See the True Taiwan: an insiders guide

There are a lot of threads in discussion forums which ask how much money is the bare minimum to get by in Taiwan. Since many countries now get up to 3 months of visa-free entry, there are a lot of backpackers looking to set up shop but not set their roots too deep, and students who are here for a short exchange. If you're in the 1 to 9 month category, this guide will prove to be best suited to you. The simple answer is if you plan to be in Taipei you will need 15,000 NTD or around 500 USD per month. If you live on the east coast or a smaller city you can get the number down to about 12 to 13,000 NT a month. Food and entertainment prices are generally the same, but your rent will be lower and quality of life a bit higher. Here's how it works out: Unless you're joining family, have a significant other, or some secret way to live for free, you'll need to pay rent somewhere. If you're staying in Taipei or New Taipei City for less than one year it will be hard to f...

So the Vieshow cinema near Taipei 101 now sports a new Jamba Juice on the first floor. The line can be pretty long even on weekdays, but it's to be expected. Taiwanese folks love to turn out in droves for the opening of new transplanted foods, and Jamba is no exception. This is the line when the store just opened for the day. For anyone craving their taste of the Jamba the product is pretty much indistinguishable from its American counterparts, but the size has been shrunk a bit. A 16 ounce cup will run you the size of the jumbo cup back home, at 150 ~ 170NT. Don't let the lines keep you away, or wait till the buzz dies down and get yourself some if you need that Jamba fix.

Shrimping is one of those Taiwanese past times that draws a cult following of locals much like bowling does in the west. People who do it regularly love it, bring their own equipment, and have an entire social network centered around the activity. Many of the shrimp shacks are open around the clock all year round and run a restaurant in addition to the pools of massive shrimp. It's not uncommon to see big groups of young Taiwanese folks having a giant meal, a rack full of giant beers, and plate after plate of fresh grilled shrimp. Tourists who have done some research on Taiwan might have stumbled across shrimping as an activity and not paid it much mind. The reality is shrimping is easily in the top ten things you must do when you're in Taiwan. If you have not been to a shrimping stand and think you've gotten local, it's time to think again. For an average price of 300 NT per hour you get a rented pole, some bait, and a seat around a murky pool of water. The staff r...

Wagui is another one of those snacks in Tainan that is an attraction unto itself. It's not much to look at and often comes in chipped or faded bowls in bustling little stores, but its a traditional comfort food that cannot be missed. Wagui with hot sauce, garlic, and wasabi Like it's food brother bawan, wagui is made by grinding rice up and turning it into a sticky mass then packing it with meat. The main difference is that wagui is packed into a bowl and features a few more ingredients than bawan. Expect all the fillings to be in the middle of your bowl and should be eaten slathered in sauce once you dig your way inside. In addition to its popularity, a big reason the bowls are all faded and chipped is because wagui comes served straight in the bowl it was cooked in. Before it is served it gets covered with a thick brown sauce which is rich and satisfying without being over the top. Those seeking more flavors should add some hot sauce, garlic, and wasabi to spice thin...

Tainan has become one of the most popular weekend spots in Taiwan, and for good reason. The city is not only full of incredibly diverse cultural sites, but a staggeringly large proportion of good food and scrumptious eats. One of the foods that every visitor needs to get in Tainan is BaWan - said in Taiwanese and written 肉圓 - a delicious and versatile food eaten by locals any time of the day. Despite its shapeless squishy and completely unassuming appearance this food is a legitimate tourist attraction unto itself. These 肉圓 came from the Wumiao Bawan 武廟肉圓 store. Famous and tasty! Bawan come served in a shallow bowl covered in a mild orange-brown sauce which each store brews up using secret recipies. The general trend is a lightly sweet overture which gives way to the dumpling's flavors, finishing with a a garlic and sour medley that dances in your palate long after you swallow. The dumplings themselves are made from rice which has been soaked and pressed toget...

