Three Nights in Taipei... Any suggestions?

[killerbees]

Hi,

It just dawned on me that I've got three or so nights to hang out in Taiwan coming up next month. I'll most likely be staying in or around Taipei with two friends.

I've taken a look at some of the photo threads (slimboy fat and wujou mao's come to mind). Seem to be some interesting sights. What suggestions might any of you TD Asia hands out there have to offer? With just three days, we're not going to be doing a whole hell of a lot but we are interested in good food, good day trips, and good fun.

How handy are the Taiwanese with English? Would it be worth the effort for me to try to learn a bit of Chinese before heaving over?

Cheers.

[Norton]

good day trips,

A must see if you have the slightest interest in history.

National Palace Museum.

[MeMock]

Looks like I will be there next month so any suggestions regarding accommodation - up to 3,000 baht.

[killerbees]

I'm in about the same price range, give or take. Looking to do this on the cheaper end of things. My ticket out and back is absurdly cheap- it's really the main reason that I'm going. Kind of skint at the moment so that's how it goes.

[Bangyai]

Years ago, I stayed in Taipei at the White House hotel. Bit of a dump but cheap and central, near the station. I was on my own and a Typhoon blew in so everywhere was battoned down. In desperation to find a place for a beer I went up a narrow staircase to a Kareoke joint. I was the only customer with two female students running the place. They were very nice and the next day took me to the National Museum and several other tourist places. The only thing they wanted was to practice their English.
After a couple of days a waitress in a breakfast cafe took a shine to me and showed me the town by night when she got off work. She was also very nice and after a while I moved into her apartment for the rest of my trip . All in all I had a very nice time and if Thailand hadn't been calling me back I might have stayed longer.
Check out the Chiang Kai Shek memorial while you're there. Good for a photo shoot.

[killerbees]

Thanks for the suggestions. It's much appreciated. Happyman, do you have any ideas?

[Happyman]

Happyman, do you have any ideas?

Yep !!!

Split 'em up into day trips- Mix and Match if you want !

Culture
National Museum is a MUST!! as Mr Norts said.
Just down the same road is a authentic reproduction of an old walled Chinese town that is part of a film studio and 90% of Chinese kung fu type films are made there - if you are lucky and they are filming that day you can sit on the city walls with a cold beer in your hand, and watch athletic prats kicking shit out of each other.
A km or so going back into town ( over the Keelung River and at the West end of the domestic Airport is the Lin Antai Homestead .- This is a perfect example of a traditional family/clan farm house that had been salvaged and rebuilt when the original site in Central Taipei was re-developed- bloody wonderful !!

Natural wonders !!!

Yangminshan National park is about 30 mins North of Taipei and if you feel energetic there are some good trails there.
On the edge of the park is Peitou - a volcanic area where there are hot springs and fumeroles spouting water and sulphur laden steam skywards.
The condensed sulphur was the source of the early gunpowder industry and poor bloody slaves and prisoners were forced to go down and scrape it up !

Ex-pat type pubs

Not really my scene but The Pig and Whistle in Tienmu was OK and their Pork knuckle with saurkraut was great !
In the town centre there is a Carniegies and a couple of Malibu places - American style steak and rib houses are everywhere!

Night Life

The 'Combat Zone' is the area behind the Sheraton hotel ( can't remember if it is in Mungchan East road or Mingshen East road but they are only a block or so apart)- any Taxi will know where it is !!
On a Saturday night it makes Bangla Road look like a convent garden !
Or so I have been told

The "Hope and Wanker '' - sorry "Hope and Anchor"- appeared to be a very popular place ( at least on the few times I was dragged reluctantly in there by my Taiwanese colleagues - )

So endeth todays lesson

Enjoy - I did for 4 years !

[Happyman]

any suggestions regarding accommodation - up to 3,000 baht.


Cheap and clean try the Erin Hotel

Erin Hotel. 10,Lane 123,Sungjiang Rd.,Taipei,Taiwan ｜ Tel : 02-2507-6666 ｜ Fax : 02-2508-1217. E-mail : service[at]city-hotel.com.tw

City centre , small but comfortable rooms , internet connection etc etc
Cant remember the price but as I was on a 'payment on completion of contract' deal it must have been reasonable 'cos I was skint when I went there ! 2004 !!!

[killerbees]

^,^^ Cheers, Happyman!

[MeMock]

seconded.

[Halfaboy]

Thank you all, much appreciated !

[pomrakuhn]

I lived and worked there for the whole of 2000 and although the people were so friendly and helpful unless you are into that kind of culture (museums etc) it is not a place I would have gone to on a holiday.
But like I say I hold great respect for the people.

[Happyman]

Where were you working then ??
Away from the cultural things you should have gone up into the central mountains at weekends - wonderful wild scenery and walks to take in ( good fishing in the streams and brooks if you are into that sort of thing), and then got a bit 'pissedish' in a village noodleshop/cafe/bar,find a B&B - stop over - back home the next day, off to work on Monday feeling great !!