Little Angel Program
- See also: category:Social Events, category:Taipei city
Background
To have more interesting, fun and probably cheap ways about understanding the culture diversity of Taiwan, we'd like to invite you to join our Little Angel Program, a experiement that combine the meetup and travel with local communities. This's kind of like homestay, but we'd like to do more, not just stay but "move around". For those local communities and friends who share their time and friendship with us would be our Little Angels. :)
There're two approaches: demand side and supply side.
- In demand side, participants from all over the world could first read the information about where they want to visit and leave the information on the table, then the local communities (or participants) could join the trip according to their own schedule and availability.
- In supply side, those who already have travel schedules and would like to receive more foreign companions could leave their travel plan here, and those who're interested in that could just join them.
I want to go... (Help wanted)
Food - steamed dumplings (Xiao Long Bao / 小籠包) at Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐)
Note: Din Tai Fung is a famous restaurant in Taipei, and Xiao Long Bao is its speciality.
- Aug 7-9 whole day, Aug 2-6 (night) TzuChiang, I'd like to eat Steamed Dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) of Din Tai Fung
- Aug 2-5 or 10-11, roc, I'd also like to have steamed dumplings (Xiao Long Bao) at Din Tai Fung
- Aug 1-5 or [6-8] Aphaia: I'd like to eat 小籠包 at Din Tai Fung :)
- Aug 1-5, wikitravel:User:Jpatokal: Count me in! I've eaten 小籠包 at 鼎泰豐 in Singapore and Jakarta, but of course I have to try the original as well =)
- Me too - I'm in Taiwan between 27th July and 9th August. Cormaggio 11:29, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
- Aug 2-5 or maybe other days - Sounds delicious. Aude 14:03, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
- Hmm, so how about August 2 or 3, guys? I'm checking in the youth on August 1. Then we can have roc guide us, he is not a local but native Chinese [Sorry TzuChiang] --Aphaia 17:25, 21 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm fine with the night of 2 or 3. :) --TzuChiang Liou 01:46, 22 July 2007 (UTC)
- 劉先生歓迎歓迎 :) So ... how about 3rd? I suppose the 2nd will be a tough schedule for Aude and roc. So dinner at 鼎泰豐 after a Wikimedia party [unofficial]. How do you think? --Aphaia 09:53, 23 July 2007 (UTC)
- 3rd would be great, it seems to fit everyone's schedule. Let's do August 3rd. I am not a local, but I will be very glad to help with any language matters (I use both Mandarin Chinese and English). --roc (talk) 00:58, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- 3rd would work for me. I actually arrive late on August 1, but too late to do anything. But I'm around to do things on the 2nd, after Hacking Days. Aude 02:25, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- Count on me for the 3rd too, I can't wait to taste the Xiao Long Bao! :) --Esenabre 00:19, 27 July 2007 (UTC)
- 3rd would work for me. I actually arrive late on August 1, but too late to do anything. But I'm around to do things on the 2nd, after Hacking Days. Aude 02:25, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- 3rd would be great, it seems to fit everyone's schedule. Let's do August 3rd. I am not a local, but I will be very glad to help with any language matters (I use both Mandarin Chinese and English). --roc (talk) 00:58, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- 劉先生歓迎歓迎 :) So ... how about 3rd? I suppose the 2nd will be a tough schedule for Aude and roc. So dinner at 鼎泰豐 after a Wikimedia party [unofficial]. How do you think? --Aphaia 09:53, 23 July 2007 (UTC)
- I do hope there will be space there . . . . That place is always crowded Allentchang 01:46, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
- Good point, I hope so ... can we reserve a table or more? How do you think, locals? (By the way, a friend of mine noodle with beef soup is also tasty there ... hmmmmm ) --Aphaia 23:54, 30 July 2007 (UTC)
- As far as I know, they don't accept reservations at this place - you just have to wait for a table (and apprently it's worth it :-)). Cormaggio 01:37, 31 July 2007 (UTC)
