The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on current hot spots. Australian Department of Foreign Affair...
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
(www.smarttraveller.gov.au)
British Foreign Office
(www.fco.gov.uk/countryadvice)
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs (www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca)
US State Department (http://travel.state.gov)
Dodgy Dealings
A barber’s pole outside a shop
with tinted windows almost always indicates a brothel.
Food & Drink
Travellers are advised not to
drink water poured directly from the tap (though it’s fine to brush your teeth
with). In most places you will be served water that has been boiled, which is
fine to drink, and tea and bottled drinks, including water, are widely
available. In general, look for plastic seal wraps, as water can sometimes be
contaminated in shipping. We use the brands YES and More water.
Avoid cafeteria-style restaurants
after the lunch or dinner rush. Food can go bad if it has been sitting for a
while.
Stay away from brightly coloured
local snacks (including dried fruit) as they are often bleached and full of
preservatives. If you’re concerned about your health, speciality stores and
many supermarkets sell organic produce. The most reputable is the small chain
called Cottonfields.
Natural Dangers
When hiking in the mountains be
aware of the following. Afternoon fogs are common, as are thundershowers, which
can leave you soaked and chilled. There are numerous species of poisonous snake
around the island (though these are not usually a problem in the high
mountains), a poison ivy–like plant at around 1000m to 2000m, and wasps in
summer. One reader scoffed at this last warning but these dangerous insects
kill and put people in the hospital every year. In the areas where they are a
danger you will often see warning signs, though not always, so inquire locally.
Although the island is small, it
is easy to get lost. The forest is extremely thick in places, and trails are
quickly overgrown. Never leave the trail and don’t hike trails you don’t know
unless they are wide and clear. Prepare rain gear if you are going to be out
for a few hours, and carry an umbrella, food, mobile phone and lots of water.
Earthquakes are common all over
the is-land, and are especially strong along the east coast. If you are here
for a few months you will likely experience one. Typhoons affect the island
from summer to late autumn. Do not go outside when they are raging, and avoid
going to the mountains in the few days after as landslides and swollen rivers
can wash out roads and trails.
Many foreigners at first dismiss
concerns about swimming too far from shore. But note there is no continental
shelf here, meaning that the deep blue sea is just offshore, and dangerous
undercurrents and riptides flow around the island. General advice: do not go
out further than you can stand on your tiptoes and don’t swim at a beach unless
you know for certain it is safe.
Nightlife
Foreign men should be careful at
bars and clubs. Taiwanese men can be very protective of any female in their
group, even if there’s no romantic relationship. Be careful about approach-ing
a woman who is with a guy (or accepting her advances). Gangsters hang out in
clubs, though they are usually not a problem unless threatened or forced to
lose face. When that happens you are in serious trouble. Contrary to Western
customs, Taiwanese don’t fight alone. It’s a sign of one’s personal power and
influence to be able to call 20 guys at the drop of a hat to come and beat the
hell out of you. In general it’s a good idea to get recommendations for bars
and clubs, especially in the south.
Street Crime & Theft
In terms of street crime, Taiwan
is one of the safer places in Asia, although residential burglaries do happen
and pickpocketing is common where crowds gather. (We almost had our pockets
picked at a religious festival.) If you’re staying in a youth hostel or camping
ground, be sure to lock up your belongings securely as most of these facilities
are open to the public.
Most midrange and top-end hotels
have safes or other facilities to guard your valuables. And if you’re
concerned about theft of your money, use travellers cheques.
Foreign victims of crime often
don’t get much help from the police, though we have to say that in many cases
we have seen of this the foreigners made it easy for the police to ignore them.
You can mitigate cultural misunderstandings by bringing along a Taiwanese
person (someone respectable looking) and acting respectful yourself.
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