Category: Intro to Taiwan

Jan 19
The Little Folk: A Taiwanese Tale of the Moo-Sin-A 魔神仔

The landscape of Taiwan is an imaginative place. It calls to one's creative eye and is…

Jan 15
The Fearsome Formosa Part I: A Brief Snapshot into the World of Taiwan’s Illustrious Pirates

Check out our post about Koxinga, Taiwan's "Pirate King" and Ming Dynasty folk hero.

Jan 14
Beam Me Up Nangang Park: A Foray into Taipei’s Energy Field

In the woods of Nangang Park lies a secret stone circle...

Jan 12
Pastimes in Paradise: Paragliding in Wai’ao

We have been thinking about loftier pursuits... For a long time we have wanted to try…

Jan 11
Charting the Seasons: A Foreigner’s (semi-true) Guide to Solar Terms in Taipei

Think of it as your broad brush survival guide to the wonderful world of Taipei…

Jan 10
A Roaring Schedule: Events in Taiwan to Mark the 2024 Year

Mark your calendars with the events and all that you cannot miss in Taiwan in 2024.

Jan 09
A City of Love: A Few Ideas for Dates in Taipei

We believe the secret to Taipei is that it is a city patiently helping and waiting for…

Jan 08
Down the Rabbit Hole: Just What is Falun Gong?

We are here to help you develop your Formosa-savoir faire, and, similar to the…

Jan 07
A Place of Good Spirits: One Writer’s Trip to Kavalan Distillery

"Come guess me this riddle, what beats pipes and fiddle What's hotter than mustard and…

Jan 06
Bubble Teas, Carl Jung, and Archetypes: What Your Favorite Bubble Tea Says About You

Let's siphon from these holy waters and begin to distill or divine your choice of…

Jan 04
Taiwan: A Burgeoning Outdoor Sports Epicenter

Taiwan could become a mecca for outdoor sports enthusiasts, and, in some ways, it is…

Jan 03
Origin Stories: Short Histories Behind a Few of Taiwan’s More Famous Foods

Where did famous Taiwanese foods get their beginnings? How did they arrive in Taiwan…

Jan 02
The Good, The Bad, The Unexplainable: A Segment on Taiwan’s Extraterrestrial

There's just that sort of X-files vibe, Twilight crossed with Twilight Zone ambiance…

Jan 01
Take Me Out to the Ball Game: The Wonderful World of Taiwanese Baseball

Grab your crackerjacks folks, it's time to catch a baseball game...

Dec 31
Taiwanese Ice Cream Flavors To Try in 2024

We would like to submit taro for your consideration, especially in its form as ice cream.

Dec 30
A Day Trip and a Realization: The Jiaoxi Hot Springs Park

And I found myself wondering, “Is euphoria discovered in steaming pools of naked old…

Dec 28
Tracing the Weaving Patterns of Taiwan’s Indigenous Tribes

It started with a string of woven bracelets purchased at a night market. It started…

Dec 27
The World of Taiwanese Movies

It’s the time of year when curling up with a warm cup of tea and a good movie can be…

Dec 25
A Guide to Hiking Yu Shan

"Because it is there;" "because it is calling and we must go;" "because we have always…

Dec 24
New Year’s Eve: Where to Watch the 101 Fireworks 

Pyrotechnics around the world rejoice! One of our favorite times of year is upon us,…

Dec 23
Expat Tips: How to Stay Warm During the Winter in Taiwan

A cold snap descended on Taiwan this week, resulting in weather advisories for the…

Dec 21
Crossing the Street: Tips for Foreign Pedestrians in Taipei

The rules, written and unwritten, of traffic and pedestrian laws and etiquette are…

Dec 20
Fruits by Season in Taiwan

If you enjoy fresh fruit and are new to Taiwan, get ready to have your world rocked.…

Dec 20
Bayan Hot Springs (八煙溫泉)

It feels like the answer to a Zen koan asking how to find contentment in this…

Dec 18
Red String of Fate and Ideas of Love in Taiwan

In this segment of the blog we dive into the world of soul mates and how they are…

Dec 17
Visiting the Raohe Street Night Market

Living in abroad for an extended period of time, it can be easy to fall into what we…

Dec 17
Getting Your Fortune Told in Taipei

Entering Songjiang Road Fortunetelling Street is feels a little like stepping into…

Dec 16
The Best Coffee Chains in Taipei: Part I

Ever wonder where to get the best coffee in the city? We've been wondering too so we…

Dec 14
Fengqi Hu: A Day Trip

Read about a day trip to one of Taiwan's hidden gems, towns and hiking trails on the…

Dec 12
Ghost Culture in Taiwan

Welcome to the strange, the mysterious, spiritual, and occult world of Taiwan. While…

Dec 11
The Pancakes of Taiwan: An Introduction to the Wonderful World of Bings (餅s)

Flapjack lovers beware, we are laying down the gauntlet: Asia, and specifically…

Dec 11
A Background on Taiwan’s Indigenous Peoples

In one of our previous posts "Language in Taiwan," we touched briefly on the Formosan…

Dec 10
Best Western Supermarkets in Taipei 

There are a wealth of stories out there about foreigner purchasing faux pas in foreign…

