read the whole 1st page (except the yada yada yada poker bankroll numbers

loving the live-player bashing and the random stories!
do your buddies really all have funny nicknames like that?

Glad you like it G2a! And yeah with most of my buddies, more-so back home, we actually use those over-the-top nicknames, like Drunk-Step Dad, and Big Dick. Big Dick actually usually referenced as "the BDB," with the last B in conjunction with his last name.

Matched with a girl on Tinder last night who has been pushing hard. Only thing is she dropped that "her boyfriend just broke up with her and she was recently diagnosed with clinical depression." Something is telling me that first girl of the new roster shouldn't be a crazy, even though she is a fine mamma-jamma. Still mulling it over.

I guess I'm intrigued because I've never truly been with just a bat**** insane girl, or super white trash girl, which I kind of want to knock off. Boris the masochist.

Just transferred a little money to 888, liking it, and looking to transfer to Party. Need to figure out BOL, since I don't have too much desire to play there, but $100 too small to withdraw.

-Big Body

Crazy girls best in bed. I'd go for it.

Think I need to Yellow. It is quite sad how after the last girl with the terrible smelling shame cave, my only criteria is that it doesn't smell like a diaper filled with Indian food down there.

"Bros before hoes. Why? Because your bros are always there for you. They got your back after your ho rips your heart out for no good reason. And you were nothing but great to your ho, and you told her that she was the only ho for you. And that she was better than all the other hoes in the world. And then suddenly... she's not yo' ho no mo'." -Michael Scott

Just got back from lunch at a Hong Kong style diner, sitting at my desk checking a few e-mails, and definitely just feeling that need to get back to Hong Kong. The boys are there, and a man needs the bros to live a quality life (my opinion). I've always been someone who has placed such a heavy emphasis on his boys, ruining relationships because I just prefer hanging out and shooting the **** with my buddies. Definitely missing that sense of fraternity with buddies here. Anyways, great food at the Hong Kong diner, a staple of life in Hong Kong; a place to hang out, read, shoot the ****, and eat some decent food. Had a nice lineup of some Singaporean noodles, shumai, some shrimp scallion pancakes in peanut sauce, and some bok choy in the oyster sauce.

Sometimes feel like my path back to Hong Kong may never get there, but just going to keep pushing and keep searching. I do feel I owe it to myself to give Taipei a chance, a 2 year chance. Beautiful day out today, hard to be down, but then again, never really that down.

Decided against the crazy girl after she kept bringing up her ex-boyfriend every 3 minutes. Also, I'm about 100% sure something pretty lecherous is going to occur within the next few weeks. You know it's bad when I'm just like reading some Wikisexguide forum on the hidden massage places of Taipei. Also, my next few weeks are pretty sweet, this weekend just relaxing, but the next is a bachelor party, followed by a weekend in Hong Kong. The bachelor party should get out of hand, even though it's someone I'm not that close with, but a few buddies who I am close-ish with are going, and one of them loves hookin' and getting weird. Also, he has the night planned out and at some point we are going to The Combat Zone, an area where military men used to go and pick up Filipinas and such, with absurdly low drink prices. I still don't know much about The Combat Zone, but from my understanding, it's similar to Wan Chai in Hong Kong.

Be grand,

-Big Body Boris

Interesting weekend. Was pretty ripe with sin, but overall, not feeling too bad about it. Friday night had a pretty great night going to a Japanese Izakaya (Japanese BBQ and beer place). Went with 4 buddies and stayed for quite a while. It was a little expensive for Taiwan standards, but considering I had about 10 beers, split two bottles of sake, and ate as much meat and bacon wrapped things we could, it only turned out to be $35USD each.

We went to smoke some hookah after and a few people ended up leaving early, leaving me to cover the table expense. One thing, going out with people who financially aren't on same wave length with you, can be irritating. Especially when a few are students and ***** and moan about every price, which I sympathize with. I figured if I spent a bit on the table, I might as well enjoy all the drinks that accompanied.

Well it got to be about 2am, and I realized I should head home. The only issue was that I was in an area infested with massage parlors, and decided to return to a spot I've stumbled into before, which is about $30 for 90 minute massage, and then cheap for other things. I was ushered into my room and a busty 45 year old lady came in, presumably Chinese. She was definitely a 4 on a good day. We chatted a bit, and it was pretty obvious she was Chinese, and finally slipped up after I asked her where she lived and she said a place right near me, to which I grilled her a bit and she had no clue.

