At Lease That's Done With

So today, I took my first major step to establishing residence in Taiwan -- okay, second, after actually stepping onto a plane with a one-way ticket to TPE. I went and signed a year away to rent a place to live.

It's a tiny little fully-furnished 420sqft apartment with a "second floor", where the bed and some storage space sits. Kind of loft style, but without the spacious high ceiling and luxurious feeling. The building it's in is only 8 years old, in a nice area of NeiHu (across the river from all the cool stuff in Taipei), and has a hotel-like lobby with 24-hour security (ie. hired sleepers). There are washing machines, pool tables, a karaoke room, sauna and steamroom, and some other little amenities in the basement which are nice to have, but I doubt I'll use them much.

Rent ends up being $14000NT/mo ($450 USD) and includes maintenance fees (about $50 USD), cable TV with HBO ($18 USD), and a gas water heater. The secured parking spot is an extra $3500NT/mo ($110 USD), but that hardly matters since I don't have a car anyhow. A spot for a scooter is $200NT/mo ($7 USD), but ample street parking is available as well, if you're okay with exposing your scooter to the elements outside.

My lease with the landlord officially starts on June 1, but I can move in on the 25th if I want to. (I will probably want to.) It's been a long and hard (and picky) road to this place, and even though this apartment is not ideal (nor even as nice as the first place I saw in this building), I'm happy that it's finally done.

And I'm super excited about once again having a place to call my own, and to decorate with accents just the way I like it. My first purchases will probably be a bottle of whiskey (Macallan 12) and a Mac mini. :-)

8 comments:

S said...

*phew* I'm glad you have a place to call home now.

That said... PICSPICSPICSPICSPICS!!! =D

Kevin Cheng said...

isn't macallan 12 scotch? i should know this because i got wasted on a bottle of one just a month ago.

Cindy said...

Drinking is not "Cool"at all! Long time ago, people thought "Smoking" was cool, well, see what it can do to your health?! Think about it!!

Anonymous said...

you're right, kc. macallan 12 is a scotch.

Ben said...

Ah, sorry. I guess I never really understood the difference between whisky / whiskey / scotch.

And it's not about drinking myself silly, but rather about having a decent selection of beverages for when people come over, or for a quick sip after work before operating heavy machinery and playing with dangerous weapons. Oh perhaps I could forego the Macallan and get myself some sake and a sake set instead.

And anyway, I lied, now that I think about it. I'll need to buy a blanket first. And a microwave. And then the fun stuff.

Anonymous said...

Wow! That's awesome! I'm so happy for you Ben!!! YO're friends in SF all miss you! - KT

Naomi said...

Yay! :D

Where's my room? :)

Ben said...

I miss all you guys in SF too! And now I have a place where you can crash when you come visit! NK, after I move in, I'm going to clear a little spot in the closet, just for you.

Actually, the living room downstairs has enough floorspace to lay the foam padding out on.

Damn: two blankets, I have to buy. And pillows for me and potential guests. And a shower curtain, so the toilet and sink don't get wet. And a mop, in case they do. Jeez, I wish I kept all my Target Michael Graves stuff!

Pictures shortly.