Hi guys just thought that I would put my two cents worth in here. First I will say, "I love your show." It reminds me of when I was 23 and traveled the South Pacific. You have done a lot of what I did in Oz and NZ many years ago. You all have a great outlook on life and your travels. Try getting out of Taipei though. The cities here are not that great but the country is fantastic. Take it from a guy who has been here for 15 years(still bad Chinese though). Come a bit south of Taipei and see the countryside. Try Yinko(pronounced Ing Ge(Gutterral "G" and not "J")) There you can see some great pottery, tea sets adnd lot's of other things. The country you will see while taking the train down is fantastic.

You may also want to visit the beaches. Some are great, others are very dirty but they are still a site to see. Down here in Yang Mei it is more of the country and small town area. The mountains, etc. are great. Also the huge million dollar homes(USD that is, not NT) Bye the way, the conversion is 35 NT for 1 USD. So think that $100NT is about $3USD. That might be a bit of help.

If you need to use the restroom try a kids way of saying it and you will not get it wrong and they will have a laugh. It adds to the moment. You can say "Neeow, Neeow", or "knee ow, knee ow" as one word. That means "Pee, Pee". They will get the message.

If the weather let's up then maybe a 4wheeling trip to the mountains and beach would interest you. Both can be done in one day, this island is small. Along with that you could try some local cuisine. Some like BBQ squid(great), Gung Pao chicken, Tea eggs(maybe some like on "Fear Factor"(good actually), some different tofu(pronounced "Doe Fu") or many others. I would need a bit of advance notice to get some other jeeps together but it can be done. Sunday June 4th would be okay for a day trip, if you are up for it(if not too hung over, and weather okay). If not great, then just hit the black sand beach in the rain. I don't know how long you are here but let me know.

Too bad the weather sucks right now. Usually it is not this bad(honest). If you ever wish to come back and work for a year to really experience it then let me know. Sorry for the long post. You can try me at hereintw on hotmail if you wish to further this conversation. Later, and have a great time. Remember the bathroom words, they may save your shorts.

Hi gang,
Try getting out ot Taipei. I wrote a long one but don't see it posted so here is a short one. Take it from an oldtimer here(15 yrs). If the other one get's on then it will explain more. Come down south more to Ying Ge(pronounced "Ing Ge" gutteral "g" not "J") Down to Yang Mei and check out the mountains and beaches around here. Black sand beaches. Try the local food. Have a few drinks. Go 4wheeling, some pretty extreme. If interested then give me a shout. I am hereintw on the Seattle based message system. The email too. I think you can figure that out. They won't let me post the full one on here. Bye for now and enjoy Taiwan, the beautiful island(outside of Taipei).

Hi again,
I would like to say the show is great. You guys are great travelers. You remind me of when I traveled the pacific and asia. It brings back some great memories for me, thanks.

I would like to suggest that you head to Taroko Gorge close to Hualien. It is in the marble mountains. It is beautiful. The road is carved out of the side of these awesome marble mountains. The old road is fun to walk on now. Just a couple years ago that was the only road through the gorge. It is hard to imagine buses and buses of people travelling on that road. It is one of the best places in Taiwan for sure, so check it out. Hit the National Palace museum, the best in the world for Chinese artifacts(only 1/3 of the things are ever on display at one time).

You all say you are having trouble converting money. Here is a simple trick. The exchange is $35NT to $1USD so that makes it about $3USD for every $100NT. Think of it that way and it might be easier.

Tony, here is a new phrase for you. To use when you have to use the restroom. It is the kids way of saying it but it will get the message across and all will have a laugh too. The words are "neeow, neeow" or "knee ow, knee ow"(say these together, as one flowing word). That simply means you have to tinkle. It is not "bathroom" but it is easier to say and people will understand. You can also have a laugh with it.

You might also want to say "Tai Gway" when you are bargaining. That means "Too expensive". By the way, always bargain here. You could also use "Peeyen ye ee dee en"(kind of slur it all together) which means "Cheaper". Now, go for it.

Maybe try the tea eggs, or jelly eggs(like the ones on Fear Factor). Definitely try the BBQ squid and the various chicken parts(all really good). Don't forget to try the fish and almond snacks. If you like mustard then try the wasabi peanuts(great with beer). Here is something you can do here but not at home, go to the kitchen in a restaurant and watch them cook(don't look at anything else though, or you might not eat). Some will even let you help cook your order(don't do this in a big fancy restaurant though). Try it.

The weather looks good today so enjoy the warmth. If it is clearing up then it is going to get hot. Have fun. If you would like to take an adventure down this way, maybe wheeling(in the mountains or beach) or other, then give me a shout and I will see what I can set up.

There is this really cool modern monastary in Pali. It was designed by the same guy who disigned Taipei 101. Also go on top of that because its the highest building in the world and the mountains in the rest of the island are stunning.

Me again,
Hope all is going well. I just thought about another thing you HAVE to do while you are here. Get your hair washed!!! That's right, it is great and it takes about 1 hour to get it done. The cost is between $100NT($3USD) and $300($9USD) so it is not too expensive. You have to get a good place to make it really worthwhile. But most will be pretty good. I know a great one but it is down here in Chung Li, about a 50 min. train ride from Taipei. If you do want to come down, I will treat. The train ride will give you a nice view of the countryside too. The hair wash is for guys and girls, so anyone can try it.

For the partiers, try the Plush nightclub this Sat.. They are having their bikini night. So babes in bikinis, can't go wrong there. Phone the radio station ICRT(English radio station) to get yourselves some free tickets. Go party!

Hi all,
Taipei has been quite the adventure!
Thanks so much for the input about
this city. We have been turning to
the boards for our research. Your posts make
us aware of things we would probably never know about otherwise.

