Most of these actually aren't from my own findings. When I had my farewell dinner with extended family, my mom had asked everyone to bring a fun fact about Taiwan to share around the dinner table. My Nana and Popa really outdid themselves on this one. As I understand they have a friend who has been to Taiwan, specifically Taipei, multiple times and he was able to give them some very interesting insights that only someone who had travelled there would know. So here goes:
FUN FACTS ABOUT TAIWAN
1. When you go to a, "Barber Shop" in Taiwan you may get more than you bargained for. In Taiwan, many Barber Shops are in fact brothels run by business minded women looking to give you a good time and to make some extra cash. Yes, they do have barber chairs to sit in but there's the opportunity to get much more than a haircut when you visit one of these places!...Worth knowing.
2. Taiwan is home to deadly poisonous creatures. During the Second World War when Taiwan was occupied by Japan, the Japanese raised thousands of very poisonous snaked for venom. When they were forced to leave Taiwan in a hurry they cut open the doors of the snake farms to let them go free and to this day there are thousands of the snakes roaming around Taiwan...Luckily I've always loved snakes.
3. Never ask what you're eating in Taiwan. You may be offered one of Taiwan's national delicacy's which could include snake venom, blood or bile. This special treat - especially good for men if you know what I mean ;) - if often drunk by guests of honour at a dinner in their honour. Another one of Taiwan's national delicacy's involves boiling snake genitalia. Snake penis soup as they call it is also a common dish to watch out for...I don't love snakes that much.
4. You may want to bring a face mask to Taiwan. Depending on the time of year, pollution in the city can get very bad. When the direction of the wind is blowing just right, clouds of grey and black sand in the air from the Gobi desert in China blow across the sea and over Taipei. The sand mixed with the pollution from all the motor bikes and cars creates massive pollution in the city. If you walk around Taipei for a few hours and then return to your room and take a wet face cloth and wipe your brow it will be almost black with the dust and pollution. So bad that face masks are worn by a number of locals at certain points in the year...Do you think that by wearing a face mask I'll blend in a little better?
5. Business cards are always presented with two hands holding the card in a manner where the person receiving the card can read it. You always bow slightly - present your business card - and thank them for accepting it. Never just thrust the card forward with one hand as this is considered very ruse and impolite...Good to know.
6. There are many Buddhists in Taiwan. Therefore, you will see many young Buddhist monks on the street in Saffron Robes. These young Buddhist monks are sworn to be pure and women are seen as unclean to them, thus it is unacceptable for a women to touch their robes or their head...March 2010 *Newsflash* "Tall blonde Canadian girl accidentally trips and falls on young Buddhist monk leaving him impure and unfit for Buddhist monkhood."
So there you have it. Stay tuned for more fun facts I discover on my own.
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