There wasn't really much of a massage in the beginning, but we got down to business, and I don't think I've ever seen an old lady so happy. Clearly, she was the last-round draft pick at the massage parlor, and they always send in the uglier ones to the white guys because they assume we think they all look alike. Also, the thought of her naked body now is quite repulsive, but luckily I was drunk enough that I still don't have that clear an image. Safety was the name of the game, and proud of myself for strapping up.

The hangover Saturday wasn't too bad and took it easy the rest of the weekend. Went and hit a few baseballs with some buddies on Sunday, which felt great, as I miss baseball and playing. I also realize I need to get back into shape, I'm by far the most out of shape I've been. I've been thinking about possibly a prob bet to lose 40 pounds or something.

Hong Kong upcoming - Boris rising.

-B

really underrated thread. i'm hype to hear more stories!

So you're in Hong Kong now? I've been to Wan Chai a couple times. Once when the gf and I wanted to go hiking at Dragon Back mountain we thought it was in Wan Chai, but it's in Chai Wan. Very different place.

What initially attracted you to China (we all know HK and Taiwan are China right? ?

Glad to hear Freakinbird, will be typing a few more soon. Have a bunch in the arsenal, just all about putting them down in the blog.

Problemeliminator: I'm still in Taipei, I'm going to HK this weekend (7th-10th) for a wedding and to see some old buddies. Also think it's Rugby Sevens, so Wan Chai should be a ripper. Dragon's Back is probably my favorite hike in HK, when you end up in Clearwater Bay. Just a nice easy hike with awesome views. Always my #1 date hike. The ultimate goal is to get back to HK though, as it has been my favorite place. I still think I owe it to myself to live in 1 or 2 other cities before I settle down for a bit.

My father has been an ex-pat for most of his professional career, so he has been in the Orient (first time in late 70s) a long time. I guess what attracted me is kind of getting out of my 300 person town in New Hampshire, and seeing something so completely different than what I was used to. The first spot I went to was Beijing, and I just absolutely loved it. Also being a teenager in a city with millions of people and the freedom (ironic huh) I felt there. I also really enjoyed the culture, although it frustrates me sometimes. Living in Asia, even going to the supermarket is an adventure, and just feels sometimes that even the minutiae of life brings about exciting/interesting opportunities here. Also, I enjoy the language and trying to improve upon my language abilities. Everyone always hints that I'm in Asia due to the women. The women are nice, but to be honest, I am much more attracted to black and Indian women. Wherever I move, women are always secondary and just complement other priorities.

Been a pretty good weekend so far - Friday met up with a female friend, and a married couple I met for NYE. The married couple is interesting, a Singaporean lawyer and his Thai stay-at-home wife. They are friends with the girl, and it was a tad awkward at first because the husband had been texting me trying to hang out and drink beers after New Years. However, the texts kind of got weirder and weirder, until he was making kind of sexual comments towards me, which made me suspect he might be bisexual. I kind of shook it off and just stopped replying, figuring maybe I was imagining things, but after going to dinner and beers Friday, he started texting me some weird ****, and I suspect he is into cuckholding and the lot. But, also made it sound like he was into me, so not trying to do that.

Yesterday, a friend gave me their Hooters VIP card for their grand new opening. All you can eat and drink for 4 hours. Chains like TGIF and Texas Roadhouse are actually pretty good out in Asia, and not seen as very lower-middle class. Hooters makes a mean wing, and the girls are all quite cute.

Heading to a baseball game today, and then going to just relax the next two days, as Hong Kong should be too rowdy. Seeing my old boys, my baseball boys, and hopefully an old flame or too. And if not, Fuji House. As they say, "the sun never rises at Fuji House."

Hope everyone having a great weekend.

-Big Body

Sounds very similar to me. I was bored in my hometown, and I wanted to live abroad. China seemed very much like jumping in the deep end as far as cultural differences go. I learn something new every day, which is exciting.

Is your cuckold friend's wife worth doing?

It's always interesting to meet someone from 2+2. Especially, when after you bring out the girl you are hanging with and let them know that, and you repeatedly see them throughout the night trying to make-out with them and creeping on them. Also, when you swear, "I'm not trying to do anything," yet you try and flock back to that person at every little instance, it ends up being quite an insincere gesture.

