2wheels
Community Manager
FROM THE DESERT TO TAIWAN
Intro and preparation
This ride actually began back in Central Australia in June 2016 when I met a young Taiwanese couple who had stopped their car beside the road to photograph Uluru.
Problem was they had stopped near Atila, thinking it was Uluru (a common mistake).
No, they had another 147 kms to travel. However, they would have been driving into a setting sun and possibly into straying cattle, camels and ‘roos.
So we camped the night and I had made a nice friendship with Mina and Paul, who were back-packing around Australia, picking up work where-ever they could.
They really enjoyed The Centre and after many jobs, including picking apples in Tasmania, decided to accept a job working in the store at the very remote Aboriginal community
of Kaltukatjara (Docker River), 230 west of Uluru.
They enjoy a challenge do young Mina and Paul.
Sadly, their old Mitsubishi died along the way and I rescued them from that situation which resulted in an invitation for me to visit them in Taiwan. Why not?
From the desert to Taiwan.
I enjoyed doing some research and decided June was probably the best time to be riding there.
The best bike rental deal by far was from Max at 555 in Kaohsiung City. By incredible coincidence Paul lives in that very city!! Sadly, the largest capacity bike Max 555 could offer was 155cc.
I knew I’d be riding the mountain roads so that small capacity bike might be struggling.
However, that’s what I have booked. We’ll see.
I found that Thai International had by far the best flight schedule, with a direct flight from Bangkok to Taipei.
When planning my riding route I was aware that I would be riding on the right hand side of the roads, so I attempted to have the special sites on my right.
An International Driving Permit is required (well, all my research said so) and that involved a couple of frustrating visits to Immigration to obtain a Residency Certificate.
They are available upstairs at Promenada but that table is only open between 9am and 11am. The service will be free but they will require “one week” to process the application.
I was told that if I didn’t have one spare week then the agents at Tian will have the Certificate next day in exchange for 1,000 baht.
Here is what was required for the IDP.
1 Thai Drivers License (original and copy)
2 Passport and Non Imm Visa (original and copy) and extensions plus last entry.
3 Residence Certificate or yellow Residence Book or Work Permit. (plus copy)
4 Two photos “4cm x 6cm”.
Fee is 505 baht and Permit will be available next day. It was.
Having received and checked my IDP I noticed that “Taiwan” is not listed amongst the “Contacting Parties”, so I assume it has been thrown in with “China”.
Next I managed to obtain a hand-full of Taiwanese cash, some US dollars and, together with my credit and debit cards, I should be financially fluid for the duration of my visit.
Visa?
"The following passport holders are allowed a 90 day visa-free stay:
USA, UK, Canada, Australia (exp. 2018/12/31), Japan (日本), South Korea (대한민국), Germany, France, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State.
The following passport holders are allowed a 30 day visa-free stay:
Singapore, Malaysia, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Passports from Thailand (ประเทศไทย) and Brunei are visa-free until 31 July, 2018."
Re-entry permit obtained.
Set to go.
But ......... I received a message yesterday that just as I arrive at Taipei so does a typhoon!!
Could be fun!
Intro and preparation
This ride actually began back in Central Australia in June 2016 when I met a young Taiwanese couple who had stopped their car beside the road to photograph Uluru.
Problem was they had stopped near Atila, thinking it was Uluru (a common mistake).
No, they had another 147 kms to travel. However, they would have been driving into a setting sun and possibly into straying cattle, camels and ‘roos.
So we camped the night and I had made a nice friendship with Mina and Paul, who were back-packing around Australia, picking up work where-ever they could.
They really enjoyed The Centre and after many jobs, including picking apples in Tasmania, decided to accept a job working in the store at the very remote Aboriginal community
of Kaltukatjara (Docker River), 230 west of Uluru.
They enjoy a challenge do young Mina and Paul.
Sadly, their old Mitsubishi died along the way and I rescued them from that situation which resulted in an invitation for me to visit them in Taiwan. Why not?
From the desert to Taiwan.
I enjoyed doing some research and decided June was probably the best time to be riding there.
The best bike rental deal by far was from Max at 555 in Kaohsiung City. By incredible coincidence Paul lives in that very city!! Sadly, the largest capacity bike Max 555 could offer was 155cc.
I knew I’d be riding the mountain roads so that small capacity bike might be struggling.
However, that’s what I have booked. We’ll see.
I found that Thai International had by far the best flight schedule, with a direct flight from Bangkok to Taipei.
When planning my riding route I was aware that I would be riding on the right hand side of the roads, so I attempted to have the special sites on my right.
An International Driving Permit is required (well, all my research said so) and that involved a couple of frustrating visits to Immigration to obtain a Residency Certificate.
They are available upstairs at Promenada but that table is only open between 9am and 11am. The service will be free but they will require “one week” to process the application.
I was told that if I didn’t have one spare week then the agents at Tian will have the Certificate next day in exchange for 1,000 baht.
Here is what was required for the IDP.
1 Thai Drivers License (original and copy)
2 Passport and Non Imm Visa (original and copy) and extensions plus last entry.
3 Residence Certificate or yellow Residence Book or Work Permit. (plus copy)
4 Two photos “4cm x 6cm”.
Fee is 505 baht and Permit will be available next day. It was.
Having received and checked my IDP I noticed that “Taiwan” is not listed amongst the “Contacting Parties”, so I assume it has been thrown in with “China”.
Next I managed to obtain a hand-full of Taiwanese cash, some US dollars and, together with my credit and debit cards, I should be financially fluid for the duration of my visit.
Visa?
"The following passport holders are allowed a 90 day visa-free stay:
USA, UK, Canada, Australia (exp. 2018/12/31), Japan (日本), South Korea (대한민국), Germany, France, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, Paraguay, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Vatican City State.
The following passport holders are allowed a 30 day visa-free stay:
Singapore, Malaysia, Belize, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, St. Christopher and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Passports from Thailand (ประเทศไทย) and Brunei are visa-free until 31 July, 2018."
Re-entry permit obtained.
Set to go.
But ......... I received a message yesterday that just as I arrive at Taipei so does a typhoon!!
Could be fun!
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