Taiwanese government has announced the new policy of border control after years of pandemic, in the meanwhile, Japan opens the door for tourists from around the globe, attracting millions of visitors and Taiwanese groups are one of them. We are glad to see that Taiwan made vaccine, Medigen, has been approved by the Japanese government, so we do not have to pay extra fee for the test. In order to appeal more tourists to visit Taiwan, the High Speed Rail company has offered unique plans for short-term visitors. But these plans are only for those who are applying for temporary visa, people who have Taiwanese passport or ARC, the Alien Resident Certificate, are not eligible for these tickets.
You may browse the page to see which plan is favorable for you.
I would recommend traveling from Taoyuan to Tainan, if you are planning to arrive here at the Taoyuan International Airport. You may apply for 2-day pass first, and transfer to Hualien by local trains. By traveling like this, you may experience different local foods and cultures in a week. If you arrive at the Taipei Songshan Airport, you may travel from Taipei to Kaohsiung’s Zuoying station. Zuoying is part of Kaohsiung city, if you want to enjoy shopping locally at the downtown, you may transfer by buses or taxi after arriving the Zuoying station.
If you want to taste like a local, you may visit Tainan and explore ancient cultures with its relics. Taiwanese histories are defined differently during different periods of time, foreign powers and colonization have contributed exotic cultures and customs to our island. Different story tellers may tell you another version of Taiwan, maybe visiting ancient relics and trying distinctive foods is the best way to enjoy the atmosphere here.
Traditional Taiwanese song
In the past century, many Taiwanese songs were translated or recreated from Japanese due to the colonization period. Singers by then sang like Enka, the long-lasting and tangling voices which is different from current Chinese style song. Many people lost their jobs after the Chinese government, the KMT party by then, because they couldn’t speak Chinese at that time, and Taipei became the capital with more positions than other cities, so young citizens from other areas would like to work and relocate in Taipei even until now. This song expresses the sadness and loneliness that they are apart from their family.
Lyrics courtesy of 台客鬼
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
月光暝想欲 寫批來寄予你
ge̍h-kng mî siūnn-bueh siá-phue lâi kià-hōo lí
希望會平安過日 我的阿母
hi-bāng ē pîng-an kuè-ji̍t guá ê a-bú
想彼時強強離開 想彼時強強離開
siūnn hit-sî kiông kiông lī-khui siūnn hit-sî kiông kiông lī-khui
我也來到他鄉的這个省都
guá iā lâi kàu thann-hiong ê tsi̍t ê síng to
不過我是真打拚的 媽媽請你也保重
put-kò guá sī tsin phah-piànn ê má-mah tshiánn lí iā pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
寒冷的冬天 夏天的三更暝
hân-líng ê tang-thinn hā-thinn ê sann-kenn mî
請保重毋通傷風 我的阿母
tshiánn pó-tiōng m̄-thang siong-hong guá ê a-bú
期待著早日相會 期待著早日相會
kî-thāi tio̍h tsá-li̍t siong-huē kî-thāi tio̍h tsá-li̍t siong-huē
我也來到他鄉的這个省都
guá iā lâi kàu thann-hiong ê tsi̍t ê síng to
不過我是會轉去的 媽媽請你也保重
put-kò guá sī ē tńg-khì ê má-mah tshiánn lí iā pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
媽媽保重 媽媽請你保重
má-mah pó-tiōng má-mah tshiánn lí pó-tiōng
(出外打拚 食苦當做食補)
(tshut-guā phah-piànn tsia̍h-khóo tòng-tsuè si̍t-póo)
The original music score was from Japanese song ” 俺らは東京へ来たけれど”. Here is one of its clips.
Many Taiwanese songs were sad, because we experienced different times, all we could do was lament by songs. Young generation barely speak Taiwanese nowadays, maybe one of the fastest ways for foreigners to experience Taiwanese cultures is through songs.
Current drama- Women in Taipei
The Disney+ has launched the new drama, Women in Taipei, this year in order to show viewers how current generation work and stay in the capital. However, many people consider this drama unprofessional due to lack of background research and stereotype against Southerners. The truth is Taipei has attracted immigrants from many countries, though mainly China, whereas southern cities are still located with more Taiwanese. This drama brings many negative comments, also makes viewers debate regarding the notorious topic of “Taipei and other cities”.
Old songs and drama could be helpful for tourists to understand local events, but if you want to discover more, you may visit here and talk with locals. So, if you are planning to travel here, please enjoy the trip in your way and experience different cultures and foods. We would like to see Westerns here to enjoy our world, and bring it back to their native lands.
Things in Taiwan 