I don't really have much in life that I require from a person, but maybe after I take them to dinner and tell them I'm bringing out a girl I really like, and girl I'd like to keep progressing with, that the person wouldn't repeatedly keep trying to **** them and make-out with them. I have no desire to out who you are, or to continue further. I hope you received my BTC transfer for the $30 USD you gave me at the bar.

About to take the cab to get to airport for Hong Kong. If anyone in Hong Kong and wants to have a wild weekend, let me know. Luckily, I have no allegiance to any women in Hong Kong, so it's free game. Just a little poachy when you make clear there is one girl you've been hanging with in a city of 11 million, and they repeatedly go for that, after you've broken your back to show them a good time.

Feel free to respond, but seems no need in a situation when you are told it's a bit ****ed, and you acknowledge that.

-Big Body

That's amazingly ****ty of someone.

fairly awesome thread, great writing skills and happy to see less live poker hands with stories of radness sprinkled in. moar degen and life stuff. How much does your job pay? You mentioned you're staying in taipei for a year?

I'm off to asia in a couple days, and planning on heading to taiwan by summertime or so. Really don't know much about it at all except my skateboard friend from college is there and says its a nice place to be, so figure I'll give it a couple months.

subbed and will probably be hitting you up in the future

shanghai street sex is obv the only thing we cared about, but mamasan machete could lay some nice groundwork for others in what not to do in those situations where things get hectic. so funny to read you check girl's purses when they leave. That does not fly in south america, they just go full latina insane screamy on you. I just trust asians though (as far as I can throw them), they're harmless little fairies.

If anyone I go out with ever tried that on a girl I was out with that wasn't a random whore I'd beeatch slap the sheit out of them. I wouldn't bring anyone I didn't know really well around a girl I was trying to be serious with though. Pretty low move so many available women in Asia I couldn't imagine needing to chase a buddies girl but obviously some dudes get off on that type of thing.

Yellowfever/Problemeliminator: It was definitely an interesting Thursday night. I don't think it will affect how I approach other people, as I always tend to try and keep an optimistic mind that they aren't just inherently a scumbag. Always good to encounter one every now and again, to keep it fresh that this minority does exist and stay a bit sharp.

Boliver: I was going to type up a more detailed post on general expenses, salary in Taipei to try and give a breakdown for people what they can expect when moving over here. Will try and get that out this week. Very much appreciate the love. I also couldn't imagine trying to search a sassy Latina's purse. As for my time in Taipei, not sure, down below will write a little.

This is more of a precursor post for when I'm fully with it to type coherently. The weekend in Hong Kong took it out of me. It was Sevens weekend, and I haven't had a true bender like that in maybe a year or so. Just 4-5 days of drinking, followed by very little sleep. Unfortunately, nothing of sin that was noteworthy popped up, but will recount the weekend as I can and think will post the Mamasan Machete or 18 Sauna.

If I was in the U.S. and tried to fly, I would have been denied, or dragged off the plane faster than that man on United. I gathered my things after my interesting Thursday night, and headed for the airport at 4am. By the time I arrived in Hong Kong, I had that stale sweat thing going on, where you also feel like you have a fever and need to poo, but are just so exhausted and drunk your body starts shutting down.

After checking in, and sleeping from 1-5, I met up with some of the boys at Ippudo. In our Whatsapp chat room, it's called Ippudo. There is really nothing special about it, other than we made it our place. A place where the boys would pregame and get a hearty ramen meal, with great pork buns, and drink buy-one-get-one-free Asahis (now Orion or Kirin I think), and then usually return Sunday night for a group reflection/hangout. If you want a decent meal, essentially in Lan Kwai Fong, I can't recommend it enough. It was a few of us to start, Esquire, Raz, and Zapato Blanco. Headed over to meet some others for hookah and soon the group was too big to function effectively. Even running into ex-flings who hate you still put me in a good mood, because it meant I was back in Hong Kong.

An old fling, who I quite cared about spotted me at a hookah bar, didn't say anything, and proceeded to text and call the rest of the weekend, which was pretty bizarre. It brought back some thoughts and what-ifs, but was quickly drowned out by the Asahis and tequila.

