The Life of Schmitt 289

Most cities have a specific jade market dealing in jade and other precious stones. If you've forgotten to bring any money at all, but have your credit or debit card handy, there's no need to fret. Taiwan's 台東池上必買 banking system is light-years ahead of most other countries, with the ability to use any of the abundant 24-hour ATMs to withdraw cash from anywhere in the world using the Plus or Cirrus systems.
Sounding the horn is the usual way a Taiwanese driver indicates that they do not intend to accommodate a driver trying to encroach on their lane, etc, and does not necessarily imply the anger or criticism, as it does in other countries. Many hotels in Taiwan have both Chinese and Western names, which can differ radically. Find out and bring along the Chinese name , as locals will usually not be able to identify the English ones. Especially when you visit the regions less traveled by westerners , don't be shy to walk in on the more pricey hotels, especially off-season. The Taiwanese love to snack and even many restaurants advertise xiaochi, literally "small eats", the Taiwanese equivalent of Cantonese dim sum. There are also the standard fast food places such as McDonalds (a standard Big Mac Meal costs NT$115), KFC and MOS Burger.

From Taoyuan Airport , buses are a much more economical option but if you want a direct route Taoyuan airport drivers are the best choice. They're quite comfortable and get you to your destination as quick as possible. All the TPE taxi drivers are interlinked by radio so they could be forewarned if there are police. Sometimes, if there are traffic jams and no police around, the driver will drive in the emergency lane. Taxis from TPE to destinations in Tao Yuan, parts of Taipei county and some other destinations are 'allowed' to add an additional 50% to the meter fare. Round island tourist rail passes are also available which allow the holder to embark and disembark a set number of times for a fixed price are also available at most larger train stations.
Suites come with flat screen TVs as well as centrally controlled sound systems. During the daytime, most offer "rests" of a few hours, and indeed check-in times for overnight stays can be as late at 10 PM. Note that in Kaohsiung, most people do not drink the tap water, even after filtering or boiling, since the water contains trace amounts of arsenic that is detrimental to health. Whether the trace amounts are dangerous or not is debatable, especially if you're just passing through, but the locals obtain potable water using pumps that look like gasoline pumps that are strewn throughout the residential areas. For tourists, most hotels would provide 2 bottles of mineral water in each room and you should use that as your drinking water.

A distilled grain liquor, it is extremely strong, usually 140 proof or more, and often drunk straight. As with Chinese cuisine elsewhere, food in Taiwan is generally eaten with chopsticks and served on large plates placed at the center of the table. Unlike in the West, however, a serving spoon might not accompany the dishes, and instead guests will use their own chopsticks to transfer food to their plates.
Some people unaccustomed to this way of eating may consider this unhygienic, though it is usually quite safe. However, those who prefer to use a separate utensil for serving have the option of requesting communal chopsticks , and can gently encourage friends to use them if they do not automatically do so. Night markets are also a good place to try some delicious local Taiwanese fare at attractive prices. Examples would be the Shilin Night Market in Taipei and the Liouho Night Market in Kaohsiung, each of which has its own special dishes not to be missed. Vegetarians are better catered for in restaurants and variety than in most other countries.

If you're on a budget, the cheapest food can be found in back-alley noodle shops