When Food is Giving “Survival” or “Pleasure”

What’s your “food style” like?

In the Netherlands, food is often peak functional: efficient, pre-portioned. Here, food is built for survival. It is unusual to see food served in large portions, and almost all packages have nutrition labels. Growing up in this environment gives young adults the awareness of “mindful eating”. The result? One of the healthiest nations, with the lowest obesity rates across every generation.

In Taiwan, food is a symbol of “hobby” and “means of socialization”. From late-night markets to the ‘topping arms race’ in drinks (we’re talking 1 billion cups a year!), food is less about necessity and more about experience. They are always convenient and accessible from every corner at very low prices. However, when pleasure is always within arm’s reach, balancing diets can be quite a challenge, which can be seen from the high obesity rate among young adults.

Commute — Mountain Biking in City? Or Normal Biking in Vast Land?

How do you like some excitement in daily life?

Ever tried mountain biking in cities? If not, Taiwan (especially in urban areas) might unlock it for you. It is among the most densely populated regions worldwide, with intense traffic conditions and inconsistent road infrastructure, forcing cyclists to ride on congested roads or on uneven pedestrian pavements. However, as the global hub of bicycle manufacturing, you can find a convenient grab-and-go, smooth-riding bike rental service called YouBike, accessible to anyone at a reasonable price. Although pretty much everything is already within walking distance, you can level up the efficiency and spice it up with a bumpy yet exciting ride on highly functional bikes.

In the Netherlands, road transit is set to “Easy Mode” by default. With more bikes than the entire Dutch population, the country takes the quality of cycling paths very seriously. Wide, clearly marked bike lanes, traffic lights just for cyclists, and rules that (mostly) make sense.

However, “Easy Mode” is actually exclusively for locals; for newcomers, cycling here can be quite stressful with certain rules that other countries don’t apply but are common in the Netherlands. For example, riding while checking your phone can land you a €200 non-negotiable fine. Safety first, right? Yet, it is perfectly fine to ride with both hands off the handles or tucked deep in your pockets, something that looks completely illegal but somehow isn’t.

So, which server would you log into?

There is no “better” server; rather, it’s about the experience and habits you want to try out. One optimizes for control, the other for experience. Over time, from those small daily choices like what you eat, how you move, will start to define the lifestyle that suits you the most.

Still Wondering? No Worries, We’ve Got You!

The Netherlands and Taiwan just don’t resonate with you? Check out the other choices as well from our page! We are sure the right place for you will be in the list!

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Bohemian Traveler. (2024, January). Cycling around Taiwan. https://bohemiantraveler.com/2024/01/cycling-around-taiwan/

Wikipedia contributors. (n.d.). Taiwanese cuisine. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwanese_cuisine

European Commission. (n.d.). Nutrition labelling. Retrieved April 5, 2026, from https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition/food-information-consumers-legislation/nutrition-labelling_en

Parametric Architecture. (2024, October 7). What led to the Netherlands becoming a cycling utopia? https://parametric-architecture.com/the-netherlands-cycling-utopia/