We smoked some hookah, headed to another bar, short-lived (Central area), and ended up at Ebeneezer's, aka Neezies. Neezies might be my favorite drunk food I've ever had, a mediocre kebob place, but they have the loaded chips - lamb, chicken, over french fries and all the 3 or 4 kebab sauces. Highly recommend after 1am.

The night was quite tame and I ended up at a bar with an old flame, Helen. I wish I could say something happened, but the New Hampshire white moccasin could not persuade. Helen and I went to law school together, she was from the Mainland, a kind of nerdy science girl, who originally set me up with her friend Lizzie (will write about Lizzie another post, and not spoil it now). Helen, aka Hellcat, was a wild one. Super nerdy and sweet, but after a few drinks just turned into a raging lunatic. Helen and I had slept together a few times when I was hanging out with Mitbrothel. I still remember the first night it happened, I was at Mitbrothel's, throwing up in the bathroom, and Helen came in and just started grabbing my dong while I was throwing up. We retired to Mitbrothel's sofa, where as Shakespeare said, we "made the beast with two backs," and I've never seen just a crazier look in a girls eye while I hovered over her getting ready to B my L on some Ts. Of course Mitbrothel happened to have come out while all of this was happening and recount most of it to me the next day. I digress, anyways, Hellcat and I ended up at a bar for a drink, and it was about 5am by now, and I realized I had to meet my father the next day, and it was best to go home.

Saturday I met up with my Farjar and just grabbed some Starbucks and walked around Quarry Bay area. I hadn't seen him in quite a while, so it was nice to chat and see how he was doing.

Esquire, Latika (changed name of Indian girl), Raz, and a baseball buddy came to the pool at the hotel and we drank beers and sat around the pool, gearing up for the night. We decided upon Wan Chai for dinner around 6, and as we rolled into Wan Chai (not even Lockhart Road), Esquire says, "not sure Wan Chai will be good tonight, it seems quite tame." It was Rugby Sevens weekend, maybe the wildest weekend Hong Kong will ever see. Just as we said that, I reminded Esquire, "Very tame, except for those 3 men passed out on the stairs there, and that girl throwing up in the street." After turning left onto Lockhart, the streets were already littered with garbage, and there were thousands of drunk Aussies, Brits, and other Colonials.

Made our way up to Ship Street, where an old friend of a friend had opened a bar restaurant, and spent a good chunk of the night eating, drinking, and song-requesting. Some doobies were smoked, and we made our way to Lockhart, where people were starting to fade. A few others had met us on Ship Street, but after Typhoons, people were starting to fade. 4 or 5 of us went into Lan Kwai, ended up at a shots bar, and last thing I remember is waking up in Volar. A club across the street from where we first arrived.

I arrived home around 7:30am, and was up again at 8:45 to get ready and headed to the wedding (the primary purpose of the trip). The wedding was beautiful, in Repulse Bay, along the water, and just an overall classy scene. The girl getting married was from Beijing though, so half of her family were some ruffians. I went into the bathroom at this presumably 5 star resort, and a man is standing about 5 feet away from the urinal, to which I thought he was just checking his phone. To my surprise, after walking by him, that was just how he peed, and didn't really give a **** whether or not it went in the toilet or splashed on my ankles. I asked him in Chinese if it was his first time using a toilet, and he grunted, which I took as an affirmation. I'm a little disappointed in myself for how drunk/hungover I was at the wedding, that I didn't enjoy it as much as I should have, considering there were about 20 good friends there.

I went home and slept, and was woken by a phone call from Esquire at about 11:30, telling me he was coming over to chat. We met at the lobby bar, where he was clearly very hosed. He ordered a gin martini, placed it towards his mouth, missed, spilt it all over himself, then fell off the bar stool. I figured the meeting would be left for a better time, and told him I'd see him in Taipei soon. Esquire texted me the next day, and all it said was, "The children weep for me today."

The weekend was everything I could have wanted though. There wasn't anything that notable, other than I felt content. And sometimes a man doesn't need the extremes, but just a hug and beer with his roll dogs. Life isn't one big show and dance, and can be as great as it ever will be with 7 of your best friends drinking beers in an empty small bar and singing "Kokomo" by The Beach Boys.

We used to bump this song on our phones at Dai Pai Dongs, while we sat out on the street smoking cigarettes and drinking Blue Girls.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9FwJg-J-A4

"Good people, good drinks, good smokes, got me thinking this is how life should go."

