Shahd Alhamdan

Saudi Gazette

 

Many people think that Taiwan is in China, while others assume the country is only known for producing cheap electric items. Below are seven facts many people do not know about the country.



1- Motorcycles Everywhere



If you traveled to Taiwan, you will find that a large number of Taiwanese people prefer to ride motorcycles rather than cars.



Most people ride motorcycles in groups. This is because the country with a population of 23 million is home to around 15 million motorcyclists.



Motorcycles are produced locally and cheap. The average price of a motorcycle is around SR3,000.



2- No Garbage Cans in Streets



When visiting Taiwan, it is advisable to carry your own plastic bags because you will not find any garbage cans in the streets.



If you do find one, then its purpose might be something to do with music.



3- Halal Food is Easy to Acquire



There are around six mosques and prayer areas within airports in Taiwan. The country is also home to many halal restaurants.



There also several hotels that provide guidance on the direction of the Qibla and prayer mats for Muslims to pray.



4- Night Markets



Taiwan has many large markets that open at night. These market are open air bazaars where you can buy street food  such as oysters and omelets. Bargaining is encouraged and souvenirs are plenty.



5- Free WiFi



Visitors and citizens can easily access free WiFi in streets and also at restaurants. Since 2011, people in Taiwan have been able to access free Internet via the iTaiwan network in large cities. Taiwan is one of the first countries in the world to offer free WiFi on such a mass scale.



6- Street Photos



Although Taiwanese are friendly and most like to take photos, some people get annoyed if you take a photo of them without their permission.



Some of the shops do not allow people taking photos of products. Therefore, it is preferable to ask permission.



7- Enjoy their sweets and tea



Taiwanese cuisine offers various types of tasty and delicious sweets, more so than other Asian countries. Visitors can buy some traditional Taiwanese sweets in boxes as gifts.



Visitors can also not only find local sweets but also international chocolates and ice creams. Taiwanese people love drinking tea. You can find plenty of tea shops and cafés in Taiwan.



Tourists can drink and buy several kinds of tea and the prices of tea differ according to availability. Some kinds of tea are produced the whole year and so very cheap whereas others are produced only one month of the year and so very expensive.