I am not a fan of the hot weather here. My friend was telling me about taiwan and it seems like a nice country.

Anyone here knows more about taiwan?

What is your interest ?

A short term visit or long term stay ?

Visa detail in the link

http://www.taiwanembassy.org/mp.asp?mp=1

It is long term stay. I like to spend time outdoors, going for walks and hikes, in thailand it is hard to enjoy the outdoors.

I find myself in bkk just going from home to malls and places w a/c.

It is long term stay. I like to spend time outdoors, going for walks and hikes, in thailand it is hard to enjoy the outdoors.

I find myself in bkk just going from home to malls and places w a/c.

There is more to Thailand than Bangkok maybe you should explore the country.

As far as Taiwan is concerned there is nothing better than going to see for yourself but will you explore the country or hole up in Taipei ?

Check out the website link I provided for details of Taiwanese visa requirements.

Take the train/bus down to the south and visit that huge Buddhist temple complex. A much smaller copy of it is in Los Angeles California (hacienda heights). I have not personally vacationed in Taiwan, just airport transfers on my way to and from Thailand, but my co-worker who is from Taiwan recommends the train. He also suggests the National Museum. Taiwan, right or wrong grabbed tons of antiquities when the nationalists left the mainland. In hindsight it was probably a good thing because much probably would have been looted or destroyed during some of the mainland cultural revolution periods.

If you are not a fan of the heat in Thailand you won't be a fan of the heat in Taiwan either. I would say the summer months in Taiwan are as hot or feel hotter than Bangkok. It does cool down in the winter in the north(taipei) . The south stays hot all year round and doesnt cool much even in the winter.

nothing compares to thailand in my book it's the best, but thats just me

nothing compares to thailand in my book it's the best, but thats just me

Taiwan can be good but mostly ok. If you spend any length of time in Taiwan its always a happy day when you are leaving flying back to Bangkok or wherever. IMO Taiwan is only better than Thailand if you have a big interest in chinese culture or want to study the language seriously.

Anyone here knows more about Taiwan?

I am from the south part of Taiwan, and as other poster CNXBKKMAN said, the south is pretty hot. It is on the same latitude as Havana, Cuba so the summers are hot and humid. The winters are actually pretty nice, and it occasionally get somewhat cool. They north (Taipei) can be cool and damp in the winter. Kind of dreary for me. This past winter had the coldest temperatures in 44 years, and there was even some snowflakes in Taipei.

There is a lot of natural beauty in Taiwan - the eastern 2/3 of the island are very mountainous. Driving along the island along the eastern shore is very nice.

Taiwan is not very big, so you can get from Kaohsiung (south city) to Taipei (north city) is about 5 hours (or quicker by bullet train).

Less exotic. Probably harder to meet women, if you are single? Good food, if you like Chinese food. Quite a bit more expensive. More civilized. They actually have law and order, competent police, traffic safety, and real governance. Far less corruption. Much more of a first world, developed nation feel to the place. Far less dangerous for driving around.

So, depends on what you are looking for. If I were you I would try living outside of Bangkok first. From my point of view, the only way I would find living in Bangkok to be enjoyable, for any stretch of time, would be if I had a spacious 38th floor condo, in a luxury building.

I can only offer an opinion as a traveler to Taiwan as I have never lived there. I spent about 10 days in many different parts of the country and loved it. It's not really comparable to Thailand though. I love living in Bangkok, but the reality is that Taiwan is leaps and bounds ahead of Thailand in almost every area regarding development.

Edited March 5, 201610 yr by inbangkok

I have to concur with the last two posts.

Taipei is considerably more developed than Bangkok. First-world infrastructure, a metro system than puts Bangkok's to shame, and, most importantly, REAL Chinese food.

Condo and apartment rentals tend to be more expensive than BKK, but almost everything else is less expensive.

That said, I couldn't live with earthquakes, typhoons and rainy winters, so I had to pass.

Thank you all for your input. I am looking for Taiwan for a better quality of life. I lived here for 4 yrs and I have seen everything from Chiang Mai down to Krabi. In the begining everything was wonderful but now that I settle down I see this is not the best place to live.

Every time I have been to Taiwan, it has been overcast, humid and the people very unfriendly compared to Thai people.

In fact, I can say it is the most unfriendly country I have visited in Asia.

How does Thaiwan compare to thailand?

Fewer "h"s, for a start.

Every time I have been to Taiwan, it has been overcast, humid and the people very unfriendly compared to Thai people.

In fact, I can say it is the most unfriendly country I have visited in Asia.

It's been a mixed bag for me.

Some people I've encountered in Taiwan have been very unfriendly, but others have been more friendly and helpful than anyone I've ever met while living in Thailand.

If you look lost on the streets or at a metro station in Taipei, for example, its not unusual for locals to ask if you need help with directions.

As I indicated in my earlier post, I would definitely consider Taipei as a permanent base were it not for my distaste for rain, typhoons and earthquakes.

The infrastructure alone is worth the price of admission. Almost like a poor man's Hong Kong.

Edited March 18, 201610 yr by fusion58