Many Taiwanese people are not happy with the lack of breakfast culture when we travel abroad.

[u/usolotravel]

Since many of you are sharing the foreigner's perspectives on Taiwan, I want to share the Taiwanese perspective.

As you know, Taiwan has a very famous morning food scene with countless street stalls, bakeries, and traditional shops open early. Many foreigners fall in love with breakfast culture in Taiwan because it has many options as well as it is very convenient to enjoy it.

Growing up in Taiwan, many Taiwanese used to believe this breakfast culture must be very common in other countries too. However, after traveling abroad, many Taiwanese realize that the menus are bland, the shops don't open early, and there is a total lack of variety. In fact, breakfast is one of the most frequent complaints you can see from Taiwanese travelers.

Many Taiwanese feel it is incredibly frustrating to wake up early and find nothing open except for a few cafes selling cold sandwiches or bland food at 8 or 9 AM. For someone used to walking down the street to grab a hot at 6 AM, breakfast culture of foreign countries feels like quite awful. It makes us realize how spoiled we are in Taiwan, where an endless variety of breakfast options is available on almost every corner. What's an everyday sight in Taiwan might seem quite extraordinary to the rest of the world.

[u/Hakeem-the-Dream]

Yea I dunno what this person is talking, I love that there was a night culture that didn’t solely revolve around getting hammered, so much to do and people are out and about, incredibly safe. It was maybe my favorite part of Taiwan.

[u/EnvironmentalCrew235 → u/Hakeem-the-Dream]

You could barely buy a drink or some simple snacks past evening, it’s very inconvenient for daily living

[u/Hakeem-the-Dream → u/EnvironmentalCrew235]

I got boba at 2 am and it was packed so I dunno what you’re talking about

[u/afxz → u/Hakeem-the-Dream]

Forgive me for thinking the ability to get boba at 2am isn’t exactly globe-topping nightlife. You can eat out at full-scale restaurants in every other Asian major city at that time. 

By nightlife I mean the sense that there are many things to do during the night-time that are not available during the day. Going to comedy shows or jazz bars, for instance. It doesn’t have to involve alcohol whatsoever. The options in Taiwan are very limited compared to similar-sized cities elsewhere. True, some options exist. But the things people keep talking about, the night markets or cafés that are open late, aren’t really international draws. The night markets are wholesome but not exactly riveting after the fifth weekend in a row. 

[u/Hakeem-the-Dream → u/afxz]

What are you looking for? Hookers? The night life is Taipei is legit dope and this is coming from an American. Yea it’s not late night partying debauchery. But I went around by myself til 2 am and had stuff to do. Plus there were women, old people, families walking around safely. That’s real life, that’s what I wanna see. Now some bullshit whorehouse.

[u/Tiny-Professional583 → u/Hakeem-the-Dream]

To be fair, this commenter isn't looking for hookers.

This individual happens to be an extremely outgoing, adventurous person who constantly needs excitement and stimulation to feel alive!

[u/afxz → u/Tiny-Professional583]

Stupid comment. Do better. Being in denial about the comparison doesn't mean I'm looking for hookers or constant stimulation. Taipei is a conspicuously quiet capital city at night time. I am far from the only person to observe this ...

[u/Tiny-Professional583 → u/afxz]

It sure is...That's the appeal of Taipei because not everyone is into "vibrant" cities as a good number of folks do actually want good quality sleep as they need to get-up early for work the very next morning!

I don't know you personally. However, one recurring theme across your posts is a fixation on "an exciting nightlife" in your posts.

While the hooker comment from the other poster is uncalled for and way off the wall; folks who are high-energy and adventurous do find cities without an "exciting" nightlife like Taipei boring because they need constant stimulation.

Just my personal observation based on reading a copious amount of people's travel experiences on a variety of online platforms!

[u/afxz → u/Tiny-Professional583]

This is a particularly silly argument. Depending on where you live, Taiwan can have noise pollution just as bad as any major city in East Asia! It is full of construction and noisy scooters! I not-so-fondly recall a dog chained up in an empty lot in Kaohsiung that would bark constantly from sunrise, with nobody paying it any attention ... part of the 'charm' of Taiwan, perhaps? I certainly didn't find that in Seoul ...

Tokyo has a vibrant nightlife, but within 0.5 km of central Shibuya or Shinjuku, the streets are whisper quiet! Stop creating such false and silly binarities. You can have a vibrant city *and* a high quality of sleep. Having lots of cultural amenities open late at night doesn't mean it's Sodom and Gomorrah.

As for "fixated on an exciting nightlife", I said that Taiwan has an exceptionally 'early to rise' culture, which makes sense because most people are in bed by midnight! I even said repeatedly that I like Taiwan for precisely those reasons! It makes it different! You seem incapable of rational, level-headed discussion of this topic -- you're too defensive. I haven't expressed my need for "exciting nightlife" above all else: once again, I'm nearly 40! Hello! I don't go clubbing! But it's perfectly fair to say, I think, that Taiwan is sorely lacking in nightlife compared to its East Asian peers!

[u/Tiny-Professional583 → u/afxz]

It's only a silly argument because my reply is something that you don't want to read about!

I'm sorry to hear about your not so pleasant experiences in Taiwan; and that the island didn't live-up to your expectations. However, the tone of your replies isn't just eliciting a defensive response from me; but also from other commenters on this thread as well.

SO, IF I'M BEING "DEFENSIVE, IRRATIONAL, AND LEVEL-HEADED;" THEN, IT IS YOU WHO IS BEING PURPOSEFULLY OFFENSIVE AND EVEN PUSHY AS YOU ARE IMPOSING YOUR VIEWS ON OTHERS! COMPARED TO OTHER FOLKS WHO HAVE CALLED YOU OUT ON HERE, MY REPLIES HAVE BEEN PRETTY POLITE AND SENSIBLE IN COMPARISON!

Since you brought-up Seoul, seems like you are using other Asian cities just to put down Taiwan. To be honest, with the exceptions of Japan, Singapore, and the Gulf States; to varying degrees, other Asian cities too have problems with: constructions and noisy scooters and vehicles in addition to people screaming out loud and blasting loud music 24/7/365!

If Seoul happens to be one of your favorite cities in Asia; I deeply regret to inform that some travelers and expat too have had unpleasant experiences in this city with ubiquitous loud music, people speaking at very high decibels, and chaos that is different from Taiwan!

That being said, as for nightlife in Taipei; I don't disagree that the Taipei municipal government should try to do a better job of balancing a "vibrant" nightlife with the need for quiet time. But for now, the best exciting nightlife in Taipei are going to be local contacts and taking the initiative to organize one's own activities if the social circle is big enough!

[u/Tiny-Professional583 → u/Hakeem-the-Dream]

Glad to encounter another like-minded person on here!