- Every you do is on camera! Everything. You don't see a lot of police, but you don't need to because the law is enforced on camera. If you speed, your license plate is recorded and a ticket is mailed. If you par in a parking spot, you don't feed a meter. Someone comes around and stamps a ticket on your window, and a photo is taken of your plate. If they come around again, they stamp the next time slot. When you leave you take the ticket to 7-11 and pay for your parking. If they don't come around to that street while you are there, then you just parked for free.
- When you buy something, the price marked, is the price you pay. When you go to a restaurant and pay for a meal, it includes everything. Food, taxes, and servers wage. No tipping is required for anything. This has been a huge issue for me here in the US. I've always felt the establishment should pay the servers wage instead of the patron.
- Garbage is a huge problem with all those people. Napkins, paper towels, and toilet paper are not always provided. When they are, they are provided very cautiously. A great example of this is toilet paper. Public restrooms are everywhere. Toilet paper is generally on a roll outside the stalls. One roll for all the stalls. You take what you need in with you because you won't get any inside.
- Bags work the same way. If you go to the 7-11 and don't take your own bag, you will pay $1 for a small bag and $2 for a larger bag. A lot of places do the same thing.
- There are no soda refills. The soda in a restaurant comes covered with a sealed plastic lid. There is no place to refill it even if you could get the old off.
- Every where you go people are genuinely grateful that you used their service or purchased what they were selling. They are very attentive and helpful. I always heard thank you, and people bow to you. They don't bow heavily, but they bow and thank you. Everyone from the food vendor on the street, to the taxi driver, to the hotel worker, to the clothing sales clerk, to the government employee handling your affair. They are all very respectful, and always bow and thank you.
- They don't cook eggs very well, and they don't have traditional bacon. It really is the only thing I missed while I was gone, and the first meal I ate today.
Friday, February 27, 2015
So now I am back home. These are just a few things I learned about Taiwan during my visit:
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Today I had to say goodbye and start the long journey home. We were up very early today lucky for it. Kuan was going to put me on a shuttle bus to the airport so we lugged the luggage through the tunnel and off to the bus station. We found out that the earliest bus was 7 am. I could have taken the bus but it would have meant cutting it very close at the airport.
Kuan decided he would drive me but stopped at the hotel front desk to ask about cab or shuttle pricing from the hotel. They recommended we use the high speed rail so we set off to the station. Turns out it was a pretty easy way to get to the airport.
I had to make a transfer to a shuttle bus once I got to Tauyuan but I found the bus and was on my way to the airport. I got our tax refund from purchases and something to eat and now I am at the gate and they will be boarding in a few minutes.
I'm very sad to be leaving. I made Kuan promise to bring me back as often as we can. I hope to come back every year but will be ok if I can make it back once every two.
Kuan decided he would drive me but stopped at the hotel front desk to ask about cab or shuttle pricing from the hotel. They recommended we use the high speed rail so we set off to the station. Turns out it was a pretty easy way to get to the airport.
I had to make a transfer to a shuttle bus once I got to Tauyuan but I found the bus and was on my way to the airport. I got our tax refund from purchases and something to eat and now I am at the gate and they will be boarding in a few minutes.
I'm very sad to be leaving. I made Kuan promise to bring me back as often as we can. I hope to come back every year but will be ok if I can make it back once every two.
We went to another night market last night on our way to get my glasses and contacts. As usual it there were a lot of people. People really get out and about here.
It was a great final opportunity to do some people watching and get some more great food. I had a crispy boneless chicken leg and thigh. It was from a street vendor and was absolutely amazing. I can't wait to try and make some of this food I had while I was here. Kuan is a great cook but some of his food flavors are lost in the translation. Now that I've tasted some of this food I hope to be able to bridge that gap.
We were able to have a dinner and a lunch with his Mom. I learned some more about how a family would sit at the dinner table and eat. It's really a great way to share food and have conversation. We are going to make some changes in our home when it comes to dinner and how we sit and eat.
Last night we stopped at one of the old ice cream places. They have been in the same location since 1946. The ice cream was like a vanilla sherbet with kidney beans and shaved ice that was a little bit salty. The three flavors combined were really good together. Definitely the sweet and salty thing going on.
Today I came across a very large temple in Dali District. It was quiet with only a couple people around so I was able to explore a little and check things out a little more closely.
