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Showing posts from 2008

Having a baby in Taiwan

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Having a baby in Taiwan has left me too busy and tired to write about it. The above is a clinic in Yonghe, just across the river from Taipei City reasonably close to Dingxi MRT station. This was my first time going through the process, so I have nothing to compare it to. I was generally satisfied with the clinic, and will probably go back again if the need arises. The doctor went to med school in the US, so he can speak English but clearly is more comfortable speaking Chinese. The nursing staff for the most part do not speak English. This was fine for me since my wife speaks Chinese.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant

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http://www.gordonbiersch.com Now open in the Xinyi District. They have a nice selection of beers and the pizza is good too. The pizza toppings are very flavorful, only the crust leaves a little more to be desired. The price is a little high, but not outrageous. Beers are $210 per glass, or you can order 6 beers for $999, which makes it significantly cheaper if your party will drink that much. It is on the second floor and they have outdoor seating on the sky walk. If you are coming by MRT, use the Taipei City Hall Station. Walk South to Songgao Rd. and between the Eslite Bookstore Building and the Shin Kong A4 Building there are stairs to the sky walk. When there is a left hand turn you will see the restaurant straight across this bridge, which is the A11 building. Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant  Xinyi Store Taiwan • 地址:台北市信義區松壽路11號2F (新光三越信義新天地 A11館) • Address:2F,No.11, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City 110, Tai

Japanese Style Pork Restaurant

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This restaurant specializes in fried port. Meal sets include a drink, white rice, miso soup, dessert, and 2 types of pork. It is around the corner from NY Bagels. If you eat pork you will find something you like here. Menus are in Chinese only but have photos.

Pharmacies

There are many small pharmacies throughout Taipei. If you know what you need, many medications which may be available by prescription only in your home country may be available over the counter. Of course, there are still some medications that are only available through a doctor or hospital such as opiate based pain killers. A larger pharmacy which is often suggested if you are looking for something hard to find is the Shanghai Pharmacy. Shanghai Pharmacy 衡陽路32號 / Héngyáng Lù 32 Hào / Hengyang Rd., No. 32 walking distance from Ximen MRT (Blue line, just west of main station). Use Exit 4. Hengyang ends at 228 Park.

518 Local Bus

The 518 runs regularly throughout the day. The 518 starts at Taipei Main Station and then stops at Shuanglian MRT Station (2 stations north of main station on the Red-Danshui Line). It then follows Minsheng Rd. to the end before turning south to Songshan Train Station. It then goes to Neihu before turning around and reversing its route. If you catch the 518 from Shuanglian going east during morning rush hour be prepared for a cramped and painful experience. There are times when the bus is filled beyond capacity, and people need to wait for the next bus. Since there is no orderly line in place, getting on the next bus can be just as bad as trying to get on the first bus.

Outback

Official Website The Outback Steakhouse is located next to Ikea at the Asiaworld Mall on the corner of Nanjing and Dunhua Roads. There is also a branch in the Xinyi District .

Xinyi District Update

From the Shinkong A4 Building (next to the Eslite Bookstore Building) you can take the skyway to the theater complex, New York New York, and Taipei 101. There is a staircase from the sidewalk, so you don't have to go inside.

Shipping your scooter within Taiwan

機車托運 jīchē tuōyùn / scooter freight I never finished researching this topic, but I know it is possible to arrange transport within Taiwan. If you are leaving Taiwan and want to take a scooter with you, it is best to forget about it. Most countries have import restrictions. If allowed it will not be cost efficient. It's best to plan on selling your scooter and buying a new one at your next destination.

Taiwan Tourism Bureau

Taiwan Tourism Bureau: http://www.taiwantourism.org Check out the Tourism Bureau's Events Calendar for upcoming events.

