Happier Abroad Forum Community

So, I know this place is Winston's home town? I am interesting in having a gander at the place because this summer, I will be visiting Fujian and practising my Hokkien (Taiwanese) and in Taiwan, Chiayi is one of the epicentres of Hokkien on the island, also, I want to see if it is as bad as Winston says it is I am looking at the pics and it looks OK. I am not after whores though, just some nice scenery, good food and to be able to get around the place without being gringo priced or mugged.

Funny you should mention Chiayi, because I was just watching a video of it yesterday. It shows some nice areas of it that you can visit. See below. Some European guy made it.



As you can see, yeah it might be nice for a day or two. But the vibe is soulless and repressed, like a monastery. And the women aren't approachable or sociable either and give off a negative vibe, like they don't like other people outside their clique. Similar to a California vibe. A lot of places are nice to visit for a few days, but if you are there too long you become depressed if it's soulless. Japan and Korea are like that too. But it all depends whether you have a soul or not. If you are soulless too or an NPC you won't notice if a place is soulless of course. NPCs tend to love Taiwan.

I posted this under the guy's video:

"How did you get that girlfriend with you in the video? In Taiwan, the girls seem very closed off and cold and not open to talking to strangers at all, unlike other countries in Asia. When I talk to them I feel like it's illegal or something. The problem is not me because the girls aren't like that in the Philippines or China."

"To anyone who is in Chiayi: I have a serious question. How the heck do you meet people or make friends or get any dates or social life here? The people are 100 percent closed and cold and soulless and DISINTERESTED in making new friends. They are just polite, like in Japan, but never want to connect with you. The girls and women are the most CLOSED in all of Asia too, only Hong Kong females are as closed off and antisocial as in TW. Only elderly people and little kids are truly friendly but the people in between are super cold and closed and soulless and impossible to connect with. The problem isn't me, I'm very social and outgoing and not shy and have friends in many countries. Only in TW and USA do I have a problem because people are closed and cliquish and paranoid of others and not open like in Europe or Russia or SE Asia.

Also Taiwan has a very REPRESSED vibe that feels like a monastery, especially in Chiayi. You aren't allowed to have fun, be wild, flirt with women, or be yourself. It's very suffocating and sad. You can't have fun or meet people or be social. No one talks to strangers. It's all business like the USA. If you have a real soul then Taiwan is the worst place for you, besides the USA. Philippines and China are much much friendlier and more social. No comparison. Trying to connect with people in TW feels wrong and against the grain and unnatural. How the heck do you even have a normal social life in Taiwan? What's the problem? I've been asking this since 2004. Can someone give me a serious answer without trying to shame me? I have an active social life and dating life in other countries, so I know the problem isn't me. Thanks."

yick wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 1:10 am

So, I know this place is Winston's home town? I am interesting in having a gander at the place because this summer, I will be visiting Fujian and practising my Hokkien (Taiwanese) and in Taiwan, Chiayi is one of the epicentres of Hokkien on the island, also, I want to see if it is as bad as Winston says it is I am looking at the pics and it looks OK. I am not after whores though, just some nice scenery, good food and to be able to get around the place without being gringo priced or mugged.

Are you saying you are coming to Chiayi? If so I would love to meet you and show you around at those places in those videos above, if I'm here that is. My parents bought a house in Chiayi because property prices are a lot lower here than other parts of Taiwan. Keep in mind that cost of living is low in Taiwan but real estate and property prices are quite high and not cheap. But everything else is fairly cheap, especially food.

Do you mean you are going to Fujian province or Xiamen and then flying to Taiwan from there? Maybe you can take a ferry boat from there too? Have you researched to see if there is a ferry from Taiwan to Xiamen?

Winston wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 4:56 am

yick wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 1:10 am

So, I know this place is Winston's home town? I am interesting in having a gander at the place because this summer, I will be visiting Fujian and practising my Hokkien (Taiwanese) and in Taiwan, Chiayi is one of the epicentres of Hokkien on the island, also, I want to see if it is as bad as Winston says it is I am looking at the pics and it looks OK. I am not after whores though, just some nice scenery, good food and to be able to get around the place without being gringo priced or mugged.

