Tuesday, January 29, 2008
hao chr 好吃
I really like local content sites made by real users of said content. Well, er, food in this case. "Hao Chr" is a clever blog that has attractive reviews of eateries in Taipei.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
When Americans live abroad for an extended period of time, we learn very quickly how much more expensive pharmaceuticals are in the US as compared to the rest of the world. For example, a good American friend of mine suffers from acid reflux and was prescribed Nexium by his American doctor (when he was visiting the States recently).
He assumed the price of Nexium in Taiwan would be much cheaper. The price difference was amazing. In the US, he bought Nexium for about US$300 for 30 capsules. (He, like a lot of Americans living abroad, has no health insurance in the US and the US has no national system like Taiwan does). In Taiwan, he is able to buy the EXACT SAME capsules for NT$1,040 (US$32 or so).
In the US, he needs a Rx to buy. In Taiwan, Nexium is over-the-counter.
When my friend related this story to me, we waxed poetic about medical tourism -- if one lived in the US, one literally might have to fly back to Taiwan to see the doctor and purchase medicines.
Something is wrong with the US medical system... Very wrong.... And, the Economist Intelligence Unit was "spot on" when it rated Taiwan's medical care system as the world's 2nd best in 2000.
He assumed the price of Nexium in Taiwan would be much cheaper. The price difference was amazing. In the US, he bought Nexium for about US$300 for 30 capsules. (He, like a lot of Americans living abroad, has no health insurance in the US and the US has no national system like Taiwan does). In Taiwan, he is able to buy the EXACT SAME capsules for NT$1,040 (US$32 or so).
In the US, he needs a Rx to buy. In Taiwan, Nexium is over-the-counter.
When my friend related this story to me, we waxed poetic about medical tourism -- if one lived in the US, one literally might have to fly back to Taiwan to see the doctor and purchase medicines.
Something is wrong with the US medical system... Very wrong.... And, the Economist Intelligence Unit was "spot on" when it rated Taiwan's medical care system as the world's 2nd best in 2000.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Almost-post-industrial architecture in Taiwan
The almost-post-industrial architecture of Taiwan. This shot taken in Hsinchuang, Taipei County.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
McDs delivers in Taiwan!
Following the lead of Dominoes Pizza and Pizza Hut in crowded Taiwan, McDonalds has started delivering by scooter as well. American fast food adapted to Taiwanese charateristics!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Illegal vehicles for senior citizen scavengers in Taiwan
Taiwan presents itself - rightly so - as a high-tech powerhouse (such as the Bill Gates-laden ad on CNN now). However, some parts of the economy and society are still quite low-tech. Dare I say poor? It is frequent in Taiwan to see dilapidated, old and illegal (no license plate) motorized or pedal-powered vehicles such as these. Elderly men and women use such vehicles to scavenge Taiwan for recycleables such as cardboard.
Police don't seem to enforce traffic rules against these poor senior citizens - not sure if that is good or bad for society.
Police don't seem to enforce traffic rules against these poor senior citizens - not sure if that is good or bad for society.
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