When Tiff and I were at the hot springs, I said to her: "This is amazing. Where did you find out about this?"
She responded:
"The message boards."

Many thanks,
Renee

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself in Taipei!

Hi,
The bikini party is on Fri. not Sat., sorry. By the way, you cannot get monkey brains in Guanshi or other places in Taiwan anymore(unless a very well connected gangster) as was suggested earlier. You might be interested in trying snake blood. It is good for your virility, they say(so, good before you head to the bikini party).


Tony try this one. "Peejoe" that means beer. Try "ee ping peejoe" that means one(ee) bottle(ping) of beer(peejoe). If you cannot say something then just say it in English with a sort of Japanese sound and sometimes it is close enough to Japanese for them to understand too. Sounds funny but it works sometime.

Renee, you wanted to try the scooter/motorcycle. In Chinese it is "moto che" with a hard "ch" sound(chicken)and not soft like in French. Try it, I think you will have a blast, just hang on and wear a helmet.

I am glad that you are enjoying Taiwas, well, Taipei now. The hotsprings are great aren't they? Well have fun and try as much as you can. The weather is getting better now so things should be more fun.

I've been reading some of your blogs ya'll are doing GREAT! Tony in Taiwan people ask where the hand washing room is rather than restroom or bath room so it's something like "She Show Jian" to be phonetic about it- buut as ya'll have discovered -watch out for the "tones". I'm just sad that last nights travel channel episode was still on New Zeland! -Have fun, Hong Kong will have some similarities, and lots of great food too.

tjs, shi ling night market is amazing! they have this fried chicken(taiwanese flavored) stall, it's extremely cheap for a big peice of chicken, and it's delicious! there are a few different stalls but you'll be able to spot this one from the long line. they are located on each end of the market. the line may seem long but it goes fast. there's also a pan fried meat bun store(not a stand/stall) at shi ling with a green sign which will also have a line in front of it(also quick). you also must try the 'yeo yu gun'(squid soup) while there. shi ling is a great place to explore local flavor and a cheap cheap place to eat! wan hwa night market by long shan temple is a great place to get some snake meat. the best snake restaurant there has a big, fake snake on a tree in the back of the restaurant. the snake soup might not be to your taste but worth a try. definitely get the stir fried snake if you do decide to try snake and while you're there, wan hwa night market also has the best ground pork with rice. it's chunks of bacon pork, stewed for hours in spices, and topped on rice. fattening but so worth it! super cheap as well. ya'll must eat the entire time ya'll are there or your time will be wasted!!!!! oh god, i miss the food!!!!!

To:Tiffany

I think I need to say something about the way you felt (about not being understood) when traveling in Taipei.

Actually, most of the teens in Taipei do speak English. Just we are afarid of talking to a native speaker. In addtion, most of the foreigners in Taipei speak Chinese or Taiwanese. That's why we don't normally go up to a foreigner and ask them if they need help.

And I am sorry that you feel uncomfortable when we stared at you. Because we're not used to see foreigners walking around in the city. Not because of the skins or any thing. But because it's only a few years ago that foreigners began to come to visit our city. And we are not yet adapt to the fact that's all. Hope you will understand it!

And really once you understand the culture and it's life style. Taipei is quite a good place to be in.(At lest, I felt that way. For a person live in this city for such a long time.)

There are still a lot of beautiful places in Taiwan to visit besides this big city.

Hope you have a great time in visit our home land. (If you are still in the country.)

Hope you will visit Taiwan again!!(If you have already left this country.)

By the way!! A street named Pin Si.(Sounds something like that) It will be a good place to go!! You won't want to miss it!! You can go there buy a gaint Chinese lantern. And write down your wishes on it. Then lift it into the sky like a hot balloon.

There is something you guys should know before go there and try it.
Bad weathers are not good for launching a Chinese lantern. The chances are that you may burn down someone's house in the mountains.(It does happen!!)

quote:

Originally posted by pskully:
Go to Shilin Night Market after 6:30PM and get some hu jiao ping. Or go to Huahsi Night Market! Just remember the phrases, "duoshao qian? (how much is it?)" and "tai gui le (that's too expensive)" for any markets you go to.

Or maybe a trip to the Ping Lin Tea Museum?

Definitely go to one of the night markets for inexpensive but real local food. "stinky tofu" or "big cookie wrap small cookie" "shaded ice"
another good place to go is TamSui, you can take MRT to the final stop, it's about 25 mins ride from Taipei train station. TamSui is famous for fish ball soup and is romantic spots for beautiful sunsets.

Did they go to the Shihlin Night Market yet??? They must have to eat the oyster noodle soup in front of the temple at the Shihlin Night Market!!! it's the one directly in front of the temple not by the alley. Oyster noodle soup is the only they the stand offers. You'll LOVE IT!!!

quote:

Originally posted by lv2travel:
Did they go to the Shihlin Night Market yet??? They must have to eat the oyster noodle soup in front of the temple at the Shihlin Night Market!!! it's the one directly in front of the temple not by the alley. Oyster noodle soup is the only they the stand offers. You'll LOVE IT!!!

YES YES!!! they all bring back the good memory afer living in US for such a long time!!!! I can't wait to go back there again!

Hi, all
I just watched this episodes yesterday and it was awesome. It was nice to see something that brings back some old memories. I resided there when I was very young and it's been awhile going back. Hopefully, I will be able to visit there. Also, it was nice to see the cast memebers attempting to learn Chinese Mandarin, especially, Tony. I wished, if I was an Asian-American cast member to help you guys along the way.

Sam Chang

i missed the episode. When will it be replayed on TV?

I don't know how different the shcedules are around the world, but they played the Taipei episode today, May 10th, here in Taiwan.