When I arrived in Taiwan a couple of days ago, I had the opportunity to check out one of the information kiosks at the Taipei International Airport.

The idea is a good one, because it is meant to provide international travelers with some valuable information. They can look up things like the currency exchange rate, the weather report, and some other good stuff.

Unfortunately, even though it is an official installation and one that is presumably run by the government or a government-monitored organization, they still did not get a native English speaker to do some proofreading for them. I guess the Taiwanese government needs to hire a freelance writer. Having so many mistakes right up front can’t reflect well on the island nation.

As you may have heard, I’m currently in Taipei, Taiwan getting ready for the big Computex trade show that kicks off this week. Before attending the world’s second largest computer expo itself, Stephen Fung and I decided to take a couple of days to explore the city and what it has to offer. On our first day in Taipei, we walked around for a solid six or seven hours. Yeah, our feet were begging for mercy by the end of it.

Seeing how this is my first time in Taipei, I prepared myself for a bit of a culture shock. My prediction was that Taipei would be very similar to Hong Kong, except everyone would speak Mandarin instead of Cantonese. To sum up my experiences in these first 24 hours, I have compiled a list of nine general observations. Why nine? Because the tenth is yet to come.

1. Watch Your Step Always

The sidewalks in Taipei are terribly uneven and made up of several different materials. It is not out of the ordinary to find huge sections of sidewalk missing and then to come across several steps or a ramp as you approach an intersection. You really have to watch where you walk, because it’s really easy to misstep and trip. The puddles don’t help either.

2. This is a City of Scooters

Young and old, male and female, it seems that the standard form of transportation for most people is the gas-powered scooter. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining, because they’ll just throw on a poncho and continue on their merry way. It really is quite amazing how many scooters there are. The city even provides ample parking on sidewalks for scooters.

3. Don’t Assume English Will Work

It depends largely on where you go, but Taipei is not exactly English-friendly. There are many restaurants whose menus do not have English nor do they have pictures. Communicating through gestures is always an option… and an adventure.

4. They Love Their Technology

In general, it appears that the technological phenomenon in Taipei is much the same as in Tokyo. The people of Japan tend to prefer Japanese products and the people of Taiwan tend to prefer Taiwanese products. I was awash in Asus, BenQ, and MSI in every electronics shop.

5. iPhone is Here, Does Anyone Care?

The Apple penetration in Taiwan is nowhere near as deep as back home. Even so, I found a few stores that were selling the Apple iPhone, presumably unlocked. I didn’t inquire about pricing, but it didn’t seem like anyone was interested anyways. They were too occupied with other phones instead.

6. Traffic Markings Are Merely Suggestions

From traffic lights to lane markings, the drivers on the road take a pretty liberal approach to what they can and cannot do. Running red lights, sharing lanes, and performing u-turns are extremely common place. Any time a scooter has enough time to go, it will. This makes for a stressful pedestrian experience.

7. Car Modifications Confuse Me

Modified lights and other aftermarket car customizations seem to be commonplace. Many trucks have blinking blue lights in the back that alternate with blinking red lights. Wouldn’t this combination be easily confused for the police?

8. 7-11 Stores Sell Umbrellas

Even though I saw that the weather report called for rain, I neglected to pack an umbrella. Luckily for me, 7-11 convenience stores here sell umbrellas. The one I bought cost 65 NT, which works out to about two bucks back home.

9. Parking is Remarkably Inexpensive

It is definitely possible that I am misinterpreting the signage, but the surface lots that I encountered were only charging between 20 and 40 NT per “stay”. That’s only about one Canadian dollar. Given the number of cars on the road, I thought parking in Taipei would be much more costly. It certainly is in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

This is Only the Beginning

These nine observations come from only one day in Taipei. I’m going to be in Taiwan for a little over a week, so there are bound to be more surprises in store for me.

As I mentioned earlier this week, I’m on my way to Taiwan to attend the Computex Technology Trade Show. This is the first time that I have ever visited Taipei, so it should prove to be a pretty interesting experience. We will likely be relying heavily on Sarah (John Chow’s wife) for interpretation purposes, because I don’t speak much Mandarin beyond “I don’t know” and “I don’t understand.”

Researching a bit about Computex before my trip, I discovered that it is the second largest computer expo in the world. It’s even bigger than the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas and that was already pretty massive. To outdo Computex, you’d have to head over to Germany for CeBIT.

