WI-FI, YOU ASK? (Wireless Internet access in South Taiwan)

--By Mike Brown, Steven Crook & David May Translated by Annie Liu

KAOHSIUNG :
Tired of surfing the Internet at home? Why not head out to a wireless cafe where you can people-watch, experience a little atmosphere and enjoy a cup of joe? Grab your laptop and go, for Kaohsiung has many options.

According to the bilingual Kaohsiung City wireless portal page, seventeen "hotspots" across town - unbeknownst to many residents - offer free access (username and password are both "kcg"). So accessing the Internet outdoors - such as at the cafes along the Love River and near the Culture Center - is done with ease. For more information, visit: http://www.kcgwlan.nat.gov.tw/portalkcgw_en/Desktop.aspx
Or head indoors to one of the many coffee shop chains that offer wireless. With sixteen locations, Brunch Cafe, offering free access with purchase, are seemingly everywhere. With a separate smoking section, Brunch is a fine place to enjoy their Tea Time Combos (NT$90) which include a snack and any drink on the menu, and all beverages cost less than NT$75.

Pro Royal Coffee shops, found at five locales in Kaohsiung, also offer Wi-Fi with purchase. The menu is extensive and refills for coffee (NT$180 - NT$190) are available for NT$60; for cocktails, buy one, get the second for NT$50 less. An all-you-can-eat salad bar is included with main courses (NT$480 - NT$680) and live music entertains during lunch and dinner. Internet plug-ins, for laptops without wireless, are available.
For those who prefer independently owned cafes, choices abound. Near the end of ShanDa Road, great views of the sea can be had at the Oceanside Cafe. A handful of cafes near Pasadena Restaurant in TzouYing offer wireless too, such as the 612 Cafe with its hip, surfing-oriented decor and the quaint Riverside Cafe which has a mural reminiscent of a European coffee scene. Whatever your wireless pleasure, Kaohsiung's varied cafe are sure to satisfy your needs.

TAINAN/ CHAYI
Hotels, bars, fast food restaurants and even a few beauty salons offer Wireless Internet access in Tainan.
In the Evergreen Plaza Hotel (Tainan) (1, Lane 336, JhongHua E. Rd., Sec. 3; (06) 289-9988), wireless service is available throughout the first floor, including the Lobby Lounge, Gourmet Deli and the Business Center.

The Armory (06) 226-9520) may not seem like an ideal place to get work done; there's too much fun to be had with the live sports on TV, the DJs and live bands, and interesting mix of people. But there are no conditions for using wireless here. "Just come in and log on!" says one of the owners.

If it's late at night, and you're looking for a smoke-and-booze-free environment, try More Cafe (129, BeiMen Rd., Sec. 1; (06) 227-2099; open 24 hours). Less than 100m south of the railway station, this is a good place to get some work done while waiting for a train or a bus. Just as central is Tainan's oldest branch of McDonalds (26, DaSyue Rd.; (06) 237-3472; open 6 a.m. - 1 a.m.).

Many schools are now Wi-Fi hotspots. If you live close enough to one, you may not have to pay for Internet access, though you might find that the connection is terminated during school vacations. Inside the teahouses and coffee shops that line LinSen Road Section 2, it's often possible to pick up Wi-Fi from nearby Changjung High School.

For Tainan County, some Chinese-language information on places with wireless access can be found at http://wireless.tainan.gov.tw.
In Chiayi, one of the best options is the Golden Eagle Pub & Restaurant ((05) 277-5277; open 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekdays, and 11 a.m. through to 2 a.m. on weekends). There's good food, a very wide range of beers--you'll have no problems finding your favorite tipple--and enough light to see what you're doing.