Ah, island TEFL destinations – there’s nothing quite like them. Beaches ringing the coast, palms stooping low to meet the water, tempting shoreline restaurants and golden-hour beer spots, and a whole load more is on the menu in these amazing places. If weekend days on the sands and evenings of sunset watching are what you’re after, then be sure to read on for our pick of the top 5 island TEFL destinations out there. From Thailand to Italy, there’s oodles to get through…
Taiwan
Taiwan is surely up there with the largest island TEFL destinations in the world. Formosa – the biggest island here – is over 13,800 square miles of downright gorgeous terrain. It rolls from the forested tops of the Taroko National Park all the way to the big beaches of the Kenting National Park. It also hosts the sprawling cityscape of Taipei, where over nine million people live, work, and play.
There’s no shortage of TEFL jobs in Taiwan. In fact, it’s one of our top Asian destinations these days. The pay can be excellent, too – think close to $2,450/month. Get in touch for more information about teaching here.
Malé
Malé is the main island and the home of the great capital of the Maldives. It’s one of the few places with any steady supply of TEFL jobs in this string of idyllic atolls in the Indian Ocean. They don’t pop up that often – there’s a relatively modest population of 500,000 living in the town. When they do, they’re open to folks with a TEFL cert, a BA college degree, and native English level. Salaries tend to be around $700-800 a month.
Oh, and don’t worry – Malé is close to plenty of beaches. On weekends, you’ll be able to hop on a boat and swim amid the coral gardens of Himmafushi or laze on the white-sand bays of Dhiffushi to name just two. Lovely.
Koh Samui
Long, golden-sand beaches fringe the north and the east coast of this island in the midst of the Thai Gulf. They’ve almost singlehandedly helped it become the leading light in Thai tourism in the last 20 years. Today, the whole place is packed with chic resorts with infinity pools and elegant villas for the honeymooners.
But Samui is also a bit of a TEFL course hotspot. Loads and loads of people come to the paradise isle to get qualified. Many opt to stick around and enjoy the hammock-swinging life once they’re done. However, jobs on Koh Samui are in high demand. They do exist: Around five large schools exist on the island and each employs over 20 teachers apiece. The trick is waiting until one becomes available and then pouncing ASAP!
Koh Rong
Okay, so you almost certainly won’t be able to get a TEFL job on Koh Rong itself. The island is little more than a sun, sand, and sea getaway off the Cambodian coast. What you can do is look for a job in the nearby port city of Sihanoukville and then spend every weekend you’ve got on the glorious talcum beaches after riding the short ferry across. Easy.
The reason we think this one’s worth an extra special mention is because Cambodia is now one of the top employers for non-native TEFL teachers and teachers without a degree. You might find that the turquoise seas of Rong are more accessible if you fit into either of those categories.
Sicily
The largest island in the Mediterranean is a doozy for would-be TEFL teachers looking to get stuck into everything that southern Europe can offer. What’s that, you ask? How about long, balmy summers, warm seas, fantastic wine and food, and historical towns that burst with 12th-century castles and cobbled streets. Good, eh?
Home to two major cities – Catania and Palermo – and a whole string of smaller towns, Sicily has ample employment opportunities. It’s also a good hub for TEFL summer camps, which tend to run between July and September most years.
If you have any island TEFL destinations to add to this list, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below. Alternatively, if you’re ready to get qualified and teaching in one of these surf-washed places, be sure to click over to our courses page to get started.
So, you’ve decided to teach English in Taipei this year? Fantastic! You’re going to love this electrifying cityscape of soy-scented cookhouses and filigreed temples and soaring skyscrapers. This list touches on just five of the things we think you simply must do to get acquainted with the island capital. Think of it as a bite-sized introduction to a city that’s anything but bite-sized.
Wonder at the Taipei 101
Paris has the Eiffel Tower. Rome has the Colosseum. KL has the Petronas. In Taipei, it’s all about the 101. This is the soaring skyscraper that commands the very heart of town. Once known as the Taipei World Financial Center, it clocks up a top-floor height of over 430 meters, with a peak at over 500 meters! Visitors can ascend to the eye-popping observation deck that’s on the 89th story, which spills onto open-air terraces to offer unrivaled views of the Taiwanese capital and the mountains in the distance. Just be sure to charge the camera before you go.
