Korean Job Discussion Forums

[espo]

Any recomendations of what to do and where to go???? Would like to see the sites in Taipei and then get some beach time.

Cheers

[taiwan_girl]

For beaches:

Genting is the southern most point in Taiwan and probably the closest thing to a "western style" beach atmosphere. It is pretty fun down there, many sand beaches (though there can be a lot of rocks depending on the beach. most of the Taiwan coast is rocky), lots of hotels, and a fun night market. Easiest way to get around is by rental scooter or rental car. I was down there last week - summer is busy season so there will be a lot of people - not too many foreigner people however.

You can get from Taipei to just outside Kaohsiung by high speed train in about two hours. From there, the subway to main train station where there are bus companies. If you want, I can find out more about which will go to Kenting.

For something more remote, you could head to one of the offshore islands, though as I mention above, most are rocky.

[taiwan_girl]

sorry - double post

[espo]

[orangepostit]

Yeah there's Kenting,

Taroko Gorge if there's time I've heard is beautiful

But since you'll be going during typhoon season, you might be unable to go (as I was)

Taipei is a fun city, but maybe I'm biased as it was my first city in East Asia. If you're into tea, I'd suggest taking a cable car up the mountain and getting some traditional tea (I forget the name of this place, you can probably find it on travel wiki or in pamphlets in Taipei). it's a bit out of the way but gorgeous at night.

[stunnershades]

check out kenting on the south coast, bus rides are easy and cheap. tainan is another place to check out on your way back north. you can rent a scooter there without any trouble (except leaving your passport with the guy) and scoot around town all day. then puli, just a ways out of taichung. there is a huge beatiful temple there to see in a day. maybe sunmoon lake from puli bus station. its definitley a must see. the east coast, hualian is great too if its not monsoon time.

[Misera]

Yea Taroko Gorge is fun if you're going with a friend or you can at least drive a scooter. We rented scooters and rode up the gorge 2 days (you need a license for that though). Other friends rented a taxi to take them through it and pitstop at photo spots but they had a big group. If it's raining it's alright going up, but its freakin scary coming down b/c it fogs like mad there. You can't see anything once it starts getting dark when it's rainy weather and it's slippery. There were some small rumble landslides. It's generally safe as the rode is pretty wide, just scary :p

Hualien is a overall nice place to go though. Experience more of a country town with smaller night markets, cheaper bed & breakfast type hostel/hotel, a beach that's awesome for shooting fireworks at night (buy your own for super cheap at the beach), and nice hotsprings nearby.

Some other places near/in Taipei city:
Yehliu (rock formations by the sea)
Keelung (huge night market, eating place, shopping)
Jiufen (old style market.. spirited away scenes modeled after this place) plus very good views of the ocean.
Shilin night market
Area around NTU (Gongguan)-- night market, food, shopping, the campus
Area around Shida -- night market, bars, food, shopping
Taipei Main Station -- lots of shopping.. tons of underground malls. Some good electronic stores (Nova, Kmall)
Zhongxiao Xinsheng-- electronics area.. sorta like Yongsan
Chiang Kai Shek memorial hall -- if you like taking pictures of Chinese style buildings
Miramar -- Big mall with huge ferris wheel.. also a few night clubs at top.


Yilan- "country" like on the north east coast.. Black sand beaches that you can swim in. Sometimes people haul stuff in and tons of people gather and help them haul (fun). Some good spots for surfing too.

If you do have time for Kenting, definitely go there!! You'll be burning in July, but it's still a fun area. Many many beaches there, an interesting park with a lighthouse, some kind of bumper car thing, street side bar, local shopping, nice restaurants. Though I agree, sometimes in the rainy season, the south gets hit with it the hardest.. floods, typhoons..

[CPT]

[Misera]

[TECO]

[Misera]

[CPT]

What's the best thing to do for currency exchange when going to Taiwan?

I was thinking KRW ---> USD before I go, and then USD ---> TWD in Taiwan.

Is there a better way, because I'm not crazy about that idea.

[Misera]