Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2006 7:31 pm Post subject: Any Tips on Travelling to Taiwan
Hello There,
I would like some advice and travel tips from anyone with any information they can give me or suggestions without links to other websites on Taiwan. I am considering going for a holiday, I would like to know rougly pricing for airticket from Bangkok, Thailand, and perhaps if Taiwanese speak good english, and what are basic guides, tips and expenditures etc.
PS. I would like to visit also with my wife she is thai and i am australian, will there also be visa requirements etc.?
Joined: 01 Oct 2004 Posts: 10 Location: Tainan, Taiwan - Where civility reigns
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2006 7:13 am Post subject:
Quote:
and perhaps if Taiwanese speak good english, and what are basic guides, tips and expenditures etc.
Despite an over-abundance of 'fresh out of college' engrish teechurs pretending to teach english, Taiwan is only barely literate in the language.
Do not expect to be widely understood if you speak only english, or a form of it. In the major cities, you will probably get along much better; in the rural areas...Best Luck to you.
You may, however, run into a local who speaks perfectly good english. This phenomenon is attributable to the number of Taiwanese who go to the US, Canada, UK, Aussieland, etc. for college, work there a few years and then decide their life just isn't fulfilling without the wrenched stink of chodofu and the adrenalin rush of Taiwanese traffic. So they return home and exist on hong bao(red envelopes) and spend their times in video arcades or internet cafes smoking Lucky 7 cigarettes and drinking Whisby while their emaciated psycho xiao jie girlfriend contemplates the possibilities of buying more SKII skin whitener and getting her body weight down to 40 kilos.
Travel should not be a problem. The intra-island train system is easy to use and listings are in english. Buses are available and there is always the taxi cab at the corner. Here you may have a bit of commo problems...unless you are fluent in betel-nut babble.
Except for a few "foreigner" run bars and restaurants tipping is not done.
As to "guide books", well if you really need that sort of thing, the "Lonely Planet" series has a volume devoted to Taiwan. Mostly referrals to the writers favorite bar and hostels where wannabe engrish teechurs can get free internet service and wash their birkenstocks.
Use the internet.
As always, if money(expenditures) is a problem, consider a better paying position. Taiwan is as cheap or as expensive as you make it. Food is cheap in most areas. Palatability is up to you. Lodging runs from the ever-present NT$500 Love Hotel to world class hotel chains. Up to you.
Taiwan is not an "exotic Asian Paradise." Its a 3rd world adolescent democracy full of crooked politicians and organized crime with a long and uninterrupted history of environmental pollution and natural habitat destruction. "If its green - Pave it!" is the catch-phrase of the Taiwan Builders Association.
And remember - Don't drink the water.
Naruwan - Taiwan, touching Your Heart!
(Gov't welcoming slogan...right next to notice of death penalty for drug smuggling)
Key West is a fun little party town. if your planning on hitting Duval street hard, I'd suggest getting a place within walking distance of where you plan to party. The part of Duval Street I prefer is the end up by Mallory Square. The area of Duval Street further south favors an alternative life style if you get my drift. I'd suggest staying at Bed and Breakfasts, there are lots of them in Key West, some better than others. Hotels Key West
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