See the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall
One of the undisputed landmarks of Taiwan is the National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. It sprawls through the prestigious Zhongzheng District in the heart of the capital, sprouting a huge, whitewashed tower between the colossal cultural institutions of Liberty Square. The site was raised in the late 1970s to honor the generalissimo of the Taiwanese ROC forces, Chiang Kai-shek. Although his legacy is a subject of hot debate in modern-day Taiwan, there’s no denying the importance of this monument. We especially love it during the Taipei Lantern Festival, when it comes alive with red lights and decorations.
Soak in the Beitou hot springs
Wedged into the forested valleys on the edge of the Yangmingshan National Park on the north side of Taipei, the area of Beitou is the perfect escape from the hubbub of city life. Those who teach English in Taipei can come here for a weekend spa session in the natural hot springs. They gurgle up from underground vents in a designated Geothermal Valley. There are several bathing pools and even an enthralling museum about the history of the hot springs. Beitou can also be about seeing the mystical Japanese shrines of the Puji Temple.
Get lost in the vast National Palace Museum
Be ready to spend hours and hours in the colossal National Palace Museum if you choose to come and teach English in Taipei. Why? Well…this mind-bogglingly big exhibition space is the place to go for an introduction to more than 8,000 years of Chinese and Taiwanese history. It’s got over half a million objects within, ranging from priceless jade carvings to Song Dynasty vases, calligraphy landscape works to imperial portraits. It’s not a dip-in, dip-out sort of place, though – there are several wings and oodles of touring exhibits to get through.
Shop through the Shilin Night Market
The largest of all the night bazaars in Taipei comes in the form of the world-famous Shilin Night Market. A veritable hodgepodge of all sorts of sellers and hawkers, it has over 500 stalls in its food court alone. That’s not counting the endless array of antiques emporiums, second-hand clothes touts, electronics vendors, and nightlife venues. Talking of nightlife, stick around for later to find one of Taipei’s biggest selections of karaoke dives. They’ll come to life with – ahem! – great singers.
There are loads more things to do in this huge metropolis of East Asia for those planning to teach English in Taipei. If you’ve got anything to add, be sure to drop your thoughts into the comments below. We’d love to hear them! We’ve also got loads of info on getting started as a TEFL teacher in Taiwan!
Teaching English in Taiwan might not be as popular as chasing the classroom dream in the Land of Smiles or China, but it’s hard to see why that is. There’s just so much going for this enthralling island out in the Pacific Ocean off the side of Asia. The pros range from gorgeous natural backcountry to uber-clean and efficient cities, not to mention some of the best TEFL salaries in the region. Check it out…
The salary
Let’s start with the moolah! Taiwan has fantastic earning potential for TEFL teachers. It soars above its popular Asian compadres on most league tables, leaving the likes of Thailand and China behind with average wages in the region of around $2,000 USD/month. But the pluses don’t end at the pay cheque, either. It’s normal for positions to include holiday cover, health insurance, and work visa sponsorship to boot, which leaves even more room for you to bulk up the savings account and stash some money for your travels.
It’s super well-connected
Just look where Taiwan is on the map: Poking out of the far side of East Asia, it’s within striking distance (by air, of course) of some of the most amazing destinations on the continent. The obvious choice of getaway is China, but air traffic there has been limited because of political reasons for years. Instead, focus southwards on Vietnam and Thailand. They are both a few hours away, offering misty karst mountains, gleaming beaches, and tasty street food. Japan is another easy jaunt, opening up a mystical nation of broiling hot springs and Shinto shrines. See: Teaching English in Taiwan means exploring oodles of Asia!
The climate
Sharing a similar latitude to the Caribbean, Taiwan often surprises newcomers with its balmy airs and blue skies. There will be plenty of opportunity to hit the beaches of Kenting and Hengchun during the hot summer months between April and August. But you also won’t be deprived of a taste of winter, thanks largely to the mountainous interior (which sees plenty of snow) and the cooler northern parts of the island. It’s just an all-round pleasant place to be.
