Taiwan

In Taiwan, Chinese and Japanese cuisines are well represented. You can recognize Japanese eateries especially if you have yakitori (grilled chicken products), marinated meat products, soy sauce or seaweed on the menu. Chinese-oriented eateries are recognizable if you can order grilled duck, soup with lots of vegetables and meat or noodles with spicy herb sauce.

John: "I have no idea whether there are also vegetarian dishes, but given that blood-filled pig intestines, chicken butts, muggi-chai and a multitude of other things come together in an overfull kitchen, there will probably also be a vegetarian plate somewhere. must be."

Cooking fuel

Coleman screw gas cans can only be found in the larger cities in the better outdoor shops. Alcohol (95%) is available at the drugstore for a Trangia stove.

Markets

The night markets in the major Taiwanese cities are a fusion of Japanese, Chinese and local food cuisines. At these eateries, you can ease the long agony of the live crabs lying on the ice cubes by pointing them out and having them served as a delicious dinner dish. A visit to one of the night markets is a must for any traveler. Keelung has the largest coziest night market in Taiwan.

Supermarkets

The small villages in the mountains have few shops, but there is always a town to be found somewhere.

Stalls on the street

There are many fine, inexpensive roadside eateries and night markets.

Drinkable water

According to Eelco, the tap water is drinkable, but the Taiwanese themselves sometimes think differently.

Best time to cycle

The best time is October/November. The typhoons are usually behind us by then, the temperature is a bit lower but still not so cold that it is no longer pleasant to cycle in the mountains. From June to September it's typhoon season, so it's a bit risky to plan your bike ride that way. In addition, it is very hot.

In April - May it can also rain for weeks in a row. The end of December to February is wonderful in the south of Taiwan, but the north and in the mountains can be very cold. March is also a perfect month for cycling, just before the rainy season and temperatures can reach the late 20s.

Spare parts

Taiwan is the country where many modern bicycles are made, including the parts. So almost everything can be found.

Nice routes

• North of the capital Taipei, numerous interesting geological phenomena, historical sites and the colorfully decorated temples are just a stone's throw from the highway 2. Outcrops of geological formations are clearly visible all along the north, northeast and east coasts.
• The coastal routes (motorways 2 and 11) have many lookouts and short hiking trails, giving visitors ample opportunities to enjoy Taiwan's pristine coastal areas.
• Whoever follows coastal route 11 from Hualien to Taitung will encounter the tunnels along the east coast; an alternative is to follow national highway 9 (east rift valley), where you will find many fertile and green areas of Taiwan. The valley is known for its special butterflies, rural life and honey production.
• Taroko Kloof is an absolute must as a trip from Hualien. Until Tianxiang, the route is passable for cyclists and contains many lookouts and walking routes (trails), then the steep part to Guanyuan follows.
• North of Hualien are the impressive sheer cliffs, Chingshuei Cliffs, along National Highway 9. Taiwanese consider this stretch of highway one of the masterpieces of their country.

Tips

• Taiwan has no cultural or religious regulations regarding your clothing on the bike.
• During Chinese New Year, everyone goes on vacation and the whole country is stuck in traffic (and cheering).
• Every police station has a bicycle service, which includes: free cold/hot drinking water, toilets, air for tires and tools.
• Watch your language during emotional outbursts. What in the Western world can be regarded as "normal" English spoken language, can be experienced as offensive in Taiwan. Police report cases of this kind and apologies will follow. If the victim does not accept an apology, a lawsuit may follow!