Taiwan or Hong Kong

[Stiganator]

Taipei was weird because my my ex was taiwanese and I kept seeing these hot chicks that looked just like her, meh whatever.

 

[Farang]

Yep I'm definately staying at hostels. Now I'm kind of frustrated because I had never given any thought to Taiwan as a travel destination, but the more I look into it the more disappointed I am that I can only fit two cities into my time there.

 

[Stiganator]

The Chiang Kai Chek Memorials are usually pretty nice in Taiwan. CKC is kind of like Jesus is to Italy, he's everywhere!

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: absolu7
theres just a lot more to see in HK.
im a bit biased been to taipei 3 times.

There's a LOT more to see in Taiwan, trust me. I've been there too many times though, and I would personally pick HK, but for someone who hasn't been to either, I would choose Taiwan.

If you go to HK, make sure you go to HEAVEN ON EARTH (Rush Hour 2? )

Originally posted by: Stiganator
Having spent a good amount of time in both places, I'd say it really depends what you're looking for.

Taipei: everyone more or less speaking English, Taipei 101 and icecream store at the top, Danshui boardwalk 45 mins by the MRT, Hot springs just before danshui don't recall the name, various parks and the electronic boutiques one stop over from the central train station. Lots of good bubble tea, lots of street food vendors and night markets.

Hong Kong: Victoria Peak, Worlds longest escalator, Hong Kong Garden, Star Ferry, Wan Chai Kangaroo Down Under is sweet bar the downside/upside is that cute prostitutes will rag on you all the way too it, Lan Tau Island, Other Islands for kayaking or seeing old school villages, can take a boat to Macau ( Vegas of Asia, very pretty Portuguese architecture), Laser Light show if you take the star ferry at around 7ish at night, skyline is gorgeous! I would recommend the Regent just go in an get a drink and take in the scene or for free walk the avenue of stars, Great clubs in Tsim Sha Shui as well as cheap tailors get armani quality suits for $150area, Mong Kok has the Nathan Street Night Market, there are a couple of great malls, most of that is just on kowloon, hong kong island proper has Shang Wan with is more local shops and lots of restaurants and clubs, Causeway Bay, Clearwater Bay, The Harbor with all the boats starts with an A can't recall it, the IFC mall has a store called Pret A Mangie best tuna melt EVER! Ocean Palisades mall has a great sorbet store.

I love Hong Kong and Taipei. If you plan a little bit there is probably more to do in Hong Kong. Seafood is better in Taipei IMO.

EDIT: Density of cute girls seemed higher in Taipei if that matters.

No wai? Seafood in HK should be a LOT better. It's all about food there, but given both places are pretty far south (and we all know south = better food in China.. and no I'm not saying Taiwan is a part of China), the food at both places are EXCELLENT. Dim sum is yummy. So is Taiwanese food. When I go to either place, I pretty much kill myself eating, but that's just me =)

 

[jacob0401]

hualien is pretty nice, since you wanted to know...

 

[SZLiao214]

Originally posted by: jackbristow
Being a former British colony, HK is pretty English language friendly. If you only speak English and worry about language then I would suggest HK.

Surprisingly almost all the asians i met in taiwan could speak English decently enough for me to talk to them.

I didn't meet anyone there that didn't at least understand numbers when negotiating for items.

 

[imported_sushicide]

I was born in Taipei, as far as I remember there weren't a whole lot of traditional buildings left other than temples since most were torn down for highways and bridges, you might have better luck if you head south to other towns in countrysides, but probably need a guide for that. Alternatively if you're into the cultural and history stuff, then you definitely have to visit the National Palace Museum, it has some pretty amazing artifacts from few thousand years ago, although not everything is on display until a new rotation.

Oh yeah, and the night market is a great place to go if you're a foodie, there's plenty of pan-Asian stuff to choose from.