The locals
The Taiwanese are famously friendly. You will rarely need to worry about asking for directions or assistance, even in big cities like Taipei. In fact, the locals are often more eager to speak to you than you to them, and they love quizzing arrivals on why they’ve chosen Taiwan for their new adventure. Their sympathetic nature stems from a devotion to family and the elderly, and a national zeal and pride for their country. The overall result is a truly welcoming place to live.
The efficiency of it all
Veterans of teaching English in Taiwan often say that life is easy on the island. The reason? From Taipei to Kaohsiung, things are uber-efficient in this Asian nation. Just take the MRT subway system in Taipei. It runs like clockwork all over the metropolis, has multilingual signage, and spacious trains. For hopping from town to town, there’s the zippy Taiwan High Speed Rail. It goes all the way from the capital down the side of the west coast in speeds of up to 300 kph, which means you can whiz all the way to the gateway of the tropical Kenting beaches in just over 2.5 hours. Nice.
The food
Taking influences from Canton and China, Korea and the Pacific islands, the food of Taiwan is a fantastic mashup of flavors that’s sure to entice any foodie. Some things you should definitely have on the menu if you head off teaching English in Taiwan include the famous beef noodle soup (the national dish), sticky rice dumplings, onion pancakes (best served in the street-food markets) and the potent century egg (only for the brave!).
The natural side of things
A lot of people think of Taiwan as a built-up mass of an island that’s all urban sprawl and cityscape. They could not be more wrong. Vast portions of the country are given over to craggy mountains, which actually rise to nearly 4,000 meters above sea level! The most amazing of them peak around the Jade Mountain of Yushan, which is swirled in mossy forests and often dashed with snow. On the coastlines are rich coral reefs and pristine tropical sands in the national park of Kenting. And that’s not even mentioning the abundance of hot springs, canyons, and jungles.
If you think you’re ready to start teaching English in Taiwan, be sure to get in touch. Or, if you have anything to add to this list, we’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. Happy travels!
As the world emerges, slowly slowly, from the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 (rubbish year, huh?), the TEFL industry is looking to get back into its stride. That means graduates and veteran teachers alike are back on the hunt for the best places to teach English abroad. Cue this list, which has ideas and inspiration aplenty…
Thailand
Thailand has long been one of the best places to teach English abroad. It just seems to get everything right. Wages are decent (anything up to $1,200 USD/month is normal). Living is comfy – say hello to condos in Bangkok with pools and cool beachside bungalows down in the islands, folks. More than that, 2020 saw Thailand really come into its own with the COVID-19 pandemic. An initial spike was quickly brought under control and the Land of Smiles garnered big plaudits for having dealt with the virus better than most. Borders are supposed to open again fully by the end of August, which means the sparkling bays of the Phi Phi islands and the sizzling food bazaars of Chiang Mai could be back on the menu for TEFL teachers real soon.
Taiwan
Despite being just on the doorstep of the country where the virus originated, Taiwan did magnificently well in stemming the spread of the disease. Cases peaked way back in February 2020, but were quickly brought under control and there’s now just a trickle of incidences now and then. What’s more, tight border restrictions have been gradually eased since the middle of June, so things are looking on track to return to normal well before they do in a number of other Asian destinations. COVID aside, Taiwan also boasts attractive TEFL salaries of up to $2,500 USD/month and excellent living standards, not to mention mountain-shrouded cities like Taipei, highland national parks, and beautiful coastline.
Portugal
Although COVID-19 cases have hardly flatlined in Portugal, the country has done loads to revive its tourism and travel sector in the aftermath of the virus. Hotels have been given clean stamps. Masks are mandatory on public transport. Social distancing exists in major gathering spaces. It all points towards a country getting ready to go back to normality. That’s good news for TEFL teachers, who will find that peak hiring times are still to come in September. The country is also up there with the best places to teach English abroad for those after a hit of European sun. Down south, the Algarve is all golden beaches, from pretty Lagos to the soft-powder beaches of Faro. Up north, Porto beckons with a lively nightlife, and you enjoy café culture galore in the capital of Lisbon.