It was a great final opportunity to do some people watching and get some more great food. I had a crispy boneless chicken leg and thigh. It was from a street vendor and was absolutely amazing. I can't wait to try and make some of this food I had while I was here. Kuan is a great cook but some of his food flavors are lost in the translation. Now that I've tasted some of this food I hope to be able to bridge that gap.
We were able to have a dinner and a lunch with his Mom. I learned some more about how a family would sit at the dinner table and eat. It's really a great way to share food and have conversation. We are going to make some changes in our home when it comes to dinner and how we sit and eat.
Last night we stopped at one of the old ice cream places. They have been in the same location since 1946. The ice cream was like a vanilla sherbet with kidney beans and shaved ice that was a little bit salty. The three flavors combined were really good together. Definitely the sweet and salty thing going on.
Today I came across a very large temple in Dali District. It was quiet with only a couple people around so I was able to explore a little and check things out a little more closely.
I skipped a day so I want to add some video of the High Speed Rail. We traveled from Taipei to Taichung on the HSR. We traveled on three trains and it took us right to our hotel in Taichung. Can't say enough about how amazing it is to be able to travel across this country without ever getting in a car.
We traveled from our hotel in Taipei to the Taipei main station on the light rail. From there we got on the HSR to travel to a stop outside Taichung. Once at the transfer station we got onto a local train that travels back and forth from the transfer station to the Historic Taichung Train Station.
The HSR travels at a speed of 294 km/h which is about 182 mph. The ride is smooth and it took us about 45 minutes to travel from Taipei to Taichung.
The Taipei Main Station was filled with people. We had time to kill so we sat and just watched people coming and going. Amazing the number of people that run through that station.
We traveled from our hotel in Taipei to the Taipei main station on the light rail. From there we got on the HSR to travel to a stop outside Taichung. Once at the transfer station we got onto a local train that travels back and forth from the transfer station to the Historic Taichung Train Station.
The HSR travels at a speed of 294 km/h which is about 182 mph. The ride is smooth and it took us about 45 minutes to travel from Taipei to Taichung.
The Taipei Main Station was filled with people. We had time to kill so we sat and just watched people coming and going. Amazing the number of people that run through that station.
We visited the National Museum of Natural Science. This was another opportunity to learn more about Taiwan and it's history. A lot of the methods for processing the rice and grain have changed, but the methods for growing are the same.
Across the street we went to the Botanical Garden. I was surprised to see a lot of the same plants as we have in South Carolina. The plants are much larger, but there are a lot that are the same. The climate here is similar to what we have back home because it is warm and humid. The difference is the range of highs and lows. It does not get as cold here as it does back home.
The last stop today was my favorite. I finally got to visit Kuan's childhood home and meet his mother. She made us dinner and we ate with his brother and mother.
Across the street we went to the Botanical Garden. I was surprised to see a lot of the same plants as we have in South Carolina. The plants are much larger, but there are a lot that are the same. The climate here is similar to what we have back home because it is warm and humid. The difference is the range of highs and lows. It does not get as cold here as it does back home.
The last stop today was my favorite. I finally got to visit Kuan's childhood home and meet his mother. She made us dinner and we ate with his brother and mother.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
Restrooms
We traveled a lot today. I'm going to say again how great it is to have such easy access to public transportation. When you travel it's really important to stay hydrated, and that is going to cause me to take a few minutes and get on a soap box.
In the states it's tough to find a bathroom when you are out and about. You won't just be walking down the street and run into one. Here they are really very accessible. I have never been out traveling and sightseeing, and not been able to find a restroom. The best part is I have only been in a couple that were not super clean.
Here's my soapbox. In the states we have people trying to make it more difficult for people to use a bathroom, if they don't fit the mold. I have only been in a couple bathrooms here that didn't have a female cleaner cleaning the bathroom while I was using it. I still can't figure out what people are worried about. Do people really think that they have something that people haven't seen before? If they do then they should show it off!
In the states it's tough to find a bathroom when you are out and about. You won't just be walking down the street and run into one. Here they are really very accessible. I have never been out traveling and sightseeing, and not been able to find a restroom. The best part is I have only been in a couple that were not super clean.
