When I first got to Taiwan I was a little unsure of what to expect. I hadn't heard much about it before, it isn't much of a blip on the Asian backpacking circuit. It isn't famed for it's beaches it bottom price bargain shopping, the warmth of its locals or its incredible cuisine. After being here for a while you can see how it doesn't really fit into either expensive package tourism for old people or the budget backpacking circuit. But that's a little unfair as Taiwan does have a lot going for it.
It is quite cheap here, but you won't have beggars or street sales people harrassing you because of poverty. Nor will you have to endure heart breaking poverty that you feel powerless to prevent.
The cuisine isn't world famous but it is quite good and the island is progressed enough to get a good sampling of foods from around the world and immigrants setting up shop here.
The locals aren't amazed at seeing a white person nor are they trying to solicit your money with fake friendliness yet they are helpful and polite.
The beaches aren't world famous but there are a smattering of very tolerable ones (and some not so tolerable). As well as some very nice scenic areas and mountains which you don't have to drive for half a day to get to from the cities. Although on weekends it seems that half the island is there with you.
Taiwan is very easy to travel around being such a small island and you can reach almost any corner of it for a weekend stay. The real tourist attractions are Kenting beach national park in the south. Which is as nice as any I have been to, without the sleeze and overdevelopment of some of Thailand's. Taroko Gorge in the northeast has some stunning scenery and nature hikes. But the roads can only handle so much traffic so on weekends it can get really packed. Taipei is truly an international world class city with bucketloads going for it. Great restaurants, museums, night clubs, temples, cultural exhibitions and more. Tainan in the south is a great city with a lot of interesting temples and colonial history.
The negatives- Taiwan is quite a crowded little island, although streets can on occassion be quite spacious there is a general noticable crowding. Parking for the car driver can be difficult in city centres. At peak times and on weekends traffic can be terrible and there is a very noticeable polution problem here.
The weather can range from uncomfortably hot and sticky to miserably wet and windy. It does have some very nice weather too but at either end of the spectrum it is quite unpleasant.
First Impressions- When I got here I was suprised at how developed it was. I have never been to Japan or Korea but Taiwan is the most developed Asian country I have been to. You can find all the amenities and comforts of home although not always as comparatively cheap as everything else. Although the streets are largely clean in a litter sense there is still the pollution and smelly sewer syndrome to be found in other countries. That lets you know you are in Asia. For your average person scooters are the main form of transport here and they are every where. Chinese is quite an exotic looking form of writing for westerners especially the traditional form found in Taiwan. It's especially noticeable as most places in the city centres and shopping districts try to out do each other with the size and brightness of their neon signs which gives the place a kind of Chinese las vegas feel. I must admit I really liked the look of it when I first arrived.
It is quite cheap here, but you won't have beggars or street sales people harrassing you because of poverty. Nor will you have to endure heart breaking poverty that you feel powerless to prevent.
The cuisine isn't world famous but it is quite good and the island is progressed enough to get a good sampling of foods from around the world and immigrants setting up shop here.
The locals aren't amazed at seeing a white person nor are they trying to solicit your money with fake friendliness yet they are helpful and polite.
The beaches aren't world famous but there are a smattering of very tolerable ones (and some not so tolerable). As well as some very nice scenic areas and mountains which you don't have to drive for half a day to get to from the cities. Although on weekends it seems that half the island is there with you.
Taiwan is very easy to travel around being such a small island and you can reach almost any corner of it for a weekend stay. The real tourist attractions are Kenting beach national park in the south. Which is as nice as any I have been to, without the sleeze and overdevelopment of some of Thailand's. Taroko Gorge in the northeast has some stunning scenery and nature hikes. But the roads can only handle so much traffic so on weekends it can get really packed. Taipei is truly an international world class city with bucketloads going for it. Great restaurants, museums, night clubs, temples, cultural exhibitions and more. Tainan in the south is a great city with a lot of interesting temples and colonial history.
The negatives- Taiwan is quite a crowded little island, although streets can on occassion be quite spacious there is a general noticable crowding. Parking for the car driver can be difficult in city centres. At peak times and on weekends traffic can be terrible and there is a very noticeable polution problem here.
The weather can range from uncomfortably hot and sticky to miserably wet and windy. It does have some very nice weather too but at either end of the spectrum it is quite unpleasant.
First Impressions- When I got here I was suprised at how developed it was. I have never been to Japan or Korea but Taiwan is the most developed Asian country I have been to. You can find all the amenities and comforts of home although not always as comparatively cheap as everything else. Although the streets are largely clean in a litter sense there is still the pollution and smelly sewer syndrome to be found in other countries. That lets you know you are in Asia. For your average person scooters are the main form of transport here and they are every where. Chinese is quite an exotic looking form of writing for westerners especially the traditional form found in Taiwan. It's especially noticeable as most places in the city centres and shopping districts try to out do each other with the size and brightness of their neon signs which gives the place a kind of Chinese las vegas feel. I must admit I really liked the look of it when I first arrived.
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