- What time? where do we meet? Aude 03:56, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
- I hope to be with you all, too :) --Takot 08:59, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
- As far as I know, they don't accept reservations at this place - you just have to wait for a table (and apprently it's worth it :-)). Cormaggio 01:37, 31 July 2007 (UTC)
- Good point, I hope so ... can we reserve a table or more? How do you think, locals? (By the way, a friend of mine noodle with beef soup is also tasty there ... hmmmmm ) --Aphaia 23:54, 30 July 2007 (UTC)
(Get troubled but now managed ...) okay guys where are you now?? Still in CAOTYC? If you are still here, gather in the lounge now? I'll be soon there Aphaia from her room 11:03, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
- Bff, I missed that, couldn't find you in the halls around 7'30.. I hope you're safe from the rain right now --Esenabre 12:37, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
Sightseeing - National Palace Museum 故宮博物院
General info: 故宮博物院 opens from 9am to 5pm, Free English tours are available at 10am and 3pm. Museum is accompanied with three gardens. Location: 台北市士林区至善路二段221号(〒111)
- Aug 1 or 2, Aphaia, I'd like to visit 故宮博物院. Perhaps the 2nd is best for me, but I am okay on Aug 1st too [Then I am not available in the very early, I am afraid, though]. Please note, I prefer to take a long time to visit a museum ... it means, I would like perhaps to spend all day in this one museum instead of sightseeing here and there.
- Aug 6 or 10 or 11. I also prefer to stay long, at least half a day or even a whole day. --roc (talk) 01:00, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm okay with 6 too, since I have a plan to visit 北投温泉 too ... one problem of mine is I don't reserve the room for 6th, but CAOTYC may allow us to leave our luggage and get it back in the evening, even after checking out. And Museum is very near to the hostel, so it is convenient for us. As for the spa, I'm afraid it is too Asian-oriented and our Westerner friends cannot be comfortable in our public bath, so not calling for anyone participant, but someone will come with me, they are welcome. --Aphaia 07:52, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
- Well,I guess that you will feel weird because in some of the hot spring in Taiwan, usually swimming suit is needed.^__^ But in this kind of weather... I hope you will not be fainted there, it is super super super hot in TWN now! but there are many tasty food in the Yang-Ming Mountain as well--Hui
Guanghua Market 光華商場
- Guanghua Market is a must go if you want to buy computer equipment and other electronic gadgets in Taipei, there're over many shops selling high-techs. like Akihabara in Japan. I know some people want to buy staffs, I guess we could organize this in the night of 8/3 or 8/6~. some reports from Taipei times as follow. --TzuChiang Liou 14:18, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
Taipei Camera Street 博漢相機街
- Same as Guanghua Market, you could find almost everything about camera, DC, DV. http://www.camera-st.org.tw/ --TzuChiang Liou 14:31, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
Taipei Computer Applications Show 台北電腦應用展
- Anyone interested in going to the Taipei Computer Show at the World Trade Center? Allentchang 01:46, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'll provide some information in my user page and Social Events page, and I'll go to check at August 2 afternoon. If anyone have questions, please contact me sooner..... Brock contact... 17:05, 30 July 2007 (UTC)
Two days trip in middle or northern Taiwan
- Aug 7-8, Aphaia I'll depart Taipei in the early morning of August 9 (7:55 am), so would like be back in Taipei in the August 8 evening and perhaps need to find a hotel near to the airport (your recommendation will be appreciated!). I don't reserve my hotel after 6, so open for all kind of plans. I'm interested in staying another place particular on August 7, like 基隆、台中 or even 阿里山中, and would like to try local speciality but it is okay for me to stay in Taipei, if it is more convenient for our plan. As transportation, I have no preference, or I love any kind of vehicles, though I have no driver license, so if you are interested in driving, you should be or find a driver.
