The first thing you should know about Taiwan is that it is not Thailand. Taiwan is, in fact, a small island off the coast of Mainland China that has questionable international statehood, but is nonetheless a lovely place to visit. Those who are in the know have likely heard of the bustling Asian metropolis of Taipei, the capital city, but there is so much more to Taiwan to discover, so let's get started.

Kaohsiung, my home for the past eight months, is the second largest city in Taiwan after Taipei, yet barely merits a mention in most guidebooks. To be certain, there is not much by way of touristy attractions here, but it is still an interesting place to visit, so let me be your guide to Kaohsiung.

Step one: Arrival

You have two main ways to arrive in Kaohsiung. The first is to fly directly into Siaogang International Airport, which has flights coming in daily from across Asia (Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, etc). From the airport, you can take either the MRT or a taxi from the airport (a taxi is probably more convenient), but there is a surcharge for taxis leaving from the airport. You could also fly into Taipei's Taoyuan International Airport and catch a connecting flight down to Kaohsiung, but that's not nearly as convenient as your other option, the Taiwan High Speed Rail.

If you are not spending time in Taipei, you can catch a shuttle bus from the arrivals terminal to the Taoyuan High Speed Rail Station and take the train down to Kaohsiung directly; simply follow the signs in the airport. Assuming you are spending a few days in Taipei/northern Taiwan first, your best bet is to catch the HSR from Taipei Main Station. Trains run regularly from 6 am to midnight, and you will take the train to the terminal station in the south, Zuoying.

Once at Zuoying, you can take a taxi (but if you are doing so, make sure you have the address of your hotel in writing, in Chinese, because 90% of the cab drivers here do not understand English), or you can attempt to navigate the MRT system. Kaohsiung's MRT system is brand new and quite efficient, but is not terribly extensive. If you know you are staying near an MRT station and are confident you can navigate your way to your hotel, then go for it. Zuoying is on the Red line, and connects to the Formosa Boulevard Station, which is the transit point between the Red and Orange lines.

Once in Kaohsiung, your best bet for transportation is taxis or walking, if you know you will be wandering around a set area for awhile. Taxis are cheap and metered, but again, make sure you carry the addresses you need in Chinese with you. Fares start at 85 NT and go up in 5 NT increments once a certain distance has been passed.

If however, you are planning on arriving from elsewhere in Taiwan (the major cities of Hsin shu, Taichung, Chiayi and Tainan are all on the HSR route, as are the Taipei suburbs of Taoyuan and Banciao), you can easily take a Taiwan Rail train from the train station in the town you are in down to Kaohsiung, and can get off either at Zuoying or at the Kaohsiung Main Train Station, which is fairly centrally located.

Stay tuned for more!