speed rail to Kaohsiung so I'll keep your suggestions in mind.

tsverrir · #12 10-25-2011, 12:43 AM

Be sure to get some high mountain Oolong tea. The Taiwanese make the best (IMO) oolong. And get some instructions on how to brew it.
I've converted quite a few coffee drinkers to tea by giving them a taste of gao shan.

**smperry** · #13 10-25-2011, 07:08 AM

Good call. I already love oolong, and it probably won't cost me as much to get the good stuff.

Lonesomedave · #14 10-25-2011, 07:18 AM

damn right, good call... excellent suggestion.... although i wouldn't bet on a price break.

what you will find is some premium varieties that are not exported and can only be bought locally, so while you may not save money, you will have the opportunity to bring home some tea like none of your friends have.

if there are taiwanese moderators or guides or whatever at this conference. mention to them that you have always loved OOLONG tea and want to buy something special, but don't know how to do it.... i bet they will set you up with some of the most far out tea you've ever had. better get a lot, though....once you run out it will be hard to go back to drinking the export stuff

ps- don't buy loose tea. buy it in vacuum sealed aluminized packs---- vacuum sealed so tight they almost feel like bricks.....

. the tea will keep almost forever until you open it and break the vacuum.

ggvicviper · #15 10-25-2011, 08:47 PM

Taiwan is awesome. I'm going for my 2nd time November 17th.

Taipei has many tourist spots. Tapiei 101, Long Shan temple. Be sure to visit a music shop in the area - last year I purchased a Dizi (Chinese traverse flute) for $60 US. Maybe I'll get another instrument this year. Also be sure to check out the markets. Also check out some of the museums - National Palace Museum is where I visited last February (2010).

If you get a chance to go to Taichung, check out the Fengjia/Fengshia/Feng Chia night market. They have so many little goodies to buy, and they have some fantastic food. Be sure to check out these clay-pot-baked dumplings the size of hamburgers. *drool* I also checked out this arcade called Club Sega (being a hobbyist game developer, this was of big interest to me).

Taiwan also has tons of convenience stores all over the place, and some of them sell some fun stuff. Taiwan: Touch your heart.

I have some pics, as well.

Bassamatic · #16 10-25-2011, 09:39 PM

I lived in Taipei for 2 years in the late 80's and loved it. Haven't been there again for 4-5 years and miss it. Only went to Kaoshiung a couple of times, and found it to be very industrial. There should be a lot of things you can research online about things to do there. There is a very nice beach area and park called Kenting in the South, but don't know what it is like in the Winter.

Taroko Gorge is a must if you have time - it is in the middle.

It is easy to get around with taxis. Taipei has a very nice cheap subway now, not sure about Kaoshiung. Great people and food. Have fun.

**smperry** · #17 10-26-2011, 07:05 AM

Thanks guys.

tsverrir · #18 11-23-2011, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lonesomedave

damn right, good call... excellent suggestion.... although i wouldn't bet on a price break.

what you will find is some premium varieties that are not exported and can only be bought locally, so while you may not save money, you will have the opportunity to bring home some tea like none of your friends have.

For those interested there are two online shops, one based in Taiwan and one in Seattle, that carry excellent gao shan oolong. Pricey but once you're hooked, what can you do. teafromtaiwan.com and floatingleaves.com

I have absolutely no affiliations with either of those shops, but as a simple customer.