Taiwan flies on

Taiwan flies on

Taiwan's popularity among Thai travellers is growing, and here are some of the reasons why

TRAVEL
Taiwan flies on
Lukang old street, Changhua.

Of all the countries and territories on the planet, only a few boast strong armies of devoted Thai fans; Taiwan is one of them.

Dome of Light, Kaohsiung.

Pier-2 Art Centre, Kaohsiung.

Sun Moon Lake, Nantou.

Although the number of Thai tourist arrivals in the island republic (70,147 from January to May this year, according to the Taiwan Tourism Bureau's statistics) may not seem much compared with the number of people who visit Japan -- its neighbour in East Asia and one of Thai travellers' all time favourites -- it is continually growing.

And if the reported prospect of Thai people being included on the list of nationalities entitled to visa-free entry into Taiwan ever becomes reality, the number of Thai holidaymakers flying there can easily double or even triple, as in the case of Japan, which introduced this privilege to Thais in July 2013. The measure is being considered by the new pro-independence Taiwanese government as part of its effort to offset the sharp decline of visitors from mainland China.

As far as the passion of its Thai fans is concerned, Taiwan is second to none. Search the internet and you'll find so many Thai websites, blogs, Facebook pages and groups dedicated to visiting Taiwan. They are run not by government or business sectors but by individuals or groups of Thais who are passionate about Taiwan.

The highly active Facebook group "Taiwan Wo Lai Le!", for example, serves as a forum for its 26,322 members to share experiences and update information about virtually everything visitors need to know about the country, from how to travel from one attraction to another to the best bubble tea shop at certain night markets, and even which shoe shop is currently offering big discounts.

Popular online sources of travel tips run by Thai fans of Taiwan

Facebook Pages

Love Taiwan by Best Qiu
www.facebook.com/bestqiu.taiwan

Taiwan Ba (Taiwan8)
www.facebook.com/best.taiwan8

1000 MilesJourney.com
www.facebook.com/1000MilesJourney

On a Budget
www.facebook.com/earnonabudget

Fan Club Taiwan
www.facebook.com/Fanclubtaiwan/?fref=nf

Nihao Taiwan Chan Ma Laeo (Hello Taiwan I’ve Arrived)
www.facebook.com/taiwan360

Taiwan and I
www.facebook.com/taiwanandi

Facebook groups

Taiwan Wo Lai Le
www.facebook.com/groups/taiwanwolaile

Long Rak Taiwan (In Love With Taiwan)
www.facebook.com/groups/1440559149585165

Blogs and websites

- www.flymetotaiwan.com/flymeto-taiwan
- thebest523.blogspot.com
- www.1000MilesJourney.com

The charm of Taiwan, from the point of view of "Taiwan Wo Lai Le!" admin Patcharee Phasukyued, lies largely in "its harmonious blend of old Chinese culture and modern technology and creativity".

"The country also offers a wide variety of destinations, from shopping venues of different types to temples and historical streets, museums, art centres and natural sites," said Patcharee, better known among her followers as Best Qiu. The young blogger has made a couple of weeks-long visits to Taiwan every year since 2010, usually on her own and with her own money, which she earns from her gifts-and-handicrafts business. She also runs a travel blog and two Facebook pages, called "Taiwan Ba" and "Love Taiwan by Best Qiu".

"In Taiwan, one can choose a pace of life that suits one's preference. People with slow and hectic lifestyles mingle harmoniously in the same cities," Patcharee said, adding that Taiwanese people, like Thais, are generous and helpful to foreigners.

This particular point was repeated by another Taiwan-dedicated travel blogger, Thaniya Piriyaarunrot, aka Nueng 1000Miles, who runs the 1000 Miles Journey website and Facebook page.

"Taiwanese people are so friendly, I feel the country is very safe, even for solo female travellers," Thaniya pointed out. Like Patcharee, she usually travels alone. Both bloggers speak and read Chinese fluently.

"But with the local people always willing to help, you feel confident to travel around and have an enjoyable experience, even if you don't know Chinese," she said.

Kitcharat Nartetamrongsutt, who runs the Fly Me to Taiwan website and the Fan Club Taiwan Facebook page, is a case in point. "Using English, I can enjoy travelling around Taiwan with virtually no problem," she said.

"The Taiwanese people are kind of in the middle between the Chinese and the Japanese [Taiwan was under Japanese rule for 50 years until the end of World War II]," Kitcharat said. "They're not as strict and orderly as the Japanese, but not as lenient as the people of mainland China."

Glass Slipper Church, Chiayi.

Apart from the people, the ubiquitous presence of artistic creativity in urban areas and the beauty of nature are among the things cited by Kitcharat, Patcharee and Thaniya as what keeps them flying to Taiwan again and again.

"Also important is the fact that the rate of the Taiwanese dollar is pretty much the same as the Thai baht. This makes it easy when you go shopping or pay for services. Having to convert one currency to another all the time can be a headache. For Thais visiting Taiwan, we don't have to cope with that," Thaniya added.

Attractions featured in this articles are, of course, just a fragment of what Taiwan has to offer. If you wish to find out more what made these bloggers and their followers so crazy about the island republic, visit their websites, FB pages and groups listed in the gray box above. Keep in mind, too, that the Taiwan Tourism Bureau will be putting up booths at the upcoming Thai International Travel Fair, to be held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on July 14-17.

Mountain biking in Taipei.

Located in Taichung, a big city on the west coast which is the gateway to the famous Sun Moon Lake further inland, this small group of one-storey homes of war veterans was supposed to be torn down years ago to make way for modern development. But thanks to an old resident, Huang Yu-Fu, now 94, who in 2008 single-handedly painted the walls of every houses in vivid colours, it won the hearts of artists and the general public, who petitioned the government to stop the plan to demolish this little residential complex, which has become one of the city’s famous tourist attractions. Grandpa Huang himself is always here to greet visitors and sell small souvenirs.

The old street of Lukang township in Changhua is one of several in Taiwan. These “streets”, which are more like alleys, are lined with old houses. The township is also home to one of the country’s oldest temples, the beautiful Lukang Longshan Temple.

When the Koumintang lost the Chinese Civil War to the communists, they retreated to Taiwan with a tremendous amount of treasures from the mainland. Many of these precious items of historical and cultural importance are put on display at the National Palace Museums. For Taiwan visitors interested in Chinese art, these two museums should not be missed. The original one is in Taipei. The one seen in the photo is the newly opened southern branch in Chiayi.

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