 

[Farang]

Question about Taiwan.. I need to get out of Taipei ASAP upon arrival (I only have a week and want to fit in another destination on the island for at least 3 days). Is it unrealistic to get off a flight at 5:20 AM and expect to get to the train station and be on my way? I'm pretty durable, I guess what I'm asking is the ease of transportation from the airport to the main station and the frequency of trains and ease of getting tickets.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
The Chiang Kai Chek Memorials are usually pretty nice in Taiwan. CKC is kind of like Jesus is to Italy, he's everywhere!

Please do not compare a great man to CKS...

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Farang
Question about Taiwan.. I need to get out of Taipei ASAP upon arrival (I only have a week and want to fit in another destination on the island for at least 3 days). Is it unrealistic to get off a flight at 5:20 AM and expect to get to the train station and be on my way? I'm pretty durable, I guess what I'm asking is the ease of transportation from the airport to the main station and the frequency of trains and ease of getting tickets.

You are flying into Taipei? I thought that airport is just domestic? CKS is the international airport and it's located in Tao Yuan. Where exactly are you going? You can check train schedules here.

http://163.29.3.98/TWRail_en/index.aspx

 

[Farang]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Farang
Question about Taiwan.. I need to get out of Taipei ASAP upon arrival (I only have a week and want to fit in another destination on the island for at least 3 days). Is it unrealistic to get off a flight at 5:20 AM and expect to get to the train station and be on my way? I'm pretty durable, I guess what I'm asking is the ease of transportation from the airport to the main station and the frequency of trains and ease of getting tickets.

You are flying into Taipei? I thought that airport is just domestic? CKS is the international airport and it's located in Tao Yuan. Where exactly are you going? You can check train schedules here.

http://163.29.3.98/TWRail_en/index.aspx

Good man! In that case, how hard would it be to hop on a train at Tao Yuan?

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Farang
Good man! In that case, how hard would it be to hop on a train at Tao Yuan?

Depends on where you are going? What is your destination? Have you considered the HSR?

http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKSeng/transportation/highspeed_e.jsp

here is the buses. I don't know which train station is closest to the airport.

http://www.taoyuanairport.gov.tw/CKSeng/transportation/taipei_e.jsp

 

[Stiganator]

The countryside around Tainan is really nice. We rented some skooters and randomly drove 50 km east and found some great temples, one was all white up and a hill another (Wushan Temple) had a huge buddha (~25 m ) and you could hike the the summit and see for 100s of km in all directions, and there were lots of mango plantations with covers over the fruit which looked kinda cool. Plus if you stay in Tainan you can eat at the buffet of Tainan Hotel, SOOOOOOOOOO freakin good. Must go there if at all possible. I ate for three hours there it is so great.

 

[DaShen]

From everything I have heard about Taiwan from my folks, it is a magical place, with gold, jewels, and leprechauns.

No but seriously, everything I have heard about the place makes me want to go really bad myself.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Stiganator
The countryside around Tainan is really nice. We rented some skooters and randomly drove 50 km east and found some great temples, one was all white up and a hill another (Wushan Temple) had a huge buddha (~25 m ) and you could hike the the summit and see for 100s of km in all directions, and there were lots of mango plantations with covers over the fruit which looked kinda cool. Plus if you stay in Tainan you can eat at the buffet of Tainan Hotel, SOOOOOOOOOO freakin good. Must go there if at all possible. I ate for three hours there it is so great.

Lol, my home town Food is everything for the people from Tainan. My dad likes to drive 30km to a smaller town (Kuan-Miao, I am making up the spelling) to eat dumpings... when I sent back my sister drove an hour (with me in the car) to another small town to get duck feet. There was a 30 person line and the stand is like 1.5metres across...

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: DaShen
From everything I have heard about Taiwan from my folks, it is a magical place, with gold, jewels, and leprechauns.

No but seriously, everything I have heard about the place makes me want to go really bad myself.

Funny thing is, it's a nice place except it's been fed over... nice to visit, but I wouldn't live there. I left 24 years ago...