Second Day

We woke up early--like 3 am, ate a snack then went back to bed.
Later we walked up and had a crazy egg and chicken sandwich. Food is so weird and good, and gross. You think, oh a chicken sandwich, that sounds good. But you get it and there is always something distinctly Asian about it. Like the bread is all wrapped in a fried pancake type thing with really awesome sauce. Good, just not what you were expecting. Corn on the cob--yum right? Well, yes, but not what you would expect. Though it was cooked it was cold and before he handed it to me, he covered it with soy sauce, Chinese 5 spice and red pepper--he asked if I wanted the red pepper.
Later we met Matt and went to the botanical gardens. This huge arboretum with a giant dragonfly statue. There are so many beautiful plants--orchids, trees with blossoms that look like fuzzy snails, all sorts of fruit trees. There is a pond in the lower area by the gift shop that had these huge fresh water fish--like 7-8 feet long and just a guess that they weigh more than my dad.
There were a load of school kids at the gardens who were all very interested in trying out their Engrlish on us. I had a great time taking pictures with a few groups. They wanted to know how tall I am and I wrote on my hand "2m" they all gasped. (for those who know me, you know I am not really 2 meters, but it is always fun to exaggerate this sort of thing with kids!).
When we came out of the arboretum, it looked like it was ready to pour rain, so we jumped on the scooters and scooted up to this awesome little turkey place. Turkey over rice with sides of steamed cabbage and stir fried greens with tea-eggs and miso with some weird translucent brown things floating in it--again, good, but not what you would expect.
As we were scooting our way to the mall (a 17 story building department store with all kinds of stuff in it--some western, some "what the heck?") JE said "it is funny that I am totally at ease with this."Driving here is probably the biggest adventure ever. There is a rhythm and a flow to the madness. I now "get" Asian drivers. Everything is at a relaxed pace, and as long as you go slow you can do just about anything. Another element is just to never look in your peripheral vision, never look behind you, and proceed forward. Most of the vehicles on the road are scooters, most with only one passenger. Sometimes you see whole families on a scooter--gramma, ma, and 2 year old.
We met April and George at the Sogo (mall) and went to the Sega Sonic Hedgehog arcade. In the arcade they had these awesome photo booths that allow you to touch up the pictures afterward with all kinds of funny cartoons and words, some Engrlish some not. My fav was "let's get dance! We got some sweet pics with the five of us. Will post later! Matt had to go back to work so we hung out and looked at funny kids clothes with lots of funny English on them--Carrot Love. So cute! We found somethings for Meri, but when we took it to the register and discovered that it was 4 times the price and not great quality (cute, but not great) we nixed the idea.
We met Matt at the night market (it started pouring just after we parked the scooters) and bought little "Iranian" sandwiches with chicken and cheese. Good, just plain good. We also got these strange little"sweet pastries" that were filled with red beans, or taro, or sweet potato. The exterior was something like a regular ice cream cone--like the actual cone part. The inside was a thick sweet paste. Good, well interestingly fun. I would buy the taro again.
We spent some time in some very Taiwanese shops--the $10 shop ($33 Taiwan dollars are equivalent to $1 USD) and the crazy lousy English T-shirts. We laughed until we got really creeped out and then left. The night markets are really fun, a bit hair raising ( I was talking with Matt on the street filled with foot traffic when the guy on a scooter comes directly toward us going a fair clip. Quite a few people moved out of his way, but we didn't hear him until he was just a couple feet from us--actually a few inches from me , he came to a dead stop and waited for me to move. I didn't. He was stopped and I wanted to see what he would do if I didn't move. He waited a few seconds, and then scooted around me. Dork!" (I just read this to Matt who informed me that there was a motorcycle who had come up right behind me. I am glad I didn't move or I could have been motorcycle goo!).) They are filled with all sorts of food, cool cheap goods, loads of people and scooter accessories.
When I was in Russia, I had a fairly traumatic experience with a toilet there and I think it scarred me for life. One of the things I have been most concerned with is the Taiwanese toilets. I had my first experience with a squat toilet. So much simpler that anything Russian! Phew! What a relief!
We have been laughing ourselves silly with the photo booth pictures since we got home. So silly! I can hardly wait to scan them to share them with you all!!!

Taiwan travels

We left the house on the 4th and headed to the train station, our most important possessions strapped to our backs and the not so important but seeming essential things stuffed into one medium sized suitcase. We trekked though Union Station and met my cousins at the curb. For the next few hours , we enjoyed Thai food and "milk" along with good conversation and fun.
When we arrived at the check in counter, got our stuff checked through and turned to face the huge security test, the line had almost completely disappeared. We shot through, only to wait at the gate for a couple hours. The airport is a great place to do homework--I studied for a test and JE slept.
After we boarded I had this surreal moment when I recognized the song drifting in my head. "Doesn't speak the language, holds no currency, he is a foreign man, he is surrounded by the sound, sound. Angels in the market place, spinning in infinity. We flew 7,491 miles today in a 747 in 14.5 hours into 140 mile an hour headwinds. We were 1.5 hours late to our destination because of those headwinds.
At the Taipei airport we took the green bus to Chao Ma. Here is where our luggage seemed a hindrance. I wanted to abandon some of our luggage and go off into the great unknown. Taipei looks like a fun place to explore.
The green bus is a hoot. I don't understand the logic of the curtains in these buses. Each bus has elaborate window dressings--with ruffles included. Everything on the bus is green, upholstery, carpet, curtains, walls, ceilings. At the airport we saw an animatronic "guy" waving down traffic with light sticks.
We barely slept (this entry may be a bit scattered--I am very sleepy!).
As we traveled down to Taichung we saw many rice fields and gardens. There were Giant Screaming Gold Budahs set up next to the road, and tiny quiet wayside temples.
I love the flora of different countries. Things are blooming right now.
We arrived at the bus station and April pulled up with 2 year old George, on her scooter. Traffic here is crazy, but it works because people are all on the same page. Generally traffic is slow, meandering, and lawless. Laws are suggestions.
We went to lunch with Matt, JE and I doubling on April's scooter. I have a pinch of video, which I am debating putting on the web. If someone were to send this to my mom, we would be flying up to attend her funeral! Hair raising!!! But fun!
People here are so friendly to foreigners and try their darnedest to speak with us in English. Signage is a bit wild. I will soon add some pics to this entry.
After lunch April, George, JE and I took a nice long walk around the industrial park and rice fields. There is such a mingling of nature, manufacturing, and farming here. Egrets on the beanpoles of vegetable gardens between manufacturing plants.
We crashed around 4pm and slept for couple hours, then walked around the city and found stuff to eat.
Now it is time for bed and a much needed time for bed!