Hong Kong is electric. I miss it, and need to get back. I know I was doe-eyed since everything was quite novel, but living in Hong Kong, made me feel alive. I was a bit down leaving, realizing that is where I want to be, but if anything it is motivating. Feeling a bit hard to express the thoughts on it, so maybe will have an epiphany on how to best put it soon. Couldn't be more optimistic and excited for the present and future though.

-Big Body

Yeah i mean in general most people are good but i like to get a feel for someones personality before id take them around my GF or a girl i was trying to date in a serious manner. A big part of that for me is i try to hide my degen side of myself to a respectful girl so i need homies who are capable of not trolling me. Some guys are just massive cock blockers and you wont be able to know till you've been in that situation around a girl and them though. I dont get a dude doing that though like no girl is going to hook up with him right in front of you anyways.

Looking forward to hearing your budget breakdown for there. I'm pretty rooted down in Thailand currently but sometimes i dream of switching my life up and being single again in a less degen country then Thailand like Taiwan or China or something. Thailands nice since i have a good GF and can easily escape for some degenning at will but change is good as well.

Yellowfever: Very much agree with what you said on kind of keeping two distinct personas, which I think is pretty vital for sanity. One that rolls with the boys and can kind of be a degen and shoot the ****, and then a more wholesome, good guy when with the lady.

Here's an expense breakdown of about what I spend per month, as a mid twenties guy who likes to indulge more often than not.

First, I want to say that if you think moving to Taipei is very cheap, I'd say you're wrong, unless you want to really slum it and live in a walk up building on the 10th floor with no kitchen, and want to eat corner fried rice all day. It isn't Thailand or Cambodia prices, but to Hong Kong and Singapore it is cheap, but I had the mindset it really was just dirt cheap.

I'm also going to reference everything in NTD, since people from different countries reading and can convert to their own currency. Right now, the it is about 30.3 NTD to 1 USD.

Rent: I pay $27,800 NTD in rent + $1560 NTD Management fee (just for door guys). Here's the building if anyone wants a better look. http://taipeilive.com/about/

The building is modern, quite spacious studio. We have a rooftop pool, rooftop terrace, gym (pretty ****ty gym actually, more like 3 treadmills, a bike and some 10 pound weights), a karaoke lounge and general lounge on 3rd floor. I will say however, you think you are getting all these great amenities when you find it, but the pool is only open from June to October, and the gym is kind of ****ty. I'd say I also pay for location too, I'm 7 mins walk from Taipei 101, and ATT4Fun (giant shopping, club, bar area). Also a 2 min walk from Tonghua nightmarket and 5 min walk from the metro.

Utilities: My electricity and water bill are pretty cheap, as most are, and I'm a white guy who runs my AC almost every hour I'm home. I only pay about $1500NTD/2 months, billing cycles usually on 2 months for utilities.


Internet/Cable: I asked for fast internet, and I'm very happy with it. It was $4800 NTD upfront, covering the first 3 months, and then just $3200/2 months. So, $1600 NTD/month.

Phone: I definitely overpay on my phone, I pay for 14 gigs and pay $700 NTD/month, when in reality I use about 4 gigs. In Taiwan, it is free to receive calls, and a bit more expensive to place them, so not sure on details of that, but as long as people are calling you, you fine. Also, basically Wifi everywhere, so that's why I'm not racking it up.

Food: During the work week, I usually just roll into the office with a Schweppes or 3 sparkling water ($35 NTD/bottle), and have some fruit or food provided by the office. Lunch varies, but here are a few things I eat and their prices.

1. Beef Noodle, Sesame Noodle, and Spicy wontons: 1 bowl of sesame noodle, 1 bowl spicy wontons, varies small little vegetable dishes, 1 trip to the toilet at 3:30 --> $180 NTD.

