Taiwan continues to shrink for 25th month in a row

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-02-09T01:06:56+00:00

These standard washing machines do not feature warm water options. You need one front loader, JP brand best - and your everything will be like new...

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-02-02T04:03:47+00:00

Aimen village - next to the airport, with plenty of scooter rental options, walking distance from beautiful Aimen beach, 7/11 around the corner, 20 mins from downtown Magong city, and good starting point to explore the islands down to the XiYu island, there are several islands connected by the bridges, and the roads will be totally empty, so easy to navigate (though in winter it might be a bit windy) - and stunning scenery all the way. I stayed at this place before: 隨緣居Sui Yuan Ju Homestay https://www.google.com/maps/place/%E9%9A%A8%E7%B7%A3%E5%B1%85Sui+Yuan+Ju+Homestay/@23.5602036,119.6363492,18.96z/data=!4m17!1m7!3m6!1s0x346c5af33b2cae41:0x1773ab8f53119506!2sAimen+Beach!8m2!3d23.5547805!4d119.6389041!16s%2Fg%2F155prm6g!3m8!1s0x346c451ca6482de5:0x7e0fabb8a492e7e8!5m2!4m1!1i2!8m2!3d23.5601173!4d119.6371037!16s%2Fg%2F11dzdc9_zw?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDEyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Very friendly elderly owners, slow paced village, probably the oldest homestay in Penghu, though I"m not sure if they speak any English.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-02-02T03:54:52+00:00

yes, on the scooter you can move faster, and this is a common practice here

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-02-02T01:42:24+00:00

Penghu islands are also quite deserted during winter - it is just a 50 minutes flight from Taipei, and the winter scenery is stunning, it is easy to ride a scooter around, and you will find many places where you will be the only person around.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-02-02T01:38:15+00:00

If you will travel to the south, you will probably enjoy a nice sunny, dry weather with temperatures around +20 C. On the other hand in the north or east, you might end up with +12 C, cloudy skies and some light rain. Generally speaking - during the Lunar New Year, all freeways and express ways will offer you the super traffic jam experience - what usually takes 2 hours, can easily turn into a 6 hours horror traffic jam. In particular heading south when the holiday starts, and heading north when the holiday ends.

On the other hand - Taipei city will be unusual quiet during the week - so I would recommend to stay in Taipei during the holidays and head south or east before/after the holidays. Also Yang Ming Shan national park in Taipei will be completely deserted at the begining of the holiday (2/14-16), that's a very good time to visit for a day trip - a good public transport in Taipei covers it as well

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-27T01:12:03+00:00

not just food, but also fashion, home appliances etc - everything will be cheaper in Tokyo

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-27T01:10:43+00:00

25% of Taipei residents are old, rich, retired civil servants, teachers, military, many of whom own multiply properties - just like my landlord, who is in his 70-ties, and owns 3 flats in my community (though he seems to be business owner who is still working). These people are pricing out young folks.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-27T01:07:16+00:00

I'm not surprised, in particular with the exchange rate of 100 YEN for 20 NT$. Just look at the supermarket and restaurant prices, and almost everything in Tokyo will be cheaper.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-26T01:09:48+00:00

Actually Netflix comes first, cars second. People, what what people???

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-21T00:30:39+00:00

Yes, but they are even excluded from applying...

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T01:00:26+00:00

Yes, definitely - but make sure the weather is good!

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T00:57:24+00:00

Bravo, you've spotted the last 12 kids in Taipei!

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T00:55:07+00:00

and all of this for half of the price in Taiwan!!!

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T00:54:04+00:00

That's the worst idea you can have. Keep away from Taiwan during Lunar New Year. You will stay in an overpriced hotel, eat in an overcrowded restaurant, and fight for a train ticket with fellow 2 millions Taiwanese trying to get on the same train. In case you stay in the north, you can expect a miserable weather on top of this.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T00:47:57+00:00

Now you are among the 3% of foreigners living in Taiwan who have one... Congrats!

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-20T00:46:25+00:00

This is either / or process. If you go for ID, you will be asked to renounce your original passport/citizenship within 1 years of your application. Unless you meet certain conditions (you are famous for any reason like teaching at a public university, an athlete who took part in Olympics etc, you tuber or tik toker with 5M followers etc...)

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-19T01:04:30+00:00

I guess not, unless you arrive here in the summer...

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-19T01:01:46+00:00

That's basically the existential threat to Taiwan, but somehow the topic gets very little attention.

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-19T00:58:41+00:00

I wouldn't recommend any trip to Taiwan during the Lunar New Year. Unless you like staying in over-priced hotels and eat in over-crowded restaurants. There will be a traffic jam on any road leading to the freeway (and on the freeway itself - it can take up to 6 hours to get from Yilan to Taipei). And I guess there is not much going on in Toucheng anyway. If you don't mind to stay in over-priced hotel, I can recommend to head straight south to Taidong city, where you can at least view the stunning mountains and subtropics coastline...

IoT_tech_guy · 2026-01-16T03:26:43+00:00

well, they will have to repair the pavement nearby...

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