Ben's Guide to Taipei and Taiwan

I hope people continue to find this info useful, but comments will be locked. I don't update this anymore. Ben

The Journal of a Recovering Taiwanaholic may give some insights for those among us who have been here too long and are ready to return "home".

Original post on Fulong can be found here: http://taipeiguide.blogspot.com/2006/05/camping-at-fulong-beach.html I was hesitant to stay at such a large campsite but it is spread out enough that if it is not at full capacity it is a very nice campsite with good facilities. Most of the camp sites have some shade, but some more than others. Most have picnic tables. The bathroom and camp sites are reasonably clean. There is a pedestrian and bike only area with wooden tent platforms. There are old Carrefour shopping carts that can be used to push your gear from the car to the camp site. There are also drive in camp sites which were more popular. There are a limited number of cabins with private bath. There is a a bath and toilet house with hot water, a camp store selling very basic supplies (including flashlights, batteries, stoves, stove fuel, bottled water, 2 brands of beer, ice, Coke), a large covered picnic area (which some people also use to camp out of the rain). There is a walking/bi...

Wulai 烏來 There is an open air restaurant featuring wood fire whole roasted chicken. Coming from Xindian, there is a bus stop at the 4 km marker, just past this on the left is the restaurant. They have parking in the rear. http://taipeiguide.blogspot.com/2006/05/wulai.html

Sanxia can be reached by car or scooter on Highway 110. From Taipei County, Zhonghe City, AnPing Rd, go South into Xindian, and this will become Highway 110. Watch for signs toward Sanxia and Yingge. Queens Town campground is a large private riverside park in Sanxia. They have a swimming pool, restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, river access, hiking trail access, a small general store with only bare essentials, picnic areas with shade tents, and campsites, There are a few cabins with more under construction. Every campsite has parking, electricity, water, and large wooden platforms. Most campsites lack picnic tables and privacy. To reach Queens Town, from Taipei on Highway 110 turn left at the 33 km marker. There are other campsites in the area, including at least one which offers paint ball gun games. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sansia

Toys R Us Xinsheng Branch 台北新生店 地址： 台北市新生北路二段28號1樓(長春路口) Taipei city, Xin Sheng N. Rd, Sec. 2, No 28 1F

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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 .

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.

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

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

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

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.

It can only be the Taiwan Beer .

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