Geek world heaven
If like us you are a bit geeky sometimes, Taiwan is a great place to be. You can buy all the latest electronic toys as well as bigger gadgets, many of which are not sold elsewhere.
The murder that changed the world
How a murder in Taiwan led to the crackdown by Chinese authorities in Hong Kong
Redefining convenience
When we explained to a Taiwanese friend that small towns in the UK and Europe don’t have 7-11 convenience stores, she was shocked. “How do people eat?”, she asked.
Swirling, soaking, shuddering and smoking
We feel an earthquake every week or so. Then there’s the typhoons, the volcanoes and the rain.
The sounds of Taiwan
After the church bells of Switzerland, the first sound we noticed in Taiwan was the pleasing and lyrical chime that announces the arrival of the garbage truck each evening.
Banishing a troublesome spirit
To mark the start of The Hungry Ghost Month, a tale about a visit to a temple to banish a troublesome ghost.
You won how much for doing what now?
It took us a long time to work out why shop assistants always looked at us like we were crazy.
Microsoft can learn from Taiwan
In Hong Kong and Singapore we found paying tax was pretty much pain free. Austria was a bit more complicated. Switzerland was the worst. Taiwan was best of all.
Moving to Taiwan aged us 11 years
It’s not just the date that can be confusing in Taiwan, and which makes everyone seem to be 11 years older. Numbers are different too. Is a 20 ping apartment for 4 wan good?
Something fishy about your name
People can change their names three times in Taiwan. You might get lots of free food, and even make some money, but it can also lead to problems. Is Dr Salmon available?
Repeat after me: Bu hao yi si
Words and actions are what makes the Taiwanese social machine run smoothly. The use of courtesy umbrellas when it rains is great too.
Cold out? You need a bowl of sugar
People need to be very careful about what they say and how they say it in Chinese. Be especially careful about borrowing someone’s pen.