Although this is not a vacation in the strictest sense, I still have to prepare for the trip to Taiwan in much the same way. Because there will be no shortage of Internet access, I should still be able to find time to write blog posts here and maintain a certain level of continuity with most of my freelance clients. I intend on doing some Computex coverage for Mobile Magazine, for example.

In terms of what I’m bringing along, the list is pretty much identical to what I brought to CES. I’m still lugging my trusty Canon S3 IS digital camera, Dell Inspiron 640m laptop, HTC Wizard smartphone, and a travel mouse. I’m also bringing a Microsoft webcam, though I don’t think I’ll be using it very much (if at all).

Taiwan’s relationship with Mainland China is always up for debate, but the long and short of it is that I do not need a Chinese Visa to visit the island. Also, although I wasn’t able to skip the lineup at the airport last night (I’m on the red eye to Taiwan), I will be able to take advantage of my NEXUS pass coming back. The NEXUS pass is so worth the $50 fee (it lasts five years).

The weather forecast in Taipei calls for rain and 30 degree days. Hot and wet. That doesn’t sound pleasant at all. Hopefully, the free swag will make up for it.

The reason why I was not able to attend Dot Com Pho last Saturday was because I was being interviewed by Canadian and American customs officers as part of my application to the NEXUS program. If you travel frequently between Canada and the United States, I recommend that you take a look at this program, because it will allow you to bypass those lengthy lineups at the border.

As a public service, I’ve decided to answer some of the most frequently asked questions about NEXUS and how the “trusted traveler” program works. Let’s just say that a five-minute wait at a border crossing — like at the Peace Arch which connects Blaine, Washington with Surrey, British Columbia — is substantially more pleasant than the two or three hour waits that are typical on long weekends.

1. What is the NEXUS Program?

According to the official website, “NEXUS is designed to expedite the border clearance process for low-risk, pre-approved travellers into Canada and the United States.” This means that the border guards and customs officers don’t need to grill you as you cross the border, because you’ve already been pre-approved. As a NEXUS member, you are still bound to the same laws. This means that you are under the same restrictions for bringing back fruits and vegetables, tobacco products, illegal aliens, and so on. NEXUS is a joint program between the governments of Canada and the United States.

2. Who is Eligible for NEXUS?

Generally speaking, if you are a Canadian or American citizen without a criminal record, you should have little trouble getting approved for the NEXUS program. Permanent residents of either country are also eligible. Check out this page for a little more information. You cannot be a terrorist.

3. What is the Application Process?

The easiest way to apply is through GOES (Global Online Enrollment System), a service provided by the US Department of Homeland Security. There is an online application form that you will need to fill out. This application form will ask you for your passport information, mailing address, phone number, employment history, and other personal data. After you submit your NEXUS application through GOES, you wait about a month or two for the approval process to go through. You will not receive an email when you receive initial approval, so you will need to log into GOES periodically to check on the status of your application.

When you see that your application has passed the first stage of approval, the GOES system will tell you that you need to book an appointment time. There are NEXUS offices in many major cities and airports, so just find the one nearest you. They have an online booking system for appointments, but I also learned that there are walk-ins for many of these locations as well. For the interview, you will want to bring your passport, the approval letter, and any other supporting documentation you may need. This could be a birth certificate, driver’s license, and a utility bill to prove your current address.

4. What Should I Expect at the Interview?

The interview, which takes about 30 to 45 minutes, is basically just to confirm what you have already stated in the application. The questions will vary a little, but you will be questioned by both a Canadian and an American officer. They may ask why you want to join NEXUS, confirm your employment information, and ask with whom you travel most frequently. I told them that I may be travelling more often for work-related purposes (like going to CES) and I also shop in the States from time to time. The officer will take your digital fingerprints at this time and, if you are at an airport, you can opt to have your irises scanned as well.

5. What Are the Advantages to Being a NEXUS Trusted Traveler?

Naturally, the biggest advantage to joining NEXUS is that you will be able to cross between Canada and the United States much more quickly than if you were not a NEXUS trusted traveler. In general, it will also mean that you will not be grilled as harshly as the general population and this is because you have been pre-screened and pre-approved.