Vietnam
Vietnam impressed the world with its COVID-19 response. Call it overreaction if you must, but the stats speak for themselves: Zero deaths, 300 cases total. Bear in mind that we’re talking about a country with a direct land border with China here. Yep, hardly anyone got sick in Vietnam, which means the economy is now emerging in a better state than most. Borders remain tentatively closed, but it’s worth keeping an eye on because this one’s always been one best places to teach English abroad. Salaries can clock over $2,200 USD/month, and you get to explore awesome places like Ha Long Bay and Ho Chi Minh City.
Online
Yea, we know, this one’s cheating, right? Sorry, but it simply needs a mention. That’s because online TEFL teaching has boomed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It was a growing sector anyway, but lockdowns and border closures only accelerated things. Schools from Hong Kong to Hua Hin have gone 100% virtual during these trying times, and students all around the globe have been keeping their English studies going with help from web-based tutors. There’s now a larger demand for remote teachers than ever before. You’ll typically need a degree, a 120-hour TEFL course, a good laptop and a strong internet connection to get started.
If you can think of any more destinations that should totally be on this list, we’d love to hear about them in the comments below. Or, if you’re ready to get TEFL qualified and looking at the best places to teach English abroad, check out our courses page or get in touch for more information.
TEFL teachers in Taiwan have a seriously enthralling line-up of cultural festivities to get stuck into when they aren’t in the classroom. From dragon boat showdowns on the riverways to multitudes of glowing lanterns ascending to the heavens, these are sure to be some shindigs to write home about. Check them out.
Chinese New Year
The Chinese New Year is arguably the most iconic blowout on the whole Lunar calendar in Taiwan. Marking the end of winter and the onset of spring, it’s when you can watch the streets of cities up and down the country come to life with dragon processions, traditional dancers, lantern displays and public art performances. On the day of the turning of the New Year itself, a date that usually falls sometime between late January and early February, families host their own dinner parties and stay up late to celebrate the coming of the midnight hour.
Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival
Just one example of the famous Lantern Festival that takes place all over Taiwan to mark the first full moon of the new calendar year, the Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival sees the skies above sprawling New Taipei City burst into a haze of yellow light as countless flickering candles drift upwards from the plazas and parks. The whole ceremony is intended as a thanksgiving for the arrival of spring, to celebrate the arrival of longer days and warmer weather. It’s also hailed as one of the most beautiful cultural spectacles in Asia, and a real must for any travelers or TEFL teachers in Taiwan during the late winter.
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival is one of the longest-running of all ethnic Chinese festivals in Taiwan. Its origins are said to date all the way back to the years of the Chu State in the 3rd century BC, when a trusted poet and government advisor named Qu Yuan martyred himself to show his devotion to China. These days, the tradition of racing dragon-headed wooden boats on the riverways continues, and so does the eating of zongzi – balls of sticky rice packaged in bamboo leaves. In Taipei, you can watch the elite racers compete on their beautifully carved dragon boats along the waterfronts of buzzing Zhongshan District.
Keelung Ghost Festival
It’s between the buzzing night markets and historic covered harbors of Keelung city that the famous Ghost Festival takes place each year. It gets into full flow in the late summer, and sees the local Keelung tribespeople hosting a whole number of cultural performances. Some symbolize the opening of the Underworld, others the coming of the so-called ‘Hungry Spirits’ – the eponymous ghosts. Be sure to head down to the Chupu Temple to watch the lighting of the lanterns on the 12th day of the festival, and don’t miss the main event: A stream of flickering candles on leaf rafts in the waters of Badouzi Harbour in the early hours of the 15th day.
Mid-Autumn Festival
The Mid-Autumn Festival is like the Taiwanese answer to Southern BBQ cook-ups. Families gather in public parks or on sidewalks to light up the coals and sizzle tasty skewers of wild boar and other meats. TEFL teachers in Taiwan in the capital of Taipei might want to head down to the Huazhong Riverside Park, where thousands meet to watch live music, chat and eat together, all to honor the coming of fall and the start of the colder months.
