Korean Job Discussion Forums

[vdowd]

Hi,

I am flying to Thailand via Taipei over the Christmas holidays. No problem going there but returning I have an overnight lay over. That is I arrive in Taipei around 6PM and do not continue until 9:00 the next morning.

Anything to do there? Really would appreciate some insight about what to do and maybe a good place to stay - how far is the airport from the action? and no I don't mean bars.

Thanks for any info you can give me.

[winnie]

the airport is a good 45 mins out from Taipei, and that's without traffic....

not much to see in Taipei really...other than the worlds tallest building, the Taipei 101, and there are some night markets........

the airport there is pretty boring...between the two terminals I could only find about 5 computers with internet, and they were always occupied...not too many shops or good eats either.....

[TECO]

I guess you can maybe judge how interesting a place is going to be and how much it caters to foreign visitors by what their Interantional airports are like.

Yes, the CKS airport is extremely boring and just doesn't have very many services to offer visitors for dining or having a drink. The Chinese don't seem to really care about this, I guess. The food and so on available at CKS is geared more towards Chinese travellers.

Narita aiprort has made huge progess in the last few years and Bangkok airport has a lot to offer for foreign visitors. But CKS never changes. It just stays the same.

Taipei is pretty boring also. Yes, it'll take you about an hour to get into the Taipei Main Station area of the city by bus or taxi. And yes, there are several night markets. But once you've been to one, they're all pretty much the same. A lot of the food is also geared towards local tastes.

I've travelled around Asia quite a bit over the past 8 years and, unfortunately, when compared with other locations, Taipei is pretty much a dud for foreign visitors.

Try asking for more info on this local forum for foreigners in Taiwan: http://forumosa.com/taiwan/

[Moldy Rutabaga]

I stayed in Taipei for two days on a layover, and it was plenty. What a yawn. Never stopped raining.

On the plus side, the subway is pretty good and I felt safe wandering around at night. The airport bus will take you right into town. There's a big outdoor square with the Chiang Kai Shek memorial, and it might be pretty at night. The night markets can be fun. I even found an Indian restaurant that was decent. Don't expect too much, but it's worth spending an evening in.

Ken:>

[ED209]

Snake Alley!

Watch snakes being gutted alive in front of your very eyes and served up as a yummy soup. Some restaurants also off terrapins. You can also go for a massage at one of the many parlours nearby. They tend to be a lot less rub and tug than Korea. In fact you usually keep your clothes on.

Get to Lungshan Temple on the subway around 7 or 8pm. The temple is worth a visit too.

Or head to new pei tou for the public hot springs

[Tobacco Dreams]

I've flown through Taipei, each time on brief layovers, twice within the past few years.

The one truly memorable thing was that I was THREATENED WITH DEATH each time!

Surely I'm not the only one on Dave's here who's sat in that dreary transfer pen beneath the giant sign which warns that "The Republic of China EXACTS A PENALTY OF DEATH on drug smugglers."

Some sort of welcome!

I'm no drug smuggler, but still and all feel disinclined to stay when surveying that sign.

Taipei: A place to be gotten through.

My 2 cents.

[Rey Mysterio 619]

Taipei rocks as far as I am concerned. Awesome food, easy women, lots of drugs, no xenophobia as juxtaposed to Korea, and did I mention the food and drugs?

(But Cambodia is better)

[TECO]

[Natalia]