6. What Are the Cons to Being a NEXUS Trusted Traveler?

Some people may not be comfortable with having both the Canadian and American governments having so much information on them. The “big brother” phenomenon is in full play with NEXUS, because they’ll have your employment history, your fingerprints, and (optionally) your iris scan. The other disadvantage is if you are found breaking any immigration or customs laws, for example, not only do you have to revoke your NEXUS membership, but you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The punishment will likely be worse than if the same crime was committed by a non-NEXUS member.

7. Do NEXUS Members Pay Taxes and Duty?

Yes. Holders of a NEXUS card are not exempt from all the laws surrounding duties and taxes. In fact, at the end of the interview process described above, you will be handed a booklet of forms. One of these forms (the Canadian version is called the Travellers Declaration Card or TDC for short) must be filed out each time you return to your home country. On this form, you will state the value of goods being brought back, broken down into the various categories. There’s one category for clothing and footwear, another for electronics, and so on. It also asks where the majority of goods were made and how long you were out of the country.

And herein lies another disadvantage to the NEXUS program. Upon returning to your home country and handing this form over, any duties and taxes that you must pay are automatically charged to the credit card that they will have on file. This is automatic. By contrast, when you take a regular lane at the border crossing, the customs officer has a certain level of discretion as to whether he wants to pull you over to pay your duties or not. This is not the case with NEXUS. That said, you still have the option of using the regular lane upon your return if you’d like; it just means you have to line up like everyone else.

8. How Much Does It Cost to Join NEXUS?

If you go through GOES, there is a non-refundable application fee of $50. This is payable in either Canadian or US funds. The application fee includes the price of the NEXUS card itself, which is valid for five years from the date of issue. There is no discount for renewals and replacement cards cost $25.

9. What Happens When I Travel by Air or Sea?

The NEXUS card itself is largely used for land crossings, but you can also use it to bypass lineups at the airport as well. For this, you will need to have your iris scan on file, which can be done at any of the NEXUS offices located in an airport. Note that not all airports will have a NEXUS line that is separate from the regular line. If you choose to take the NEXUS line at an airport, filling out the Travellers Declaration Card (TDC) mentioned earlier is optional. If you do fill one out, duties and taxes are charged automatically to your credit card. If you don’t, then any duties and taxes will have to be paid before leaving the customs area.

10. When Do I Get My NEXUS Card?

The NEXUS card is issued immediately after the conclusion of your interview. The card is printed on the spot and it contains your information, a photograph, and an RFID tag. The card cannot be used for the first 24 hours of issue, however.

More Questions about NEXUS?

If you have any further questions about the NEXUS program, you can use the comment form below and I will answer your questions to the best of my ability. You can also check the Wikipedia page for more information, as well as the official website. Happy travels!

It’s a decision that many people face at some point in their lives. On one hand, you have the charm and simplicity that are typically found within small towns. Life just seems easier when you live in a town with a small population. On the other hand, you have the hustle and bustle of the big city. You’re more likely to be on the cutting edge of things when you live in a major metropolitan area.

Ultimately, which is the better place to live? To work? To raise a family? Let’s break it down into six different areas.

Arts, Entertainment, and Culture
When you live in a big city, you have much greater access to a variety of entertainment venues and you are exposed to all sorts of different cultures. Taking Vancouver as an example, you’ll find that this city always has some sort of festival going on, whether it be related to St. Patrick’s Day or Chinese New Year. We also get all sorts of music festivals, comedy festivals, and other events that happen on a fairly regular basis. By contrast, small towns generally don’t get nearly as much variety. In this respect, the big city wins.

Networking and Community
This is sort of a mixed bag. In the big city, it’s much easier to get lost in the mix, blending into the background with a relative sense of anonymity. By contrast, there is usually a better sense of community in small towns, because everyone knows your name and what you do. At the same time, if you plan on doing any sort of business networking — like dot com pho — a big city is the place to go. If I lived in a small town, I would have never met John Chow, Gary Jones, Stephen Fung, or any of the other dot com moguls with whom I associate.

Transportation and Traffic
Public transportation in the big city is surely more efficient, but you also have to put up with big city traffic. One of the biggest things that I hate about Vancouver is that no one knows how to drive in the snow, so when you add the white stuff in with gridiron traffic, you’ve got a fender-bender waiting to happen. Small town wins here for sure.