Any TEFL teachers in Taiwan out there with something to add to this list of the top festivals in the yearly calendar? We’d sure love to hear your suggestions in the comments below. Or, if you just think it’s time you got qualified and out there enjoying the cultural treats of the Far East, be sure to head over to our courses page…
Whether it’s beach hopping or bathing in hot springs, mountain climbing or exploring old goldrush towns, this list of spontaneous travel trips you could take while teaching in Taiwan is sure to have something for our TEFL-ers in the ROC…
Explore Taroko Gorge
There’s arguably no more famous natural wonder in all of Taiwan than the rugged heights of the Taroko Gorge. Set deep in its very own national park, this deep-cut canyon spans several counties and comes packed with fascinating monasteries and religious sites to boot. Don’t miss the gushing waterfalls of the photogenic Eternal Spring Shrine, and prepare to cross some seriously spine-tingling rope bridges as you hike beneath the cliffs!
Bathe in the Wulai Hot Springs
The perfect break for any TEFL-ers teaching in Taiwan’s throbbing capital, the small town of Wulai comes perched up on the mountain ridges just a 40-minute drive from the center of Taipei. Between its steep-sided gorges, you’ll get to see traditional aboriginal houses, and bathe in the famous hot springs that pop up on the riversides. Talk about de-stressing after those tricky grammar sessions!
Boating on Sun Moon Lake
Nestled deep in the heart of Taiwan island, south of Taipei, the Sun Moon Lake is one of the country’s designated National Scenic Areas. It certainly lives up to the rep, with boating tours across its mirror-like surface giving sweeping panoramas of the forest-dressed peaks of Nantou County, and linking the beautiful gabled tops of Wen Wu Temple with the soaring Ci En Pagoda – both must-sees!
Wonder at handsome Jiufen
After navigating the wiggling mountain roads that weave into the Taiwanese peaks east of Taipei, you might just happen upon the erstwhile goldrush town of Jiufen. Famed for its quaint stone houses and traditional gabled cottages, it’s a patchwork of historic tea shops and overhanging temples. There are also beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean to be had while wandering the tight-knit alleys.
Go off-the-beaten-track in Shei-Pa National Park
Wax down the walking boots and have the hiking poles at the ready for that spontaneous trip to the Shei-Pa National Park, because this medley of chiseled bluffs and babbling creeks, sweeping fir forests and winding trails in the middle of the Xueshan Range is one of the more off-the-beaten-track outdoorsy spots in the country. You’ll clamber up tricky rock slopes, scale thin ridges, and get to wonder, wide-eyed, at the sculpted summit of Dabajian Mountain.
Hike the Qixing Mountain
If the heat and hectic streets of Taipei city are getting just a little too much, then you could opt to break away from the Taiwanese capital and make for the so-called Seven Star Mountain that shoulders above the horizon on its northern edge. A place of undulating green ridges and grassy slopes, it’s got some excellent marked hiking trails, while the summit promises sweeping panoramas of the metropolis and the Pacific below.
Laze on the beaches of Kenting
When you’re feeling a little hemmed into the city while teaching in Taiwan, it’s worth remembering that this island’s not only about pulsing megalopolises and mist-topped mountains. It’s also got beaches. Some of the best lurk around the coastline of Kenting in the south, where you’ll discover wide stretches of glowing yellow sand, lush sub-tropical airs, oodles of watersports and plenty of relaxing beach bars.
Hop across to the Penghu Islands
Talking of beaches, there’s always the beautiful Penghu Islands. This peppering of places in the middle of the Taiwan Strait is accessible by both plane and boat from the mainland, and is a regular favorite for those looking to escape the big cities. You can delve into the curious intermingling of Japanese and Chinese cultures, snorkel atop glowing coral gardens on Qimei Island, see centuries-old hamlets on Wangan Island, go water skiing on Ji-bei – the list goes on!
Go skiing on Hohuan Shah
While Taiwan’s mountains tend to be just a tad too tropical to host any major ski resorts, there is one place to don the salopettes: Hohuan Shah. Topping out at 3,400 meters, the resort has just a single cable lift and a solitary groomed run. There’s also a couple of places to stay, and even some small apres bars. Granted, it not going to be the Alps, but it’s the best you’re likely to get in these sultry climes!
Drink some tea in Maokong
You won’t have to strike out far from the center of buzzing Taipei to immerse yourself in the cascading tea fields of Maokong. Draped over the hillsides just south-east of the capital, you could head here in the morning for tasting sessions in the teahouses, or to meet the local leaf pickers in person. Don’t forget to take the camera along – those plantations positively glow in 10,000 shades of green!
