Fountainhall, you have a good eye and a remarkable knack for writing about people, places and a culture you obviously love so much. There are so few people with this skill, interest and travel stamina. Personally, I could never cover the ground you have and that makes me appreciate your wanderlust more than you could know.
Once again, you saved the last picture for best. Not just easy on the eye, but a wonderfully candid shot of faces so full of enchantment and curiosity. Bravo.
Taipei in 48 hours
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
I am glad you enjoyed them. My favourite is the black angel. Sadly I have never seen him on any of the apps!! You should certainly give Taipei a try some time.
I just noticed an error in my earlier description of the hot springs. They - and Shipai station - are to the west of the city, not the east.
I just noticed an error in my earlier description of the hot springs. They - and Shipai station - are to the west of the city, not the east.
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
Thank you for the wonderful report fountainhall. I am visiting Melbourne and have just read all the posts while sitting at the Southbank Riverside on the most beautiful night possible and all i can think of now is Taiwan. I will book another flight to Taipei soon
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
I will be going back on Thursday next week after a few days in Hong Kong. I'm sure you know that V Air, the low cost carrier that served DMK and CNX to TPE has axed both routes, sadly. China Airlines had reduced its fares to compete and I took it a couple of times, but now that V Air has gone it has raised them again! Tiger Air Taiwan is now the only non-stop budget carrier linking DMK and TPE. Unfortunately its flights depart DMK around 8:00 pm with a very late arrival in TPE, especially if the incoming flight is late arriving at DMK. Checking fares yesterday for 10 days in May, I found that the full service carrier Hong Kong Airlines had a fare via Hong Kong that is only Bt. 400 more than Tigerair Taiwan - and it permits a stopover in HKG. Perfect for me.
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
I just noticed that Nok Scoot is now also flying BKK to TPE. However its outward sector is overnight departing at various times between 00:20 and 02:10. If you are prepared to fly overnight and can book a good 3 months ahead, the price is better than TigerAir.
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
Well, fountainhall, you've now got me considering a trip to Taiwan in April.
I'd love to go and take a look in those gay hotsprings. But I'd also like to enjoy a sexy massage every day with a happy ending - or more. Are there any places you'd recommend?
Also, can you recommend a nice hotel in Ximen? Cost doesn't matter.
And I'm presuming the apps are pretty active. Is Blued the most common app used?
Thanks.
I'd love to go and take a look in those gay hotsprings. But I'd also like to enjoy a sexy massage every day with a happy ending - or more. Are there any places you'd recommend?
Also, can you recommend a nice hotel in Ximen? Cost doesn't matter.
And I'm presuming the apps are pretty active. Is Blued the most common app used?
Thanks.
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
You have hit my weak spot as far as Taipei is concerned. I have never been to any gay massage - or even ordinary massage places - in the city. But it's clear there are many as you can see from these three sites -
http://www.utopia-asia.com/taipmasa.htm
https://www.travelgayasia.com/taipei-gay-massage-spas/
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=G ... loc=Taipei
I am in Taipei now and spoke to some friends. They are in the same boat as I and are just not into gay massage. Looking at various sites, the Royal Spa seems popular -
http://www.theroyalspa.com.tw/en/d.htm
https://www.travelgayasia.com/venue/the-royal-spa/
From what I know, happy endings are usually restricted to HJs. Also English will not be commonly spoken by the masseurs although the mamasans will speak some. You need to be aware that at some spas you can not choose the masseur. At others popular masseurs will be quite heavily booked and so you should make a reservation at least a day in advance.
If you can be bothered looking through the Taipei travel section of this Singapore chat site, you might pick up some ideas. This page seems as good as any to start. But it's pretty hard going
https://www.blowingwind.io/forum/topic/ ... d/?page=65
As for hotels, I always stay close to Daan Park and don't know the ones near Ximen. But you can check the following which all get ratings of 8.0 or higher on agoda. Prices are mostly around US$100 per night in late April give or take 20%, apart from one which is closer to $65. Not all are exactly in Ximen which does not have so many hotels, but the neighbouring Ximending District has lots.
Amba Taipei - highly recommended by friends - 8.3
Westgate Hotel - 8.5
Musik Hotel - 8.0
Green World Hotel Zhonghua - 8.2
Beauty Hotels Taipei Hotel B6 - 8.5
Diary of Ximen Hotel - 8.0
Tango Inn Taipei Ximen - 8.6
Via Hotel - 8.6
Ximen Hotel - 8.0
Taipei Garden Hotel - 8.0 - just a short walk away from Ximen
Yes the apps are very active. I have never used Blued but Hornet, Jack'd and Grindr are always busy.
http://www.utopia-asia.com/taipmasa.htm
https://www.travelgayasia.com/taipei-gay-massage-spas/
https://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=G ... loc=Taipei
I am in Taipei now and spoke to some friends. They are in the same boat as I and are just not into gay massage. Looking at various sites, the Royal Spa seems popular -
http://www.theroyalspa.com.tw/en/d.htm
https://www.travelgayasia.com/venue/the-royal-spa/
From what I know, happy endings are usually restricted to HJs. Also English will not be commonly spoken by the masseurs although the mamasans will speak some. You need to be aware that at some spas you can not choose the masseur. At others popular masseurs will be quite heavily booked and so you should make a reservation at least a day in advance.
If you can be bothered looking through the Taipei travel section of this Singapore chat site, you might pick up some ideas. This page seems as good as any to start. But it's pretty hard going
https://www.blowingwind.io/forum/topic/ ... d/?page=65
As for hotels, I always stay close to Daan Park and don't know the ones near Ximen. But you can check the following which all get ratings of 8.0 or higher on agoda. Prices are mostly around US$100 per night in late April give or take 20%, apart from one which is closer to $65. Not all are exactly in Ximen which does not have so many hotels, but the neighbouring Ximending District has lots.
Amba Taipei - highly recommended by friends - 8.3
Westgate Hotel - 8.5
Musik Hotel - 8.0
Green World Hotel Zhonghua - 8.2
Beauty Hotels Taipei Hotel B6 - 8.5
Diary of Ximen Hotel - 8.0
Tango Inn Taipei Ximen - 8.6
Via Hotel - 8.6
Ximen Hotel - 8.0
Taipei Garden Hotel - 8.0 - just a short walk away from Ximen
Yes the apps are very active. I have never used Blued but Hornet, Jack'd and Grindr are always busy.
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
I have learned that Rainbow sauna referred to in my earlier article closed just a few weeks ago. It has moved north a bit to a new location with a new name - Soi 13 In Sauna. According to reports, it is still attracting a younger crowd, but numbers are way down until the new location becomes better known.
No.13, Sec 1, Minsheng E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei
https://www.travelgayasia.com/gay-venue ... ,%20Taiwan
No.13, Sec 1, Minsheng E Rd, Zhongshan District, Taipei
https://www.travelgayasia.com/gay-venue ... ,%20Taiwan
Re: Taipei in 48 hours
I visited In Touch Spa on my most recent visit to Taipei and liked it quite a lot. It's a little hidden on a small alley near 101, but easy to get to. Seemed pretty busy.a447 wrote:Well, fountainhall, you've now got me considering a trip to Taiwan in April.
I'd love to go and take a look in those gay hotsprings. But I'd also like to enjoy a sexy massage every day with a happy ending - or more. Are there any places you'd recommend?
Also, can you recommend a nice hotel in Ximen? Cost doesn't matter.
And I'm presuming the apps are pretty active. Is Blued the most common app used?
Thanks.
I went to Royal Spa once and was a little frustrated. Super hot masseur but he wouldn't let me touch him at all and kept his underwear on the whole time.