Fine Dining
This is probably the biggest advantage to living in a nice, large multicultural city. From fine seafood to $60 burgers, I love eating a huge variety of food. I also like having options, so being able to choose between countless sushi restaurants is a definite plus. In a small town, you might have just one restaurant with any Asian food whatsoever; Good luck trying to find a place that specializes in Cambodian cuisine.

Modern Conveniences
Much like the note about food above, the big city will offer you more variety and more options when it comes to any sort of modern conveniences. There are more postal outlets, more supermarkets, more electronics shops, and so on. In a small town, you may only have one of each… and you probably don’t have a Wal-Mart or Best Buy either.

Cost of Living
Vancouver’s booming housing market has yet to burst, so when you consider how much it costs to buy a modest apartment, furnish it, and then pay all the associated taxes and fees, living in the big city is considerably more expensive than in a small town. If you want to save money, especially if you make money online (which makes you more immune to the local economy), a small town is the way to go.

The Best of Both Worlds
Choosing between life in a big city and life in a small town will ultimately come down to personal preference. You’ll have to weigh all the pros and cons associated with each kind of lifestyle, but I think the best choice for most people would probably be the middle ground. Living in Downtown Vancouver can be very pricey, but you can enjoy much of the same advantages by living in a neighboring suburb. Living costs are lower there too.

Having been born and raised in Vancouver, you could say that I know a few things about this city. If you asked me where you should go shopping, I could probably point you in the right direction. If you asked for restaurant recommendations, I could probably help you there too.

For the most part, it’s pretty safe to say that I love Vancouver, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have my gripes about this town. In no particular order, here are ten things that almost make me want to leave this town.

1. Rain
That’s an easy one. We get a lot of the wet stuff here and it can make for a rather miserable mood for a good part of the year. The dreary weather can probably explain the relatively high prevalence of seasonal affective disorder.

2. Vancouver drivers can’t handle snow
Vancouver doesn’t get very much in terms of snow. As a result, the drivers in this city are typically very unprepared and have no idea how to maneuver in the snow. They all slam on the brakes, drive too fast, or end up in the ditch. This city pretty much shuts down with just an inch of snow.

3. Canada’s poorest postal code
While there are great organizations like Union Gospel Mission doing what they can, Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is the poorest neighbourhood in Canada. I’m not entirely sure what can be done, but something needs to be done about this overwhelming poverty.

4. Housing is expensive
Unless you’re pulling down six figures, it’s nearly impossible for a single person to own any sort of property in Vancouver. It’s a little out of control when a modest 600 square foot apartment goes for $300,000. And that’s not even downtown. Needless to say, the boom hasn’t burst (yet).

5. Possibly too liberal
While I’m sure that I sit closer to the left end of the political spectrum, I find that Vancouver (Canada?) can be a little too far to the left sometimes. Just the mere mention of abortion or the death penalty can solicit a huge uproar.

6. Gimme gimme gimme
Vancouverites, myself included, complain a lot. We want cheaper university tuition, perfectly maintained roads, better public transit… but no one will accept any sort of raise in income tax, property tax, or transit fares.

7. Wha? No English
Because Vancouver is such a multicultural city, there are many immigrants that can get along just fine without speaking a single word of English. I love the variety of food we get, but communication can be a challenge when you go to certain stores or certain neighborhoods.

8. Cheap things to do
This is probably the result of living in this city my whole life, but I’m running out of fun things to do, mostly at night, that won’t cost me a pretty penny. The costs of fine dining and watching movies can add up pretty quickly, but I’m at a loss as to what else I can be doing. Pool? Bowling? Go-karting? Been there, done that.

9. Horrible highway system
Years ago, someone decided that they didn’t want a highway running through the middle of the city. As a result, we are now suffering from a very bad system of surface roads that result in nothing but congestion, frustration, and road rage. Even compared to somewhere like Seattle, Vancouver’s traffic is pretty bad.

10. Expensive cellular
The issue of expensive wireless data is not isolated to Vancouver, but it really sucks when compare to the relatively cheap data that people south of the border can have. Guys like Bob Buskirk can enjoy high-speed EVDO anywhere in the country for one flat rate, whereas the same service could cost as much as $50/MB here.

UPDATE (2/13/08): This post has been picked up by StumbleUpon, so if you could spare a Stumble (link is just above the related posts list), that’d be awesome. Thanks!