2. Italian Pasta at a place I think is pretty good and not overpriced: 1 bowl of Chicken Parm (huge serving) --> $120 NTD

3. Sushi on a conveyor belt that is pretty decent quality, $40 NTD/plate, no matter what plate it is.

4. Japanese curry at a fancier place, huge fried porkchop with rice, curry, egg, cheese, and some various small vegetable dishes: $200-$250 NTD

5. Cambodian Food: Essentially all you can eat various Cambodian dishes: About $120-$150/per person.

6. Cheap Taiwanese style buffet, think good pork chops, similar to sweet and sour chicken, steamed vegetables, rice, eggplant: $100-$140 (most I ever spent was $140) / More expensive buffet where it is essentially similar to a Las Vegas buffet, with all the different stations; seafood, steaks, dim sum, etc... --> $450 NTD

7. 1 Iced coffee: $96 NTD

8. Splurged today on Vietnamese: Green curry with chicken, rice, a BBQ pork sandwich, coconut water, and a Vietnamese coffee for $530 NTD.

Dinner:

Dinner I'm pretty simple and usually hit the cheap buffet and load up on pork chops, rice, and vegetables or a fried rice stall ($70 NTD).

I also have a lady who makes the pork buns who closes around 7 or so and usually reserves me 2 or 3, which are about $15 NTD for one the size of your fist.

Night markets also are my favorite, so I'm there 2-3 times a week, and for about $300 NTD ($10 USD, and that is me getting about 5 or 6 things. Breakdown of what Boris usually gets (not all at once) at Tonghua night market -->

Banana Milk or Kumquat Lemonade ($40-50 NTD)
Steak cubes with teriyaki sauce ($100 NTD)
Pan-fried dumplings ($40 NTD)
Cuban sandwich ($80 NTD)
Bahn Mi sandwich ($70 NTD)
Lamb, Chicken, Beef, Pork skewer ($30 NTD)

Leaving out a bit, but you get the general gist.

Drinking:

My favorite places to drink and eat to start the night are called Izakayas, or Japanese style BBQ and beer houses. You get great steak skewers, whole fish, bacon wrapped anything, and drinking ice cold Japanese draught beer in frozen mugs, usually while sitting outside. If you consume as much meat and beer as I do, you are probably looking at $1000-1500 NTD. But, to put in perspective, I went on a date to one last night, and it only cost $900 NTD total, since we had 4 beers between us, 4 skewers, some grilled mushrooms, and a whole fish.

There is Re Chao, which is a Taiwan staple. It is a drinking institution of sorts, and kind of a ****ty restaurant, where staple dishes, like kungpao chicken, 4 seasons green beans, various spicy toufu dishes, and large plates of garlic vegetables. When I say ****ty restaurant, it is awesome, as you go there with the grizzled, working locals, who just go there and get so loaded up, and it is so cheap.

Other western meals: Pub food will probably set you back anywhere $200-$500 per dish. I go to a place called Brass Monkey to get a Steak and Ale pie with mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables for about $400 NTD.

Not going to write too much on other restaurants, since I really haven't been and those are the crux of what I frequent and have knowledge on.

To continue, drinking-wise, 7-11 beers are cheap, so it is quite common here and in other parts of Asia for people to congregate outside Family Marts and 7-11s to booze, considering tallboys will be 55 NTD or so, and you can also buy cheap ****ty whiskey.

Clubs and rooftop/nicer bars will run you probably around $120-$250/drink. I enjoy some craft beer, so will go to a few places where the beer is about $220 NTD, but it's that hipster IPA stuff from Oregon or whatever hip state is out there, that I kind of enjoy but am ashamed to discuss with others. Club entry usually is around $500 NTD as well for the major ones. Think the preferred method is to just get a table, since I think you can get a table for about $4k-7k at some places, which includes some bottles, so that's only about $200 USD total for a better experience than prowling the dance-floor with all the velociraptors drinking the fake Filipino rum drinks.

Massage with extra services: Really depends, but I've paid around $1200 NTD for a massage, and then can throw a $500 NTD tip, or sometimes $1000, depends on the girl. Can also find some more upfront all inclusive where you just front $3k NTD and get everything, and girls usually way better looking than having some old Mamasan wrangle off her granny panties and throw some lube down a dusty cave.

There are places called Jiudians (we call them JDs for short), where you can pay anywhere from $3k-$10k for girls to drink with you, and other services, some at the place, some you have to take out for a fee. Level of girl depends on the price, and most are college girls working to make some extra money. In a lineup of 7 or 8, you always have 2 or 3, who try and pass as 21, but are like 29, and can't tell you a single thing about university. Usually includes a few bottles of decent whiskey and fried chicken and stuff, ranging from 2-4 hours. Not a bad place to pregame, or go if you want to take a girl home and not go to a club. Figure it all evens out price wise, unless you are one of those pyschopaths who goes to a club completely sober and picks off the stragglers.

