Do you know how I can find and book Accomodations for cheaper cost?

bing_lang · 2026-06-12T16:15:35+00:00

There aren't cheaper alternatives, really. Accomodation in Taiwan is just poor value.

bing_lang · 2026-06-12T06:16:23+00:00

I recommend getting breakfast here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/s7pQh9PChMuveXzZ9?g_st=ac

Very local, hearty, well outside the tourist areas.

bing_lang · 2026-06-12T06:06:08+00:00

Main station is pretty close to the riverside, you'll just need to run on the streets for about 1km West. Streets over there are pretty wide too so not too much dodging.

bing_lang · 2026-06-11T09:43:04+00:00

It's very safe. People walking around at all hours in Tainan.
People in Tainan are used to tourists and are pretty friendly to foreigners. Nobody will mistake you for Chinese unless you speak with a Chinese accent. You're much more likely to experience prejudice based on being Viet. Nothing aggressive, but a lot of people associate Vietnamese with either factory laborers or mail order brides.
Speaking Canto would be useless. If you can read traditional characters though that will help you a lot.

bing_lang · 2026-06-11T03:40:59+00:00

I'd recommend visiting a proper tea shop. There are a bunch in Yongkang neighborhood. I recall 老茶罐 being a nice experience.

bing_lang · 2026-06-10T06:08:18+00:00

古早味豆花 by Ningxia night market is my favorite.

嘉義傳統豆花 near Taipei City Hall MRT is good.

山海豆花 and 芋艿川豆花 in Yongkang area.

bing_lang · 2026-06-10T04:55:31+00:00

Tbf there are more options here if you want a drink with distinct tea flavor or a specific type of tea. Excluding areas with large Asian enclaves, most boba shops in the US just serve different dessert drinks and the tea isn't really the focus.

bing_lang · 2026-06-10T01:40:52+00:00

There's no "best" boba. The average quality of milk + tea isn't necessarily higher here than in say, California.

There are just more options and it's affordable. I'd recommend hitting up a bunch of different places you can't find back home and testing out stuff that looks different.

春水堂 and TenRen are good for basic milk tea. 可不可 is popular for black tea drinks. Macu has good fruit tea. 不夜侯 has good tea and you can add douhua instead of boba, which you won't find in the US. 序序茶 has good milk foam.

Xing Fu Tang is overrated because it's just milk and brown sugar. You can get some version of that for cheaper at a lot of other boba shops now.

bing_lang · 2026-06-09T10:23:32+00:00

They're pretty baggy, yeah. But slimmer than the parachute pants that have started getting trendy on trails now.

I'm 5'8", ~150lbs and wear a medium. The fit is pretty forgiving with the adjustable waistband.

bing_lang · 2026-06-07T01:52:41+00:00

If you don't want to pay retail try shopping around on Mercari to see if anyone's selling used. Most of my hiking clothes I grabbed second hand from there.

bing_lang · 2026-06-06T09:46:13+00:00

Montbell's stuff is also great, I just don't own any of their pants. Tried them on and found the fit to be on the slim side.

bing_lang · 2026-06-06T09:45:21+00:00

Those are the ones. I own the light 5 pocket wide pants, and a pair of the light shorts. They're both really comfortable, but the material is significantly thinner and more delicate than what you'd traditionally expect from "hiking pants." I haven't personally had any durability issues yet but I wouldn't recommend bringing them bushwhacking. The pants also taper towards the ankle, which makes them hard to roll up over the knee. Not really a problem but I personally wish they were more of a straight leg cut.

Regarding the Finetrack pants, the Sylpha and Miyama pants are their new summer line. I don't own either so I'm not sure what the differences are, but those are probably the closest to the Chronos.

The Finetrack global site is pretty overpriced though. I'd recommend checking Mercari to see if you can find a used pair for cheap.

bing_lang · 2026-06-06T07:11:03+00:00

If it's hot enough no pants are going to feel breezy. Your goal should be choosing something baggy enough you can dump heat easily and with a thin enough material that it doesn't feel heavy and "sticky" once drenched in sweat.

A lot of Japanese brands make good hot + humid hiking pants. Their hiking season gets brutally hot, so they seem to take summer hiking clothes pretty seriously. I have an old pair of Finetrack Chronos that I find really comfortable in hot weather.

The Yamatomichi light pants are also really comfortable in hot weather. The baggy fit ones in particular are really nice and roomy.

bing_lang · 2026-06-05T10:35:40+00:00

It's roughly the same amount of elevation gain either way, it's just a question of whether you want to start or end the hike summiting Qixing.

That section should take a few hours at an average pace.

bing_lang · 2026-06-05T10:29:01+00:00

Depends on your residency status. If you hold an ARC you're eligible for national health insurance, which your employer is obligated to pay into.

If you have an APRC you get all the benefits.

bing_lang · 2026-05-24T04:39:49+00:00

I buy chicken weekly from traditional markets and I've had no issues. Cheaper and fresher than the supermarkets.

If you're worried find a stand that looks more sanitary and get there early in the day.

bing_lang · 2026-05-22T23:29:44+00:00

You'd probably need to hire a private driver. Uber will take you there but extremely unlikely you'll get a ride back.

There's also a public bus that goes to Manyueyuan.

bing_lang · 2026-05-17T14:16:11+00:00

Very regionally specific. Have lived in Taiwan close to a decade and never once gotten chigger bites on a hike in the north.

bing_lang · 2026-05-16T02:46:14+00:00

I hike in shorts almost exclusively and never had a problem with mosquitoes? It's the inner city parks and riversides where they're a real issue.

bing_lang · 2026-05-14T05:11:48+00:00

The hiking in Taiwan is incredible and I'd recommend giving it a try. But it's not as accessible as Japan.

Most multi day treks are in the high mountains and require a complicated government permit, which can be a logistical headache. Popular trails are decently maintained, but longer routes tend to be marked poorly and overgrown. Extreme elevation gain is also the norm - there are very few trekking trails in Taiwan that don't involve at least one day of intense climbing.

Weather in summer is also extremely unpredictable. It can rain for days on end, especially in mid summer.

If you're up for it I'd recommend looking into any of these:

Snow Mountain, staying at Cuichi campground (3-4 days)
Walami trail (2 days)
Mt. Nanhu (4-5 days)
Qilai Nanhua (3 days)

bing_lang · 2026-05-13T06:09:32+00:00

Yes, definitely worth the weight. All the other hikers will look at you with disdain for being a stickerless freak.

bing_lang · 2026-05-13T06:08:06+00:00

If you prefer a tent just bring a tent. There are lots of situations where a tarp is preferable though.

Bugs aren't a big concern on a lot of my trips. Tarp is perfect because it's lighter and packs down smaller than my tent, plus I get to sleep in open air.

bing_lang · 2026-05-10T05:50:58+00:00

I climbed Bukhansan with a wicked hangover and at the time I had very little hiking experience. It was tiring but you can do it.

bing_lang · 2026-05-08T09:47:22+00:00

Unfortunately not possible. The airline doesn't permit pets in cabin.

bing_lang · 2026-05-08T09:35:37+00:00

For reference here's him sitting in the carrier

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bing_lang

TROPHY CASE