Feb. 23/13 – Today is exactly 2 weeks since I landed in Taiwan. After looking at 10 different apartments, we finally found one that fits us and so, we settled into it today. It’s only 650 sf but the interior is newly renovated. We will be living here for minimum of 3 months, therefore if anyone is interested in visiting Taipei, I do have a spare bedroom for you since this apartment has 2 bedrooms. The well-known Shi Da night market with lots of good food is just downstairs. Also, I am just 5-minute walk to the Guting or the Taipower Building MRT station. There are piles of restaurants with different cuisines and tons of bars all within a 10-min walk from here. How much more convenience can I ask for?
The highlight for the last 2 weeks was watching Deon play with fireworks for the first time since it’s not legal in Canada. Mickey, one of Paul’s teacher, was so kind to drive us up to 5 Tiger Mountain and bought us a bunch of fireworks to play with. Watching Deon transform from being nervous to attempting to light small fireworks then the larger ones with confidence was very fulfilling. Then, witnessing his big smiles and laughter was very heartwarming… 🙂
When we first landed in Taiwan, we stayed in Paul’s condo in Taoyuan which is the city where the airport is. It is a 45-min taxi ride from Taipei (the city). A week later, we found a Bi-lingual International School that has an awesome CSL (Chinese as Second Language) program designed for foreigners so that the kids are not too overwhelmed by a new language. Their students come from 17 different countries. Both Deon and I fell in love with the school and the CSL teacher the day we visited the school. It just felt so right! Deon will start full time school here starting Feb. 25/13. Meanwhile, I have also enrolled for a 3 month intermediate level Mandarin class to start on the same day as Deon’s class will.
As of now, I am having a hard time thinking of what is there NOT to like about Taiwan. Here’s why:
– Great Food – Thanks to my amazing host, Paul, we had the chance to try the BEST tepanyaki restaurant I have ever had both in terms of food and service. It definitely made it to my top 3 restaurants. Oh and the cost is only $30 CND per person for a fancy luxurious 6 course meal. Then, there are also many different yummy snacks on the streets. I mean even food at 7-11 is so good here that both Deon and I are still not bored of the snacks (which we buy for breakfast or in between meals) even after 2 weeks already. North America 7-11 should really come here to get some inspiration to improve their stores.
– Friendly People – I did bump into 2 not-so-nice taxi drivers but then I have met 2 dozens of really friendly people over the last 2 weeks, too. Here’s one example: The first time I took the bus from Taoyuan to Taipei, I asked the bus driver where I should go to catch the MRT to where I needed to go. After we arrived, we were the last to get off the bus but there was a girl named Angel down there waiting for us beside the door already. She told me that she had overheard my question to the bus driver earlier. She happened to be going to the same direction therefore I could just follow her. We talked as we walked the long way and then at the end, we exchanged emails and phone numbers. Later, she helped me look for property for rent on the local Chinese only website too. I also remember meeting a guy named Alan who also went out of his way to help me back in 2006 and that’s when I first got the perception that Taiwanese are so helpful and friendly. Meeting Angel, Claudia and Mrs. Xie over the last 2 weeks has strengthened that perception again.
– Nice weather – Right now it is 15 to 23 degrees C. Even when it is raining, it’s just small showers, but most importantly, the sky does not turn dark and gloomy as it does in Vancouver. And the showers stop within a couple of hours.
– Karaoke – I can’t believe I am able to find the old fashion karaoke bar where people go on stage and sing like what I grew up with in the 90s. Haven’t seen these bars in ages since everyone is into KTV (karaoke in private rooms) now! This bar is located next to where I stayed when I came out to do apartment viewing in Taipei. I love hearing these 2 regular customers who go there to sing 3 times a week. They got an amazing voice but more importantly I know most of the old songs they sang! Brought back so many memories for me. I just sat there and admired their singing skills and the songs. Then next thing I know is I was there for 3 hours already. This bar is only 8-min taxi ride from our apartment so I know now where I will be at least once a week in the future… 🙂
– Thai Massage – After my first squash game in 7 months, I could barely move the next day so Paul took me to get a Thai massage near his condo. I would never have guessed that the BEST Thai massage I would ever get would be in Taiwan. The last best Thai massage I had was in Thailand which I would give 98% but the 2 hours of the “modified Thai massage” I got today was at least 101% because it is beyond what I could ask for and imagine and it only cost $22 CND per hour. I would never go for a traditional Thai massage again if this “modified version” is an option.
That’s all the update I have. I am excited to really get to know Taiwan and the culture more now that we are all settled down. We plan to go and explore the South and the East part of Taiwan during the weekends. We will definitely be delaying our return date (originally set for April 17/13) now that both Deon and I are in school for the next 3 months.
Originally posted on Amy’s travel blog: TravelwithAmy.ca