Taiwan - What to Expect

Din Tai Fong for the best steamed dumplings in the world!

Be sure to stay in the old quarter especially if you're staying on a Friday or Saturday night...it seems like everyone under the age of 30 converges on the area on the weekend giving the place a huge vibe. If you're trying to find a restaurant, many are located on the first, second or third floors of buildings with ground level reserved for retail only. Be sure to look up!

I really like this city =) Specially after I heard the music from a taiwanese rock band named Wu Yue Tien (that mean Mayday) that's about two lovers, a kind of romantic place to walk on the afternoon =) because of it's nice view. Tan-shui, i am not sure of what it really means, but the caracters have a lot to do with water, so its maybe reffered to the lake that has the same name. By the lake, and the people riding bikes, flying kites.. Its really nice! A good place to relax. And also enjoy some of the food of Taiwan, because there's also a street market near by. And, you can take the subway to get there quikly. But by bike its also a really good experience =)

In Taipei we stayed at the Riviera Hotel. It was very nice, they offer a free shuttle bus to the 101 shopping center and they have pamphlets with tour groups that will take you almost anywhere you want to go for a good price. Tours can be a day trip up to a week. Excellent for the price and they take care of everything! Also, a great way to meet other travellers.

Looking for excellent Japanese food in Taipei. To our great surprise the Carrefour dept store in the city has a great tappenyaki bar. The food is excellent and the prices are very reasonable.

one beautiful place to see, gives a new meaning to peacefull. A brilliant get away for the weekend. Remeber if you are english speaking you are basically on your own, very little and i mean very little english spoken in this region but still a great place to visit. A must on your list. Hua-lien is much different to that of Taipei CIty, which is not as open as it may seem. If you are into lies and beeing cheated then a must stop. You will be bombarded by millions and millions of motor scooters and funk mickey mouse hair styles [more on guys than girls] and everyone is a rock star or celeb of some sort." I speak English very little", is the catch phrase, be weary of cellphone shops you will get cheated. Not on my list of a good place to visit.

If you can, go hiking in the Taroko mountains... The nature is beautiful there... Try the local freeze dried mushroom chips...

Don't forget to visit Shi-Lin market

Travel to Leo Fu Village from taipei for some theme park experience...
It's abt 2 hours journey from taipei, where you can spend the whole day in the theme park....
Not a bad place to spend a day of your trip in the theme park for so childhood memories...

Taipei, great place for shopping... shop eat... also some sightseeing place not to miss... A place where i would like to re-visit too....
Taking cab around is almost as expensive as in Singapore.
transportation in taiwan is not cheap... However if you are travelling within taipei, you can visit most places via train and buses... you can't lost you way... unless you do not have the sense of directions... haha...
you can always ask,... taiwanese are friendly lot of people...
what to bring?
not to bring alot, have more space for shopping if not, you will have to buy luggage like what i did,... haha... travel light there and bring lotsa things back....