Jolly

They brew their own beer. You can get a sampler set and taste them all. I visited the Qingcheng St. location which is near the Nanjing E. Rd. MRT Station. If you walk directly out the only exit, it will be on the left hand side, just past Hooters which is on the right hand side. They have outdoor seating. ‧ Jolly Taipei City, Qingcheng St. , No. 29 / 北市慶城街29號 02 8712 9098 慶城街 Qìngchéng Jiē ‧ Jolly 423 Jinhu Rd., Neihu District, Taipei (北市內湖區金湖路423號) 02 2632 2229

Toilet Restaurants

I have not yet visited this novelty, and I don't have plans to do so. I heard the food tastes like shit, and it certainly looks like it. The Toilet Bowl Modern Toilet

Map Links

Taipei City: http://www.dot.taipei.gov.tw/dot2004/EN/web/map_en921103.jpg Mapquest : They have a map, but no point-to-point directions. As with most English language map sites, the Romanization is questionable. Maporama : They offer a decent map. It does include a search function to map from point-to-point. The site is randomly about half English and half French. MRT Station area maps : they have detailed maps of areas around each station. The maps are not always formatted with North on top, so be sure to check if you orient yourself that way. Taiwan Map : This site lets you search by landmark or street. I don't care for this site. The map is not detailed and the search function can be frustrating.

Greatest Sports Team Name Ever

It can only be the Taiwan Beer .

Postal Services

Tealit Rate Comparisons Taiwan's Post Office: International Parcel Postage Rates English Home Page DHL: English website Chinese website for Taiwan Customer Service: 0800-769-888 UPS: English Website English Website for Taiwan Telephone: 0800-365-868

Suggested Sites in and around Taipei

Most of these sites have their own entries somewhere on this site. Sites in Taipei Taipei 101 Building Observatory I haven’t been up yet, but if we get a clear day we should go. CKS Memorial This is easy to see and can be done quickly. It is a large plaza surrounded by ornate Chinese buildings. This is where a lot of the political rallies and holiday festivals take place. Longshan Temple / Snake Alley / Night Market Longshan is a small but very nice temple. Snake Alley is creepy and as the name implies they have snakes. There is a good night market which is like a flea market. They are all within walking distance of each other. National Palace Museum This is a little boring, but a very cultural experience. Lots of Chinese antiques and artifacts. YangMingShan National Park A mountain inside just off of the city. Maokong Teahouse/Zhinan Temple This is an excellent temple located in the mountains. There are also sco

East Coast

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Sun Moon Lake

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Tealit Directions

MRT Map with tones

see Romanization.com This is a very useful site if you want to actually pronounce your destination instead of pushing name cards at the taxi driver.

Airport

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The Taoyuan Taiwan International Airport (formerly CKS airport, and still using this as the airport code) is Taiwan's primary international airport and is the only option for international arrivals to Taipei. If you arrive here and are flying to another destination within Taiwan, you will need to transfer to the Songshan Domestic Airport which is located inside Taipei City. Official Site: http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/web/english/about/all_e.jsp airport buses: This is a simple and cheap option with regular buses to Taipei and other destinations. airport limos which are actually nicely kept Mercedes Benz sedans are available for a reasonable rate. Otherwise taxis are always an option. Pets (and other items subject to quarantine): http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/web/english/tourist/commodity_e.jsp

Burger King

台北市大安區信義路三段 122 號 / Taipei City, Daan District, Xinyi Rd, Sec. 3, No. 122. This is between AIT and Jianguo Rd. on the same side as AIT. It is also near Daan Park. 台北市信義區松壽路 16 號 2 樓 Taipei City, Xinyi District, Songshou Rd. No. 16, 2F. This is located in the food court of the theater complex (Formerly Warner Village) . 美麗華店 台北市中山區敬業三路 20 號 B1. This is in the food court of the Miramar . There is one on Dunhua S. Rd. Sec. 2 at the South-west corner of the Heping Rd. intersection. See the complete list of BKs in Chinese only See the complete list of BKs put through a machine translation

Why does it hurt when I pee?

If you need to ask this question, then get yourself to the clinic located near Ximen MRT Station . Go to the 2nd floor. I don't have the exact address but you can find it on the map. What does Forumosa have to say: Health and Fitness Why does it hurt when I pee? STDs?