Living overseas can be quite the ordeal for many individuals who are not used to a different culture and lifestyle. The language, commute, and even the weather can have a negative or adverse effect on their mindset making it problematic to adjust to a new environment. For those who are experienced in such situations finding a solution is simple. However, to those who are rather new it may become part of a horrible adventure. Hence, here are a few ways to chill, relax, and enjoy Taiwan and its less-popular known activities.
One simple thing to do outdoors in Taipei is to enjoy your time on a bike while staring at the scenery around the riverparks. Taipei has made a lot of improvements to their transportation sector and because of that bicycles have become more prevalent in recent years, especially with the u-bikes. Easy, simple, and convenient, u-bikes can be found all over Taipei and New Taipei city with bike stations around each MRT Stations and most parks. Combine this with the riverside parks and you have a route that can extend from one area to another such as Xindian to Tamsui. Each ride is a unique journey filled with accidental encounters of strangers, animals, places and events to keep you entertained. Maybe, you’ll find a nice coffee shop such as Mommouth Coffee near Bali and savor the taste of fresh coffee as you continue on your trip. You might even wander around near Gongguan waterfront plaza where some food and a nice beer can help you appreciate the scenery. So live it up a bit and take a chance outside to expose yourself to the scorching heat.
If traveling outside is not your cup of tea then try some indoor activity like the little known board game cafes. All around Taipei and New Taipei city are these simple yet unique board game shops, or cafes, that offer a variety of games, food, and even drinks. Not only can you order some snacks, while playing an array of games with friends, but you can also mingle with the local customers. This is a perfect chance for a language exchange, as most games are in Chinese or are popular western board games translated into Chinese, such as Catan. Thus, use this chance to learn and befriend those with a similar taste of life.