Other miscellaneous expenses: I take a cab to work every day: which for a 2.8km trip, it costs $130 NTD ($4 USD). I also load up my metro card about once a week with $200 NTD, and don't even usually go through it all. Transportation is great here. Also, U-biking is popular and it's like $30 NTD for an hour or two ride, capped at 3 or 4 hours. Fisherman had a wild night and lost his U-Bike and was charged something like $3k for forgetting about it and not reporting it for like 2 weeks. Don't be like Fisherman.

Let me know if you have any questions about any other specific expenses, I would say overall per month, I spend about $2300 USD, or $65k (about I think) NTD, and still save money.

Cheers to the weekend and hope everyone gets at it, whether it be something healthy, or degenerate, do it to your best.

-Big Body

Foods got to be amazing there.

My favorite restaurant here over the past couple years is "Din Tai Fung" its Taiwanese food im sure you have heard it since its a international chain in alot of countries. I go nearly every weekend. The pork soup dumplings are so good i have to imagine that you got access to that quality of dumpling like all over the place. They also got these pork and shrimp wontons i love. When me and GF go there its turns out being about 1k-1200 baht(30-40usdish)

Yeah looks like your place is a big part of your budget. Sounds like your right in heart of things so thats sweet. I imagine you could budget down a little bit from that 2300 if they really wanted to. Living walking distance of sweet stuff is pro though obv.

The girls really into white dudes from America?

You say that like you're surprised.

interesting to compare your place to mine last year. I was living in Shenzhen CBD, 12 minute walk to Coco Park (biggest party area) 7 to subway station. I paid 4000rmb (little less than $600) for a quite small one bedroom (less than 40m2). It was livable, Asian style shower though. No particular amenities like you mentioned. Utilities were maybe $40 a month inclusive.

If we were in Singapore or HK we'd be paying 3x that though, right?

Its not that it would surprise me but i was actually asking as i dont know. In S.Korea/Japan being a white guy isnt really a big advantage at all so i was curious if the girls have white fever there like some Asian countries.

I think it's a pretty fair question, since I'd say there's different tiers of the women being into you, usually by country. To start, I'd say that yeah if you are comparing Taiwan to your home country, which is presumably a Western one, then it is much easier. But compared to countries that are still 3rd world countries and being white is kind of life-changing for women and more of a novelty, it wouldn't be as easy.

In Taiwan, the majority of foreigners are English teachers or students, so a good portion of the Taiwanese women are apprehensive about dating them, because there is a ceiling that is already capped (think that applies in Korea and Japan like you mentioned YF). Also, Taiwan is a 1st world country, and it just seems that some of the best looking women prefer an ABC type, who has the wealth, language, and local flare.

Not to say it isn't easy to pick up women, but oftentimes it is a particular girl that goes for the foreigner. I mentioned the women that run the foreign circuit and have a bit of squawky English, either working in a department store, or at Texas Roadhouse. That's why I definitely was a bit heated after that Thursday night out when I was bringing out a sweet local girl who wasn't in that category.

Hong Kong isn't the novelty some might think it is, partially due to the fact that there are so many foreigners, that you are just another drop in the bucket.

Also, you never see the best looking Taiwanese or Hong Kong girl with a foreigner, partially because the best looking Taiwanese girl, probably speaks pretty bad English, and the foreigner isn't fluent in Chinese. The opportunities can be hard to find to finagle your way into a situation where you are with some of the best looking girls. Don't get me wrong, some of the club girls/rats might seem quite attractive, but to speak in a cliche, most of their beauty is skin deep. The most attractive women I've found and interacted with in Taiwan are on hikes, or going to a nice brunch spot, or even at the batting cages.


YF: Din Tai Fung is great, and the xiaolongbao (the soup dumplings), have to be one of my favorite foods about Asia. Have been here a long time, but still burn my mouth being a glutton every time I eat them. Also, yeah could definitely budget down a bit, but I'm still saving a good chunk per month, and enjoy the occasional sinning, which can throw me back a few doll-hairs. I have friends who pay anywhere from $8k NTD-30K NTD/ month, and it seems people in the $12-15k range, really love their places as much as I love mine. So it is definitely all relative. To quote my Aussie coworker, who works a similar job, but pays $8k NTD in rent, for a shared flat in a hustlin' and bustlin' area, which I think is pretty nice, she said she saved $17k Australian dollars last year. She also goes out, gets brunch, and spends some money on new clothes, and travels a bit.