Shabu-shabu
- I'm told that the shabu shabu (a Japanese style of hotpot) in Taiwan is excellent. Hotpot is a winter dish, but I won't be here in winter so I'm ready to sweat it out and try it now. I'm also told that there are vegetarian Shabu Shabu places, though depending who's coming we might want to find somewhere that caters to omnivores as well. (I do eat fish, so I'm not strictly vegetarian.) A friend found this vegetarian one on the internet, which is at No.11, 240 Lane, Roosevelt Rd. Sec.3, Taipei (close to National Taiwan University). But other suggestions welcome.
--Chriswaterguy 09:33, 31 July 2007 (UTC)
Join my plan! (Help offered)
See also:Lodging#Crash spaces
Driving around in Taipei / Northern Taiwan
- Aug 7-11, TzuChiang, I have one car and could drive you around in Taipei city (basically northern Taiwan)
- (Join by signing here.)
Four-day tour by car through Taroko, Sun-Moon Lake, and Mt. Ali
- Aug 7-10, roc, I plan to rent a car at Hualien (花蓮) and travel through Taroko, Sun-Moon Lake, and Mt. Ali to Chiayi (嘉義) for 4 days. I hope to find someone or some people who have similar interests to travel together (we can also share the car/hotel cost). Prefer 1-2 additional people (3 may also work). My languages: English and Mandarin (Chinese). Here is the plan (subject to change without further notice): 8/7, ride Taiwan Rail from Taipei to Hualien, rent a car in Hualien, visit Qixing Pond (七星潭) and Qingshui Cliff (清水斷崖), and drive thorough Taroko National Park between Taroko and Tianxiang (天祥), stay at a Tianxiang hotel; 8/8, hike around Tianxiang, then drive from there, through Dayu Ling (大禹嶺), Mt. Hehuan (合歡山), Wushe (霧社), and Puli (埔里), to Sun-Moon Lake (日月潭), stay at a Sun-Moon Lake hotel; 8/9, hike around Sun-Moon Lake, then drive to Tataka (for a view of Mt. Jade) and Mt. Ali (阿里山), stay at a Mt. Ali hotel; 8/10, hike around Mt. Ali, then drive to Chiayi, return the car, and ride Taiwan High-speed Rail back to Taipei.
- Together with a few others very much interested, maybe we should chat on IRC :) Effeietsanders 12:25, 14 July 2007 (UTC)
- I very much like the idea of hiking some mountains, and taking in some of the spectacular Taiwanese scenery - only problem with this schedule is that I'm leaving on the evening of August 9th. if anyone else is amenable to something in that shortened timeframe, please let me know. PS: I don't drive :-( Cormaggio 11:25, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm with you Cormac. Leaving on the 9th evening as well. Let's make sure we stick together ;-) Notafish 16:09, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
- I inquired about the "TWO day tour(Hualien & Taroko Gorge)" - Tour, but apparently no one has signed up yet. Two days seems just about right for me. But if none of this tour particularly, or none of the others happen, then I'll be figuring out something else. I have the whole week to just relax before returning home and back to work the following Monday. Also, I noticed flights are quite inexpensive to the Philippines, with some interesting places to hang out there [1] [2] [3] I'm not sure what to do at this point, but will figure something out. Aude 13:57, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
- Like Effe. Jon Harald Søby 17:53, 20 July 2007 (UTC)
- Very interesting, specially 阿里山 and around, the only problem for me is I should be in Taipei (桃園) on the early 9th, so should leave the middle region in the evening of 8th. If others are interested in a longer tour, how do you think, Aude, we'll go together two day tour? I was just stack because of the very reason of yours ... no one had seemed to be signed up yet ... Of course, it will be great if you guys take me in the fellowship, just leaving a bit earlier [I am okay if I arrive a train station in the evening of 8th, supposedly). --Aphaia 17:30, 21 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm willing to go on the two day tour so long as enough people sign up. Aude 02:26, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
- I realized it is unlikely to happen. The tour agency said, it is written, 30 people they need to make it out (see the page top). --Aphaia 08:06, 28 July 2007 (UTC)
- To Aphaia,I think for CTS tour, 30 people is required, but for this"little angel program," I think there are many people so willing to take you to a 2-day tour in Hualien.^__^ from a local volunteerHui 09:45, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
- Good point, Hui! Thank you for pointing it out. I'll submit my close plan to "I would like to go" for two days plan. Maybe someone will find it interesting. --Aphaia 18:42, 29 July 2007 (UTC)
- I'm willing to go on the two day tour so long as enough people sign up. Aude 02:26, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
Mr. Dan Jacobson's residence 積丹尼居
- I just happen to live in 台中縣山區 the mountains of central Taiwan, but wait, I just happen to also be going to the conference, so any arraignments will have to be made with me at the conference. Also there are only three walls. Jidanni 23:09, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
Mala Hot Pot Dinner
- Aug. 6, Theodoranian, I like SiChuan flavor (Mala, 麻辣, literally means super spicy) Hot Pot very much, and I am pleased to bring some friends to challenge taste buds. The dinner costs USD10-15 (NTD300-450) per person, buffet style. The restaurant is located downtown Taipei, near MRT Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station. If you don't eat spicy, you are still welcome. The hot pot will be served in both red(spicy) and clear(not spicy) soups. Very worthy for you to taste.