If you can think of any more awesome spontaneous trips to take while teaching in Taiwan, we’d sure love to hear about them in the comments below. Or, if you’d love to explore this wondrous island and go teaching in Taiwan yourself, take a look at all the courses myTEFL have to offer!
Ah Asia; from the misty hills of China to the steamy jungles of Sri Lanka, the sleepless parties of the Thai Gulf to the noodle-scented streets of Nam’s ancient cities, this continent rarely fails to enthrall. Today, teaching in Asia is one of the most popular courses of action for recently graduated TEFL-ers, many of whom head for destinations like the fabled Land of Smiles, volcano-topped Indonesia, cutting-edge South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong – the list goes on. There’s no question that adventure awaits those who opt to make this corner of the globe their home, along with just a few seriously mind-boggling things you’re bound to see while on the ground. Check them out…
Elephants in the streets
I remember the first time I spied one of these great beasts roaming the city streets of Asia. It was a hot morning in Udaipur and our rattling rickshaw had just rounded a bend. In the distance, the looming stupa of a Hindu temple could be made out between the twisting incense fumes and steamy bhaji stalls. Right next to it was a great galumphing elephant, painted in glowing neon pinks and yellows. The tuk-tuk driver rolled on like nothing was amiss. I soon realised why: elephants will turn up in urban spots everywhere you can imagine, from Vietnam to Thailand, Burma to Sri Lanka, so be ready to dodge them too if you’re heading for teaching in Asia!
Uber-hi-tech toilets
Okay, so this one’s pretty much solely directed at those people looking to do their teaching in Asia in Japan! And boy is it something you’re bound to notice, because the locals of cities like Tokyo and Kyoto have been working hard to take the WC experience to the next level. Features like automatic seat warming, in-built bidets and fragrance dispensers are all now part and parcel to the Japanese toilet visit. It’s pretty darn cool actually!
A person’s whole life on a scooter
The battle for the record of ‘most things fitted onto a single scooter’ must be a pretty hard-fought between the nations of Southeast Asia. In Vietnam, you’re likely to see whole marketplaces balanced tenuously on two wheels, with the vendors happily packing up and rumbling over the potholed roads of Ho Chi Minh come the end of the day. In Thailand, you might spot the familial scooter: when everyone from the youngest baby to the household dog is perched somewhere on the auto. Laos, Cambodia, Burma all also make an effort, so be ready to witness some serious two-wheel overload!
Respect for monks
Whether it’s a face-painted baba in Jaipur or an orange-robed Buddhist monk next to the age-old temples of Ayutthaya, a revered shaman in the Burmese hills or a Taoist leader in China, you’re bound to notice the great respect in which religious figures are held throughout Asia. It can take some getting used to in some places (giving up the best bus seats for monks in Thailand is just a case in point), but once you get it you’re bound to follow suit.
People on the train roof
Even though Indian authorities have been desperately trying to ban folk form riding on any part of train exteriors, it’s likely that you’re going to see one or two people throwing caution to the wind and mounting the top of a locomotive if you opt to do your TEFL teaching in Asia on the subcontinent. And even if you don’t, you can still expect to witness passengers hopping on and off carriages while they’re moving, or jumping aboard trains when they haven’t even reached a complete stop at the stations. It’s just the done thing.
Century eggs
It would be a crime to collate the weirdest and most wonderful things in Asia without at least a nod to the region’s boundary-breaking kitchen. And what better culinary delight to do that with than the century egg? These (in)famous little treats, considered a delicacy and also called just the pidan, are particularly popular in China and Vietnam. They are made by preserving the egg yolk in layers of ash or clay. That’s then left for up to nine months, to, erm…mature. The finished product is an emerald-green ball with a potent odour. Hungry anyone?
