Korean Job Discussion Forums

[moosehead]

anyone been here?

I'm thinking of going for a couple of weeks this summer

any tips on where to stay, best views etc. please share!

also - what's the best way to get there? fly into Taipei and take a train? would that be ok?

any other outstanding panoramas in Taiwan?

[Smee]

I've been to Taiwan twice and loved it both times. I don't have time to google around right now, but check out wikitravel for some tips about Taiwan/Taipei, and the official Taroko Gorge site has lots of good info. There are a variety of hiking trails, and you can get a cab driver to take you around to the main sites if you're pressed for time.

I went to Taroko Gorge for a day. Don't know if you could spend weeks there, but then again I didn't try. I flew into Taipei and took a train to Hualien, the nearest city, then rode the bus for about 90 minutes to the gorge.

Hualien is a pretty little city, and I spent a day wandering around it, too. I'd love to go back, and there are plenty of days when I am convinced I picked the wrong country to teach in. If I had more time, I would have loved to slowly move down that coast and check out all the towns, temples, sites, and views. I also would have loved to visit Taitung, a nearby town. My Taiwanese friend gave me a tourist magazine of the area, and it looks incredibly scenic.

As for places to stay, google around. There's a very popular youth hostel in Hualien, although I didn't stay there. Outside of the bus and train terminals you'll find people advertising hotel rooms for about 1000 NTD (30,000 - 40,000 won), but you should be able to line up a hostel onlne beforehand.

If I had more time in Taiwan, other scenic spots I'd like to visit besides the East Coast are Sun Moon Lake. Near Taipei is Yangmingshan National Park and a bunch of hot springs I'd like to try.

[Poemer]

Taroko is great, but like Smee said, I don't know if you could spend two weeks at Taroko. I did it in one day, but I would have liked to spend a couple of days to do some more hiking. I stayed at the Golden Dragon hotel or something like that in Hualien. It was only 20 or 30 bucks, not luxurious in the least, but clean. The bed was a slab of Taroko marble I think, seriously. I like a hard bed, so I was ok, but it isn't for everyone.

[moosehead]

Smee,

I know what you mean about maybe picking the wrong country - but what is, is.

I've been to Taiwan a couple of times, did my last visa run there over 4 days and had a blast in Taipei - but want to go outside now to the countryside.

I'm a bit tired of trekking so much and really just want a nice place in the mountains to explore, take in some fresh air and interesting environment and stay put more or less.

I did google around and found some white water rapids tours as well as whale watching -

anyone else - ?

[jou ma se poes]

Three days in Taibei to party, Taroko Gorge for two days, head down the east coast all the way to Taidong, from there go to Gaoxiong for a day (second-largest city, vastly different from Taipei), then head down to Kending for a couple of days, then back to Taibei.

Taiwan is not as beautiful as Mainland China, and lacks the really good Chinese cuisine, but it is definitely worth a visit. You could always check out http://forumosa.com if you have any additional questions.

[moosehead]

[Fofazoju]

I have been to Taiwan and did a nice run through it. Hit up Taipei, Taroko, Hualin, Alishan, Sun Moon Lake, all down the east coast to Taitung.

But, I think you have a bad attitude and roll your eyes too much at ppl so I'm not gonna share any of my info.

[moosehead]

[Taiwantroll]

I worked for the public school board in Taitung, Taiwan for three years. I left to try something new and sometimes I do regret my decision. However, I live in Sokcho now so there are some similarities. And Taiwan could just not compete with the salary and vacation time I receive here.

Taroko Gorge is beautiful. I rented a scooter and travelled down the coast there and then through the gorge with my father and brother when they visited. You can also go camping and hiking. There are many hot springs too you can visit. Go to Kenting in the south for beaches. But keep in mind that on the east coast no one speaks English and so you will have to keep a phrase book and do a lot of pointing.

Have fun!!!