Here's my soapbox. In the states we have people trying to make it more difficult for people to use a bathroom, if they don't fit the mold. I have only been in a couple bathrooms here that didn't have a female cleaner cleaning the bathroom while I was using it. I still can't figure out what people are worried about. Do people really think that they have something that people haven't seen before? If they do then they should show it off!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Taipei Zoo
Kuan was super happy to see his favorite pandas. When we arrived at the zoo the signs indicated that the panda exhibit was not open. Kuan talked to a nice gentleman before we bought our tickets and he said that the exhibit was so packed with people that they were not allowing any more people in. Kuan told him how w came from the US and wouldn't be back for a long time and the guy gave us special tickets to see the exhibit.
We got back to Ximon area and moved to our new room. We have a great view tonight and can see Taipei 101 in the distance. We went out for a couple beers at the gay bar and are now back in our room getting ready for bed.
Tomorrow is a big day with an hour long ride back to Tiachung City. This time we will travel on the high speed rail and have a seat for the trip.
Friday, February 20, 2015
It's early but we already covered a lot of ground. Our day started back on the public transportation to the Longshan Temple. I was really moved at the temple. We took some time to walk through and pray to the many Gods. In this culture there are many Gods to take care of all around health and well being.
Back on the train and off to see the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Sun Yat-sen is the father of modern Taiwan.
It's 11:15 and we are back in our room having a beer and resting before we check out of this room, and move to the next. Staying in Taipei again tonight but have to change hotels.
Back on the train and off to see the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall. Sun Yat-sen is the father of modern Taiwan.
It's 11:15 and we are back in our room having a beer and resting before we check out of this room, and move to the next. Staying in Taipei again tonight but have to change hotels.
We stopped at the seven eleven and I had a Taiwan beer and a hot dog. From there it was off to Tansui stop. This is a pretty popular location being at the head of the island right at the foot of some pretty tall mountains.
The next stop was Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. This is a memorial to the the president in the 1930s to 1940s. He basically started the Republic of China by moving from the mainland and si the original president just like our George Washington. The memorial is amazing in both size and beauty. When you are sitting there you almost can't realize how large the buildings actually are. Once you get in the center of all of them and look around, you can tell they are huge. In the background you can see the JhongJheng building that was the tallest building in Taipei until Taipei 101 was built, and Taipei 101.
As we were leaving the memorial we were headed back into the train station and a guy Taos me on the shoulder. He asks if I am from America, and if I am from SC, and if I am from Belair! More than 23 million people in Taiwan and we run into one of our neighbors foreign exchange student friend. He is from Japan and is spending this week in Taipei. Better check our lottery tickets!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Travel to Taipei
Yesterday we traveled to Taipei. We did not travel like tourist. Instead we traveled like locals. It's nice being with Kuan because essentially he is a local. My phone showed that I walked 7 miles yesterday, but the big deal is the mileage we clocked.
We traveled on the train from Taichung City to Taipei, and we had to stand the whole trip. A lot of people were traveling to Taipei for holiday because of the New Year. The trip took a little more than two hours. Every seat was full and every inch of the aisle.
Once we got to Taipei we took the light rail all around the city. Basically you can travel the entire city on the train system. It was pretty easy to figure out which train to take, and where to transfer. Of course again Kuan has us traveling like locals running from one train to the next.
We took the train to Taipei 101. We could not go to the observation deck but we walked around the very flashy mall. Every brand you can think of was there and it was about four stories tall.
Our night ended at the Ximon night market and a couple beers at the local gay bar. There is a pretty strong gay culture here in Taipei. The bars are all located in the Red House district. The area is filled with artist selling their art.
Monday, February 16, 2015
Night Market
I'm here and should have made a post earlier but the trip really knocks it out of you. You try not to be a wuss but you just feel like sleeping when you should be awake, but you really should be asleep because it's the time you normally would! Unless you've done it, you can't imagine it.
I walked around on my own yesterday while Kuan was at work. It's really a different world here and I do feel a little out of place because I can't understand anyone. That didn't stop me from walking around. The little shops are everywhere and you can buy anything under the sun.
When Kuan got home last night we walked to the night market. It's a few blocks from the hotel and well within walking distance. I got so wrapped up in what was going on so I didn't take one picture. I'm making Kuan take me back so I can some.
It's really amazing! There is everything under the sun to buy. It's shop after shop after shop. We went to get our eyes examined and ordered glasses and contacts. We took our own RayBan frames with us, and got one pair of glasses and contacts each, with an eye exam, for $650 US. That's pretty good considering my last eye exam in the US cost me $185. That was just an exam. No glasses or contacts included.