- (Join or give suggestions by signing here.)
- I would love to try some local specialities - I love spicy food, though I occasionally have to admit defeat! Cormaggio 11:27, 18 July 2007 (UTC)
- I might be interested. Is there a vegetarian or fish version? --Chriswaterguy 09:07, 31 July 2007 (UTC)
- Hi, the eating time has been chosen: 18:30. Please take MRT blue line to Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall Station and go to exit 2. I will wait at there for 15 minutes. --Theodoranian 08:17, 6 August 2007 (UTC)
Two days in and near Taipei with day trips
- I'm going to visit some Esperanto speakers in Pingtung, so if anyone is planning to go south, I'd like to go too. In any case, I had an extra week planned after Wikimania because I was planning to do the three-day tour, and now that it's cancelled I'm pretty free to go anywhere. If you need an extra person for a multi-day trip, let me know! --Chuck SMITH 16:40, 3 August 2007 (UTC)
- If you want to join us, meet us at 8:30 am on Aug 6 at the breakfast area to plan two days of visiting Taipei and surrounding area! We plan to take day trips to the north coast and Yangmingshan National Park. --Chuck SMITH 08:12, 5 August 2007 (UTC)
2-Day Taroko Plan
- Aug. 7-8, must-see's QingShui cliff and Taroko Gorge, geographical and historical. For detailed info please visit my user talk page. --
Warning: Typhoon Pabuk Aug 8
- Mind you that there's a typhoon hit forcast. See China Weather Bureau web page for more details. --Xparis | Talk
More information
Here's some more information you might be interested:
- From Youth Travel
- Top 10 Not to be Missed: http://youthtravel.tw/web/2006/2006_2.php?no=574
- Strongly Recommended Products: http://youthtravel.tw/web/2006/2006_2.php?no=575
- you may also get the information about Taiwan Rail Pass: http://youthtravel.tw/web/tr_pass/tr_pass.php
- and Youth travel discount: http://youthtravel.tw/web/2006/2006_5.php?no=576
- of course, guest house information: http://www.youthguesthouse.org.tw/Eng/index.aspx
- Digital Tour Buddy http://youthtravel.tw/web/community/community_3_2.php
- some description from youth travel website: "It is the unique travel service for the international youth travelers to solve the language barrier when they travel in Taiwan. The Digital Tour Buddy offers 24-hour service hotline to help young foreigners obtain all the travel and services information. Besides, it has in-built dictionary function of English-Chinese translation for youth backpackers enable to communicate without language problems. If the youth travelers are confused about where to stay or how to approach a local attraction, the English booking system of the youth hostel and the taxies has set up the one-key dials in the Digital Tour Buddy to solve a lot of the problems that overseas visitors might face"
- In Taiwan, if one's GPS runs out batteries, one may navigate using utility pole numbers. Jidanni 21:50, 26 July 2007 (UTC)