Do I Need a Visa For Taiwan?
October 17th, 2017
The answer is almost certainly ‘no’ if you come from North America or Europe, and you’ve no plans to work or study.
Read more »
Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 3
August 31st, 2017
For Part 3, we’re going to the far south of the island. Alishan is the best known indigenous township in Taiwan’s southern half, but certainly not the only tribal district worth visiting.
Read more »
Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 2
August 24th, 2017
For Part 2, we’re travelling to the eastern counties of Hualien and Taitung.
Read more »
Highlights of Indigenous Taiwan, Part 1
August 18th, 2017
Let’s start our roundup of Taiwan’s most fascinating aboriginal destinations with the indigenous enclave nearest Taipei, Wulai.
Read more »
Taiwan’s First Punk Novel?
June 19th, 2017
Recognizing that the ‘economic miracle’ based on manufacturing has run its course, Taiwan’s government is trying to boost the island’s cultural and creative industries.
Read more »
Taiwan’s Rivers
May 22nd, 2017
Taiwan is very mountainous and gets plenty of rain, so it’s no surprise the island is cleaved with short, fast rivers. The longest waterway is the 186 km-long Zhuoshui (the name means ‘turbid water’). Only four other rivers are more than 100 km in length. For centuries these waterways hindered north-south journeys. Few permanent bridges […]
Read more »
Adore Pork? You’ll Love Taiwan
May 14th, 2017
Taiwan has been called a ‘hog island’ and for good reason. In places like Pingtung County, the density of pig farms far exceeds that of anywhere in North America or Europe. Because local consumers prefer fresh to frozen meat, the sight of swine being trucked to market isn’t unusual. As recently as the late 1960s […]
Read more »
Cash, Changing Money and Credit Cards in Taiwan
April 29th, 2017
Taiwan’s economy is still largely based on cash transactions, especially when compared to places like Australia and South Korea, so visitors should always carry a decent amount of paper currency. The good news is that almost every business can provide change if you pay for a small item with a NT$1,000 note, so there’s no […]
Read more »
Foot Massage Pushes all the Right Buttons
April 2nd, 2017
An ancient form of therapy enjoying a second wind, foot massage has been around for over 2,000 years old. What’s also called foot reflexology is described in classical medical texts, yet fits in well with modern concepts like ‘slow travel’ and ‘slow living’ (ideas better known in Taiwan as LOHAS, an acronym you may well […]
Read more »
Accessing the best of Alishan
March 21st, 2017
The high-altitude resort of Alishan has long been one of Taiwan’s most popular tourist destinations, thanks to an alluring blend of mountain scenery, pristine forests, indigenous culture and temperatures appreciably lower than the 30-plus degrees Celsius often experienced on the lowlands. For some, the narrow-gauge railway that climbs from 30 m (98 ft) above sea […]
Read more »
Visiting Taiwan in Spring, Part 2
March 6th, 2017
Tainan and Lugang are often described as Taiwan’s foremost ‘bastions of tradition’, and both are well worth visiting. However, if work or family commitments keep you close to Taipei during the spring, it’s still possible to immerse yourself in the customs and rites that dominated this society before its recent industrialisation. The best place to […]
Read more »
Visiting Taiwan in Spring, Part 1
March 2nd, 2017
Springtime visitors to Taiwan are guaranteed both warm, sunny weather and a number of lively festivals. In Taipei, daytime temperatures are typically 19 degrees Celsius (66 degrees Fahrenheit) in March. By the following month, it’s already 23 to 29 degrees Celsius (73 to 84 degrees Fahrenheit) in Kaohsiung. It’s no wonder city parks and the […]
Read more »