Nanfangao is only a bus ride away from Taipei city and is a perfect location for a day trip. It's a small fishing town which hosts a port and some naval hardware. Taiwanese folks seem to like to come here because it is only about 2 hours from Taipei but feels like you are much much farther away. The town is full of fresh fish, epic scenery, and a few memorable temples. The most comfortable way to get here from Taipei is to take the KuoKuang bus 1879 which usually features seat back televisions and starts its run at Yuanshan MRT station. It stops a few times along the way in the city, notably at the Nangang railroad station and also at the Nangang exhibition center MRT. The final stop is just outside the Nanfangao visitors center and is a great place to grab maps of the area. Be careful though, because the bus stop before Nanfangao is in Su'Ao which is the closest railroad station to the port, and is also where you'll be able to find scooters, cheap local food,...

ChengJi Vietnamese - 誠記越南麵食館 Bustling restaurants and a packed pocket park have come to define Yongkang street (永康街), and it's easy to spend a lot of time walking around taking in all the choices. Food from around the world can be found in this neighborhood, and many of them are known for being pretty authentic. This post just hopes to mention one of many great restaurants, specifically one which offers a taste of great Vietnamese food right in the heart of Taipei. Most of the famous restaurants are on or near Yongkang street which stretches south from Xinyi road towards NTNU (師大). On Yongkang lane 6 you'll find Chengji 誠記, a store which at times has a lineup of customers waiting upwards of half an hour or more. If you're lucky though, you'll walk right in and get some delicious noodles. This place is most famous for their Vietnamese pho, which was once the runner up at the Taiwan international beef noodle festival. The sauce is light and balanced and it avoids th...

The following is designed to be an open letter to the producers of Taiwan beer and its affiliated products. If you'd like your name on this letter too, send an email and let us know! To Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Company, makers of Taiwan beer, distilled spirits, and far less importantly, controllers of the booze and (to me not importantly) cigarettes; 親愛的臺灣菸酒公司人員您好， This letter is from one of your millions of customers in Taiwan who enjoys your alcohol  containing products and has had a generally positive experience. I am specifically impressed with your response to the increase in (arguably) higher quality imported beers which use far greater range of (expensive) ingredients. To this end I am sorry that the Taiwan dark beer failed to make it as a product. I miss this beer which I consumed (in high volume) circa 2010 and strongly believe with a bit more tweaking it could be brought back. I'm willing to concede that the palate of the local beer drinker is not accustomed t...

There is a definite glut of recommended food types to take in during your time in Taiwan, and the longer you stay the more you could eat. This insiders guide wants to put readers on the path to new(er) finds with a more local clientele than some of the more celebrated places found in guidebooks. Taiwan's 麻油雞 culture is well worth a full investigation for any intrepid food tourist. It should be right up there with dumplings, beef noodles, and fried chicken as a Taiwanese must eat. 麻油, or black sesame oil makes up the base of a soup stock which is then used to concoct some tasty, (relatively) cheap, and filling meals. There seem to be a few famous stores which have mayouji in every city, so asking at your hotel, school, or work will help you get to a great one. For the closest fix, copy and paste 麻油雞 into a map app and you'll find something nearby. Expect the place to be busy, because this stuff is very popular and locals won't support a place that serves up a sub-par...

Taipei and Taiwan offer some amazingly delicious, unique, and engaging food s . There are tons of foods new to a first time visitor from the west, and flavors get combined in new and innovative ways on otherwise classic foods. Being open minded and trying whatever looks interesting is a great way to have some new and memorable food experiences. Health standards in Taiwan are actually quite high so you shouldn't write off street food just because it's being sold from a cart . If you 're very picky or have doubts, choose busy places with high food turn over. Introduction and Overview As a general rule food is served hot unless there is some indication in its name that it will be cold. This includes the scorching hot summer months. For a reason the authors can't figure out is that food is always served scalding hot, and you should always assume food is molten hot when it arrives at your table . Soups can be especially punishing on the tongue or palate, as well as to...