PE: Just saw the thread move over to Travel, loving the pictures and reflections, especially since I was unsure about ever getting back to the Mainland, but still wanted to keep up with the lifestyle over there, so I really enjoy the look into the life of someone on the Mainland train. My friends in Hong Kong pay about 2-3k for rent on the Island, and their place is quite cramped still, so I think bang for our buck we in a good spot. Also, you would think the salaries in Hong Kong would be commensurate, but sadly, it seems they aren't.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxMIxGNzTc

Some Bronson for you guys to start the week right, produced by Statik Selektah from my home state, New Hampshire.

-B

Thanks man.

Question: do you think the foreigners in Taiwan are happier than the Mainland? If you've spent any time here you know that a goodly portion of the foreigners are endlessly bitching about the ways China is deficient/different from their home country.

I saw your post in the China thread about how you are invested in China, so maybe too late to go elsewhere. I think that's pretty spot on with how I felt, and partially why I chose Taiwan. I did enjoy my time in China (almost 3 years or so), but I just couldn't fathom going back, and before I moved to Taiwan, I sat there a bit worried, thinking; Hong Kong is too expensive for me currently, while I just couldn't imagine the everyday grind in China, so I took a chance on Taiwan.

I will say 100% that the foreigners here seem so much happier, and I have less "China days" than I did while living in China. My China days were where you just got quite irritable and down, and really felt like such a stranger, no matter what you did. Taiwan is a 1st world country, debatable in maybe Kaohsiung, but otherwise, it is clean, decent air, and friendly people. What killed me about China was the general indifference the population held towards everyday life. I was on a train in Shanghai to work, and some couple committed suicide by throwing themselves in front of the train, and there wasn't really any shock or confusion, sadness, or any feeling. Just more irritated that they were late for work.

I don't know how to put this without it sounding bad, but I think why Taiwan keeps one a bit more mentally optimistic is you aren't constantly surrounded by some peasantry and dirtiness. I think it does take a toll on the psyche. Lack of Western food could contribute to some of my irritation as well in China, but in Taiwan, the food is great, accommodable, healthy, and fresh. Not really all that MSG bull**** and some other things that can be rough on the stomach. Also, after living in Beijing and Shanghai, I feel like Taipei and Taiwan is much more accessible. Less crowded, better air, and the ability to get out of town even just for a night or morning. Proximity to unpolluted bodies of water also keeps me pretty happy. And, general activities in the city, such as never being more than 20 mins away from a good hike with a good view.

Taipei is not an aesthetically beautiful city, but there is so much beauty in the back streets, which makes exploring great. Also, with the conversion rate, and decent salaries for foreigners (minimum $48k NTD/month requirement for foreigners), the standard of living is quite high. I'm definitely missing a few things, but on lunch break right now and trying to think of others.

-B

For some reason, I instantly thought of our friends in Cambodia (and perhaps Vietnam).

You make all valid points. My reason for choosing the mainland was that it's so much bigger, I can travel visa free to Taiwan anyway and simplified writing is more predominant.

Also the weird ways that Taiwanese Romanize their names, I never know how to pronounce them haha

Oh you can bet that people hate how stubborn I am that I still only type/text in simplified to them. I still struggle a bit with traditional. What do you use to text? I stick with pinyin, but a bunch of my buddies use BPMF.

I enjoyed your list of favorite places in China. And from what I've heard Tiger Leaping Gorge might be my friend's favorite place in all of China. If I had to recommend any one city, it would be Harbin for the Ice Festival. I wrote about The tiger park and feel of the city in an early post. Kind of a lawless, Russian area that has a really great vibe.

Goal sometime in near future would to go out to Urumqi and maybe Kashgar. Really fascinated by Xinjiang, and also I had a pretty sketchy and interesting drug dealer named Babir, who would make me smoke pot out of his hand-carved gourd, while serving me bbq, and then would ride away on his giant oversized Kermit-The-Frog bicycle.

-B