We ate dinner also. Dinner came from several different vendors. This is way out of the box for me. I'm a pretty tame person when it comes to food. Our first stop was chicken. I should have known with Kuan because this man loves some chicken. It was a split breast and was breaded. The chicken was super crispy and a little spicy. I loved it. We ate several other things from several other vendors. Some good some bad, but I tried everything. Really an amazing experience.
I walked around on my own yesterday while Kuan was at work. It's really a different world here and I do feel a little out of place because I can't understand anyone. That didn't stop me from walking around. The little shops are everywhere and you can buy anything under the sun.
When Kuan got home last night we walked to the night market. It's a few blocks from the hotel and well within walking distance. I got so wrapped up in what was going on so I didn't take one picture. I'm making Kuan take me back so I can some.
It's really amazing! There is everything under the sun to buy. It's shop after shop after shop. We went to get our eyes examined and ordered glasses and contacts. We took our own RayBan frames with us, and got one pair of glasses and contacts each, with an eye exam, for $650 US. That's pretty good considering my last eye exam in the US cost me $185. That was just an exam. No glasses or contacts included.
We ate dinner also. Dinner came from several different vendors. This is way out of the box for me. I'm a pretty tame person when it comes to food. Our first stop was chicken. I should have known with Kuan because this man loves some chicken. It was a split breast and was breaded. The chicken was super crispy and a little spicy. I loved it. We ate several other things from several other vendors. Some good some bad, but I tried everything. Really an amazing experience.
Saturday, February 14, 2015
Travel Day(s)
So here it is. The day of departure. Of course I couldn't sleep much last night. When I slept, I slept well, but I was up at 2:30. It probably didn't help that Fufu was in my face the minute I opened my eyes.
She is laying right beside me on the cold floor. She know's. The bags are packed and by the door. I spent my morning getting the house semi-clean so our friends don't think we are pigs! We are very fortunate to have some really great friends. We have people taking care of Fufu and making sure she gets to the Dogsitter. We have friends taking care of the cat Noodles, and getting the mail. We have friends getting me to and from the airport. We have friends that care about us and will make sure things go well at home so we can relax and enjoy our vacation. Thank you to all those friends.
Jake & Megan, Mark & Cindy, Jim & Beth, PJ & Takka, Just to mention a few.
Bags are packed, house is clean (semi), and I am scared to death. As I mentioned, I have never traveled outside North America. To do this alone is pretty brave for me. Now I'm not completely alone because Kuan is on the other end, but the getting there is scary enough. If he wasn't there I'm sure I wouldn't be able to make myself go!
My trip today is 36 hours into the future. The actual time is about 24 actual hours. Hopefully we will stay in Taipei tonight rather than making the trip to Taichung.
She is laying right beside me on the cold floor. She know's. The bags are packed and by the door. I spent my morning getting the house semi-clean so our friends don't think we are pigs! We are very fortunate to have some really great friends. We have people taking care of Fufu and making sure she gets to the Dogsitter. We have friends taking care of the cat Noodles, and getting the mail. We have friends getting me to and from the airport. We have friends that care about us and will make sure things go well at home so we can relax and enjoy our vacation. Thank you to all those friends.
Jake & Megan, Mark & Cindy, Jim & Beth, PJ & Takka, Just to mention a few.
Bags are packed, house is clean (semi), and I am scared to death. As I mentioned, I have never traveled outside North America. To do this alone is pretty brave for me. Now I'm not completely alone because Kuan is on the other end, but the getting there is scary enough. If he wasn't there I'm sure I wouldn't be able to make myself go!
My trip today is 36 hours into the future. The actual time is about 24 actual hours. Hopefully we will stay in Taipei tonight rather than making the trip to Taichung.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Getting Ready to Go
My first trip out of North America is about to commence. Kuan made the trip yesterday and arrived at his Mother's house today. He was happy to get his first home cooked meal in nine years, but wasn't happy when Mama asked if he wanted to go get a haircut. He is struggling with internet so that may make communications a little tough the next couple days.
I'm still waiting for a picture from him but I'm not going to push it until he gets some sleep. It's hard to even imagine the amount of travel it takes to get there. It was more than 24 hours from the time he left here until the time he arrived at home. I guess I'm in for a long trip!
I'm still waiting for a picture from him but I'm not going to push it until he gets some sleep. It's hard to even imagine the amount of travel it takes to get there. It was more than 24 hours from the time he left here until the time he arrived at home. I guess I'm in for a long trip!
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