If you can think of any other crazy and cool things you’ll only get to see while teaching in Asia then we’d love to hear about them in the comments below! Or, if you think it’s time to get TEFL qualified and start your own teaching in Asia adventure, check out our range of courses…
From the snow-dappled tips of the mighty Hsuehshan Ranges in the island’s center to the uber-modern cityscapes of Taipei and Kaohsiung, the temples of earthy Tainan to the sparkling beaches of the Penghu Isles, there are oodles of treats for the TEFLer teaching in Taiwan. If you’re working in the classrooms and schools of the ROC, be sure to hit up some of these top spots…
Taroko National Park
The veritable natural jewel of Taiwan’s wilder and largely untouched eastern half, the Taroko National Park can be easily accessed from the city of Hualien. Covered by mighty peaks and rocky bluffs of marble, the landscape here is surely up there with the most breath-taking on the island. There are soaring trekking trails that weave up the crags and over grykes to the tips of Hehuanshan and the Wuling Pass more than 3,000 meters above sea level. There’s the impossibly beautiful courses of the Liwu River, accompanied by the unforgettable tracks of the Shakadang Trail. And then there’s that Eternal Spring Shrine, which straddles the gushing Changchun Falls like something out of a Samurai movie!
Taipei – obviously!
If you’re teaching in Taiwan and haven’t made time to explore the island’s throbbing, electric capital city yet, then things need to change! Spiked through at the heart by the shimmering and soaring spire of the Taipei 101 building, this great metropolis is home to the beautiful Chiang Kai-shek Memorial, where locals come to meditate on cool mornings. There’s also the National Palace Museum, laden with Chinese treasures like the Bell of Zhou and oodles of romantic landscape paintings from centuries gone by. Temples and peace parks abound too, while cable cars transport visitors to the less stressful reaches of the Beitou hills, complete with hot springs and babbling highland streams. Nice.
Kaohsiung
Up-and-coming Kaohsiung was once just a grimy industrial port town of petroleum fumes and huge ocean tankers. Today, the great metropolis (the second-largest in the country) has changed its tune almost completely. It now buzzes with quirky cafes and eateries and a new hip, youthful vibe. It’s got 20th century lighthouses that fuse Baroque and Japanese design; the great gun batteries of the Chihou Fort; and – last but certainly not least – the thought-provoking and uber-cool Pier 2 Art District. Don’t miss the last one, with its sculpture installations, revived railway depots, galleries and coffee shops!
Shei-Pa National Park
Rising to great heights of almost 4,000 meters above sea level with mighty Hsuehshan – the second-highest mountain in the country and East Asia as a whole – this great swathe of rugged peaks and summits in the heart of the island is a must for any adventurous TEFLers teaching in Taiwan. Draped in plumes of powdery snow by winter and coming to life with verdant pine forests and roaring water ways by summer, the area is perhaps the single best place to wax up the walking boots and hit the trails. There are routes (accessible ones at that) to the top of Hsuehshan itself, not to mention other intrepid journeys along the massifs to the square-cut top of the Dabajianshan bluff. Awesome stuff!
Penghu Islands
About a third of the way across the Taiwan Strait to the People’s Republic of China is where TEFLers teaching in Taiwan will discover the spattering of islands that is the Penghu archipelago. A land apart from the main island of the country, the terrain here is dotted with hoodoos of metamorphic rock, is flat, rocky and peppered with traditional hutong hamlets raised with coralstone and basalt. The coast brings some of the top draws though, like the ancient fishing pools of the so-called Double-Heart and excellent beaches lining the shores around Jibea Shiwea and Neian. Surfing’s big too, with some of Taiwan’s top windsurfing swells erupting around Shanshui town.
Tainan
Although now virtually contiguous with Kaohsiung city on the south-western coast of the island, laid-back and temple-dotted Tainan could not be more different from its post-industrial neighbor. Hailed as one of the most ancient cities in the country, the spot has its roots with the Dutch colonists of the 17th century. Buddhist temples and mysterious Taoist shrines dot almost every corner of the place, with that red-roofed Kaiyuen Temple and the Datianhou Gong of the Great Sea Goddess simply not to be missed. Add to that the steamy sausage stalls and coffin bread holes-in-the-wall, the enticing smoothie stands and earthy craft markets of the Anping Old Town, and it’s easy to see why Tainan is a must for any TEFLers teaching in Taiwan!
Are you teaching in Taiwan and think we’ve missed anything? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below! Or, are you eager to get on the road and teaching with that TEFL? Be sure to check out our array of courses online…