Dec 09
A Crash Course on the Languages Spoken in Taiwan

In this blog post we explore the primary languages are spoken in Taiwan as well as a…

Dec 07
Understanding the Importance of Matsu 

In this post we cover the history of Matsu, the patron goddess of Taiwan and the Dajia…

Dec 06
Taiwanese Divination: Moon Blocks and Fortune Sticks

Perhaps you’ve seen them in action, perhaps you’ve used them yourself, perhaps you’ve…

Dec 05
How to Save Money as an English Teacher in Taiwan

It can be a great joy to find your place and your stride living and teaching in…

Dec 04
Apps for Traveling in Taiwan

Traveling in Taiwan is convenient and a great deal of fun, especially if you are using…

Dec 03
Taiwan International Tea Expo

If you are in Taipei, November 15th - 18th, 2024 and are looking for a fun activity or…

Dec 01
Places to Workout in Taipei

Here are some ideas and resources to get you started on your workout journey in Taipei.

Nov 30
Visiting Hualian (A Prelude)

If you are visiting Taiwan, or if you are new to Taiwan, you have most likely heard of…

Nov 29
The Incredible Temples of Taipei: A Visitor’s Guide

We have created a short list of some of our favorite temples in and around Taipei.…

Nov 28
Religion in Taiwan: A Crash Course

Overview When first arriving in Taiwan, foreigners are oftentimes surprised by the…

Nov 27
Embassy and Consulate Resources for Foreigners in Taiwan

Living in Taiwan and need to get in contact with your country of origin? We can point…

Nov 26
Visiting the Taipei National Palace Museum

You've wandered through a night market (yèshì, 夜市), you've tried stinky tofu (chòu…

Nov 25
Arriving in Taipei: Traveling from Taoyuan International Airport to Taipei City

Arriving in a new place can be nerve-racking even for the most seasoned traveler. This…

Nov 20
Taiwan Telephone option for foreigner : Useful comparison of 4 Taiwan SIM Card’s company

“Why choose Taiwan’s SIM Cards options as a foreigner ?”- you might…

Nov 19
The 5 Best Banks for Foreigners in Taiwan

You’re thinking of opening a bank account in Taiwan (all the steps are explained…

Nov 18
Open a bank account in Taiwan 3 Easy steps for Foreigners

The process of opening a bank account can be complex and time-consuming for foreigners…

Nov 18
Learning Chinese – why Taipei Guting is the best location

Taipei Guting MRT is conveniently located near many of the best language schools in…

Nov 18
Best hikes around Taipei

Not only is Taipei a big and living city, just on the outskirts of the city are plenty…

Nov 18
Visit Yilan county from Taipei

Being only 1,5 hours away from Taipei city with public transportation makes the Yilan…

Nov 18
Taipei museums : Some of the best museums in Taipei!

If you’re looking for some of the best museums in Taipei, you came to the right…

Nov 18
4 Amazing Must-See Locations in Beitou District, Taipei

Beitou District is in the far north of Taipei City, and is famous for it’s many…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Beitou district in 4 steps

The Beitou district is the most mountainous, highest and is also the northernmost…

Nov 18
1 of Taiwan its most memorable places : Daytrip to Jiufen and Jinguashi

For a daytrip to Jiufen or a overnight trip during the weekends, Jiufen is the perfect…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Nangang District in 4 steps

Once known as the “Black Town” due to it’s former large settlement…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Datong District in 4 steps

Being one of the oldest districts and even having the oldest roadway in whole Taipei,…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Wenshan District in 4 steps

Wenshan District is the most southern District of Taipei and is famous for its…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Zhongshan district in 4 steps

As the center of the city’s tourist industry and one of the centers of…

Nov 18
Discover the amazing Songshan District in 4 steps

This district is well known as a major financial and cultural center of Taipei. You…

Nov 05
7 Insanely Delicious Vegetarian Hotspots in Taipei City

The popularity of vegetarian and vegan diets has been steadily increasing, with more…

Nov 03
Thrill Festival of the Year: The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Taiwan

The Yanshui Beehive Fireworks Festival in Taiwan is a one of a kind cultural event…

Nov 01
The Ultimate Guide to Thrifting in Taipei: 5 Vintage Curations to Glow up Your Wardrobe

Culture, food, nightlife, and now a burgeoning thrifting scene, the neighborhoods of…

Nov 01
Getting an ARC in Taiwan: Your Stress Free Guide in 3 Easy Steps

If you are thinking of turning your time in Taiwan into something a little less…

Mar 25
Renting Taipei Apartments, find an amazing place in 6 steps

Taipei Apartments: Rent Learn what is specific to Taipei Apartments Decide what you…

Mar 07
The Easy Guide to the Best Taiwan Food – Part 1

Here we present the best of Taiwan food . Taiwan really is a country of incredible…

Mar 07
The Easy Guide to the Best Taiwan Food – Part 2

Here we present the absolute best Taiwan food. The problem, however, is that finding…

Feb 25
The best national parks of Taiwan

From Yushan, the biggest mountain on the island that rise up to almost 4000 meters, to…