Are you saying you are coming to Chiayi? If so I would love to meet you and show you around at those places in those videos above, if I'm here that is. My parents bought a house in Chiayi because property prices are a lot lower here than other parts of Taiwan. Keep in mind that cost of living is low in Taiwan but real estate and property prices are quite high and not cheap. But everything else is fairly cheap, especially food.

Do you mean you are going to Fujian province or Xiamen and then flying to Taiwan from there? Maybe you can take a ferry boat from there too? Have you researched to see if there is a ferry from Taiwan to Xiamen?

That would be great! I would love to have a look around Chiayi with you as my guide, that would be superb! I think there's a ferry to some of those islands off Taiwan from Xiamen but I don't know if there is an actual ferry to the mainland, I will check that out.

I am only coming for a trip out - I am going to see Fujian first and then make it over to Taiwan - but if I can do it all on the same trip then that would be a good little holiday for the summer, I will do some research!

yick wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 5:06 am

Winston wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 4:56 am

yick wrote: ↑

December 16th, 2024, 1:10 am

So, I know this place is Winston's home town? I am interesting in having a gander at the place because this summer, I will be visiting Fujian and practising my Hokkien (Taiwanese) and in Taiwan, Chiayi is one of the epicentres of Hokkien on the island, also, I want to see if it is as bad as Winston says it is I am looking at the pics and it looks OK. I am not after whores though, just some nice scenery, good food and to be able to get around the place without being gringo priced or mugged.

Are you saying you are coming to Chiayi? If so I would love to meet you and show you around at those places in those videos above, if I'm here that is. My parents bought a house in Chiayi because property prices are a lot lower here than other parts of Taiwan. Keep in mind that cost of living is low in Taiwan but real estate and property prices are quite high and not cheap. But everything else is fairly cheap, especially food.

Do you mean you are going to Fujian province or Xiamen and then flying to Taiwan from there? Maybe you can take a ferry boat from there too? Have you researched to see if there is a ferry from Taiwan to Xiamen?

That would be great! I would love to have a look around Chiayi with you as my guide, that would be superb! I think there's a ferry to some of those islands off Taiwan from Xiamen but I don't know if there is an actual ferry to the mainland, I will check that out.

I am only coming for a trip out - I am going to see Fujian first and then make it over to Taiwan - but if I can do it all on the same trip then that would be a good little holiday for the summer, I will do some research!

Well whether there is a ferry or not, you can just fly to Taiwan from Fujian at least. It will be a very short flight and should be fairly cheap. But during the holiday season the flights may be more expensive though.

You have my skype contact right? Contact me on there if you are coming.

Btw @yick, if you go to Taiwan, keep in mind that I am not in Taipei. I'm in central Taiwan. So from Taipei, you would have to take a high speed train to get here. It will take 1 hour and cost 30 dollars each way. Or a bus for 3 or 4 hours which is cheaper but slower. Anyway, if you come just try to PM me in the forum or on Skype. Why are you going to Fujian btw?

Winston wrote: ↑

December 27th, 2024, 7:11 am

Btw @yick, if you go to Taiwan, keep in mind that I am not in Taipei. I'm in central Taiwan. So from Taipei, you would have to take a high speed train to get here. It will take 1 hour and cost 30 dollars each way. Or a bus for 3 or 4 hours which is cheaper but slower. Anyway, if you come just try to PM me in the forum or on Skype. Why are you going to Fujian btw?

That's probably what I will do, I am sure the train services are as convenient in Taiwan as in China and I can hop on and it takes an hour? For me it will be more interesting than hanging around the usual foreigner tourist traps. I will call you on Skype before I come on over for sure.

I find the overseas Chinese communities really fascinating - they exist there in Fujian and also on Hainan Island around Wanning - there was a documentary about it on Singaporean TV and I want to go there also, they drink coffee in these places instead of tea etc.