As I've had a very interesting couple of days (or rather weeks) and we're still in the middle of unpacking our stuff in the new place I thought it would be nice to write about why so many foreigners stay and live in Taiwan (beside having a good job, obviously) instead of going back to their home country or choosing another destination. After going through tons of pictures and forums I ended up with 5 reasons for which we love Taiwan. The list is not chronological (as in it's not from the least important reason to the top one). Take a look and let me know if you agree (or disagree!).
No. 1
Jest bardzo bezpiecznie!
Jako osoba pochodzaca z kraju, gdzie zostawienie roweru nieprzyczepionego do plotu/czegokolwiek rowna sie nie posiadaniu roweru, mieszkanie na Tajwanie sprawia, ze czuje sie bardzo bezpieczna pod tym wzgledem. Nigdy nie widzialam na oczy zlodzieja, czy kieszonkowca, wielokrotnie zostawilam torebke na krzesle w lokalu, gdy musialam isc zlozyc zamowienie, i nigdy nie zostala ona skradziona, a strzezone podworza wedlug mnie nie maja w ogole sensu. Chcesz sie przejsc w srodku nocy, ale boisz sie bo jestes dziewczyna w okolicach 20stki? Nie ma problemu. Jedyna rzecza, ktora moze ci sie przydarzyc to spotkanie przypadkowego przechodnia usmiechajacego sie do ciebie.
It's super safe!
Coming from the country where leaving your bike untied to the nearest fence/whatever means not having a bike anymore, living in Taiwan makes me feel very safe and secure in this area. I've never seen any thieves, I left my bag several times on the chair and went to order something and it's never been stolen, and I think having a guarded neighborhood just doesn't make sense. Want to take a walk in the middle of the night but you're scared because you're a girl in your early twenties? No worries. The only thing that can happen to you is a another pedestrian passing by and smiling at you.
No. 2
Spozywczaki.
Wszedzie, gdzie sie da!
Jestes glodny, ale jest srodek nocy, a Tobie nie chce sie gotowac? Nie ma problemu! Prawdopodobiensto jest, ze przynajmniej 3 spozycze, gdzie mozesz zjesc/wypic/zaplacic rachunki o kazdej porze dnia i nocy, sa w twojej okolicy. Chcesz zabukowac bilet na pociag lub do kina? Ponownie wybierz sie do spozywczaka! 7/11, Family Mart, czy High Life sa doslownie wszedzie, czasami naprzeciw siebie oddzielone jedynie ulica.
Convenience stores.
Everywhere!
You're hungry but it's the middle of the night and you're too lazy to cook? No problem! There are probably at least 3 stores around your place where you can go eat/drink/pay your bills anytime convenient for you. Wanna book a train ticket or go to the cinema? Again, go to the convenience store! 7/11, Family Mart or High Life are literally everywhere, sometimes facing each other across the street.
No. 3
Sklepy z babelkowa herbata.
Moze jestem nienormalna, ale bez nich nie potrafie juz zyc! Nie chodzi tylko o ich przepyszna herbate babelkowa, ale takze o soki, lemoniady i wiele wiele innych. Lubisz herbate, ale boisz sie, ze bedzie przeslodzona? Sklepy herbaciane na Tajwanie dopasuja wszystko pod ciebie - wybierz poziom cukru od 0, przez 30, 50, 70, 90 lub 100% i temperature herbaty - zimna, chlodna, pokojowa, ciepla lub goraca. Wszystko po to, zeby twoj ulubiony napoj byl tak pyszny, jak to tylko mozliwe. Najpopularniejsze sklepy to prawdopodobnie 50C, Coco i Orange. Jezeli jestes na Tajwanie i jeszcze ich nie sprobowales - nie wiesz ile tracisz.
Bubble Tea Stores.
Call me crazy but I can no longer live without those! It's not only about delicious bubble tea they serve but also juice, lemonade and many others. You like tea but are afraid they put too much sugar? Tea stores in Taiwan have their drink adjustable for your needs - choose the amount of sugar from 0, through 30, 50, 70, 90 and 100% and the temperature you wish your drink to have - from cold, to cool, room temperature, warm or hot. All to please you and make your favorite drink as yummy as possible. The most popular stores would probably be 50C, Coco and Orange. If you are in Taiwan and haven't tried these yet you're missing a lot.
source: http://beyondthe38thparallel.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/milk-tea-and-bubble-tea/ |
source: http://beyondthe38thparallel.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/milk-tea-and-bubble-tea/ |
source: http://beyondthe38thparallel.wordpress.com/2012/10/09/milk-tea-and-bubble-tea/ |
No. 4
Nocne Markety.
Prawdopodobnie najbardziej ekscytujace miejsca na Tajwanie. Otwierane sa zwykle wczesnym wieczorem i trwaja do poznej nocy. Mozna tam kupic doslownie wszystko - od jedzenia i picia, przez ubrania, buty i akcesoria az do zwierzat i zabawek. Chodzenie tam w weekendy moze rownac sie samobojstwu dlatego polecam wybranie sie na nocny market w srodku tygodnia. Liczba ludzi w soboty i niedziele jest niebotyczna, przez co trudno cieszyc sie marketem, gdy ciagle sie na kogos wpada.
Night Markets.
Probably the most exciting places in Taiwan. They usually start in the early evening and finish late at night. You can buy there literally everything starting with food and drinks, through clothes, shoes, accessories to pets and toys. As long as going there on a weekend equals a suicide, going in the middle of the week might be a good choice. The amount of people on Saturdays and Sundays is unimaginable and it's simply hard to enjoy while bumping into everyone around.
No. 5
Jedzenie.
Tak bardzo, jak kocham gotowac musze przyznac, ze stalam sie pod tym wzgledem leniwa, odkad przyjechalam na Tajwan. Prawda jest taka, ze nikt tak naprawde tu nie gotuje ,a zamiast tego wszyscy wychodza z domu zeby cos zjesc. Od tanich stoisk na ulicach po drogie, wykwintne restauracje, Taiwan ma wszystko co mozesz sobie wyobrazic. Moimi ulubionymi sa restauracje w formie bufetu z systemem "eat all you can". Zauwazylam, ze Tajwanczycy tak naprawde jedza CALY CZAS - podczas spotkania ze znajomymi beda sie przemieszczac z jednego lokalu do drugiego i cieszyc sie duzym wyborem roznego jedzenia, ktore jest oferowane. Moze sie to wydawac dziwne, ale jest bardzo wygodne i pyszne.
Eating out!
As much as I love cooking I have to say I've become a bit lazy since arriving in Taiwan. The truth is nobody really cooks here and goes out to eat instead. From cheap food stands on the street to expensive restaurants, Taiwan has it all. My favorite here are buffet restaurants with "eat all you can" system. From as far as I noticed everyone eats ALL THE TIME - while meeting up with friends they can just transfer from one place to another just to enjoy a variety of food the place has to offer. It's insane but very convenient and, oh well, yummy.