Fresh from Taiwan: My Unfiltered Thoughts!
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Here's my sharing of the impressions from a self-planned trip to Taiwan, for those who are planning on going there:
Firstly, Taiwanese men tend to look well put-together, wearing clothes with deliberate style.
(We mainland Chinese boys really could learn a lot from this: at least keep the hair clean and free from oiliness, okay?)Not just the boys, girls also speak in a gentle and soft voice, which is particularly pleasant. Listening to them talk made me feel much more relaxed and I would unconsciously slow down my speech too.
Their pace of life feels slow and leisurely with almost no one seen rushing on the roadways.
Even the motorcycle-riding food deliverymen don't appear to be in any hurry.All kinds of tea milk tea shops litter the streets — so many unfamiliar brands not seen in mainland China!
The prices are similar, approximately NT$60-70 per cup (roughly RMB15). Surprisingly, their tea milk tends to be lighter, with a stronger tea taste. Moreover, boys AND girls both seem to love tea milk, seen everywhere with a cup in hand.Convenience stores like 7 Eleven and Family Mart are everywhere too. It feels like most people solve their daily meals there!
And the flavors inside the stores' drink coolers, sandwiches, and all kinds of boxed meals (termed "Bento") taste really good!On food: fried chicken cutlet is unmissable!
The meat is tender and juicy, not dry at all and served on the bone as well — if mainland China had this kind of cutlet, it would be amazing! Overall, their cooking style is light and slightly sweet. Their beef noodles are also delicious but tend to be on the salty side.
*Meal tip: Order "half tendon half meat" to enjoy a richer texture!Japanese restaurant-style and Teppanyaki grills were also many and good, without high prices.
Traveling by rail (similar to our high-speed rail) is also interesting:
No real-name system is needed to buy tickets.
If you only purchased a non-designated seat ticket, you can take any train on the day with that ticket and sit anywhere if there is an available seat, otherwise standing for a while. But the carriage is pretty quiet and everyone remains considerate.Taiwanese Railway Bento Boxes (Taiwan railway's boxed meals) seem quite well-known, cheap yet delicious. Many people will deliberate queue to purchase it as they ride on the train, probably their one form of customs or ritual?
Taiwan streets almost don't have garbage bins!
I walked several streets carrying my empty tea milk cup with no place to dispose of it, ending up taking it back to my hotel before dumping it. Hence, it might be best to carry your own small trash bag.Taxi and Uber drivers were all extremely polite, overall seem good-natured.
Especially taxi cabs, which are spotless inside without cigarette smell (mainland China taxi drivers should learn from this!).Taipei seems to be filled with relatively old-looking buildings and hotels with similarly aged facilities at not cheap prices.
In comparison, Taichung left an especially good impression on me!
With high value for the price, comfortable climate and delicious food.If I have the opportunity to return to Taiwan next time, I must stay longer in Taichung.
Intending to find a room overlooking Sun Moon Lake, stroll around the old streets, try out the local snacks, etc. -
I'd love to go to Taiwan for some bubble tea.
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Taiwanese milk tea generally tastes lighter than what you find in mainland China.
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My travel buddy recently went to Taipei and the snacks they brought back were amazing! All my friends who've been to Taiwan also rave about it.
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What kind of snacks? I want to buy some!
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You know to order beef noodles with half tendon and half meat! Pro move!
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Haha, a Taiwanese colleague told me that.
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Taiwanese don't necessarily drink milk tea every day, but coffee lovers often need their daily cup.
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I really loved Sun Moon Lake. The only downside was that many shops closed too early.
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Great, you're welcome to visit again! Wishing you good health and all the best!
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Actually, most Taiwanese who frequent drink shops usually opt for pure teas, often unsweetened or with just a little sugar. Milk tea is more of an occasional treat.
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Exactly! I'm a big fan of black tea.
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Does Taiwanese milk tea keep you up at night?
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I don't think I had that issue! I had one or two cups every day for the two weeks I was there, though I might have just been going to bed late. It seems like black tea-based ones are much better in that regard.
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For the High-Speed Rail, non-reserved seat tickets are only valid for designated non-reserved cars, not just any car. The number of non-reserved cars can vary by train schedule.
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Oh right, I remember now! There are specific cars you have to be in.
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I really want to go to Taiwan!