California Fitness in Taipei is one of those big commercial chains of big box fitness centers with all the Les Mills courses and too many treadmills. Here is how you join: approach an employee with cash,(NT1500 or US$50) They will "give" you a free 1 month VIP membership card (available to all employees friends and relatives). This is better than paying a real membership, and if you want, get another 1 month after. In Hong Kong I had to create a HK ID number since they dont let non-residents join, but instead of bribing, I used one of those rediculous "special" promotions, where a skinny high-school graduate salesguy spent hours trying to convince me to join for a year or take personal training.

The place is great for someone living in a cheap flop house hotel or hostel though: nice clean white towels, steam room and sauna, good showers with soap and shampoo, Q-tips, and hair dryers.

For a gym-junkie traveller like me this is the only way.