Type A in Taipei

---

There is something to be said about going to a place second time around. The first time I came to Taipei about four years ago I was so scared to venture out, everything seemed new and strange. I actually was in a state of panick most of the time. If I remember correctly I thought I could buy clothing in Taiwan. This trip is already different.

This trip I know not to go into any clothing store! My body will fit neither shirts, skirts or pants not now and not ever. Anyway I hate clothing shopping so it's a win win. I know the rail system and I know that I have hours alone as Jeff goes off to work.

We landed after a 15 hour flight from rollercoaster city.. exhausted and thrilled to be on land - Jeff off to work and now what? Vacation? What am I going to do? sit in the hotel? walk the city - how much is there to see in Taipei?

Well Thank G-d my Type A gene readjusted itself to go and Follow the Yellow Brick Road to find three things.

1. The yoga place where I was (notice the word was) going to do daily yoga

2. Buy eyeglass frames- I heard they were cheap

3. Find an accupuncture Dr. who could tell me if my right side of my body is going to fall off.

To make a long story short I got to the yoga school but they werent willing to give me daily lessons if i wasnt willing to buy a 36 class package. I tried to explain to them that for me to do 36 classes i would have to do yoga 6 hours a day. Very politely they refused- so i have to admit I was kind of relieved - asked her if she knew an accupuncture Dr said maybe and never heard from her again. Well since there was going to be no yoga I decided to walk to the tallest building in taipei -101- i decided to go only via side streets and look for Eyeglass stores along the way. Oh I forgot to tell you that I was doing this in high heels!

Things you should know: first of all the side roads are very narrow. They are entertwined with very fancy stores, smelly fish stores, junk stores with owners who looked like they havent moved in 30 years. nobody stares when they see this short large (I always see myself as thin but not here!) women walking by herself looking at a map every 5 minutes. Everytime I asked for directions the store keepers were literally leaving their stores- locking them up and take me on a 10 minute walk just to show me the way.I wasnt sure if they were relieved to get out or they felt it was their duty. One young man took us out of his way complaining how hot it was the whole time- now if that isnt Taiwanese guilt what is?. Jeff was totally suprized how nice they were and thought that if he would ask they probably wouldnt even look at him but I dont think so- they seem really nice and relaxed!

Did you know that the eyeglasses are manufactured differently in Aisa? I kept going into stores and found some very cute glasses but I couldnt get the frames around my ears. The saleswomen explained to me that the reason the glasses were to short and didnt go around my ears was because the caucasions have narrower and longer faces and our heads are deeper from the forehead to the back of the head and the opposite for the Aisans.

What does this mean - my body is misplaced in this country. So No Yoga and NO glasses!

these glasses might be cheaper they dont fit my head!!! .

There is a happy end - On Friday I made Jeff walk with me for 3- 4 hours to find the Accupuncture Dr.

ImaniOU wrote:I am thinking of taking a break from Western medicine since it seems to be making me feel worse yet I cannot afford the time or money for another 15-day health retreat to Ubud. To compromise, I would like to do some acupuncture to release some of my blocked qi. Doing a search on the forums, however, it seems there are some horror stories and the only good experiences do not come with an address or location.Does anyone have the address and/or phone number for a place that is very good at doing acupuncture/acupressure treatment, preferably in Taipei? Also a bonus if they speak a little English since my medical Chinese is not quite up to par

ANSWER.
someone else just asked me the same question. My friends uncle is a chinese doctor. His clinic has lots of foreign interns who speak good english too.

http://www.yrsheng.com.tw/
台北市羅斯福路三段 261號4樓

If you look at the web site it's only in Chinese so, I asked the Taiwanese concierge to help me understand the web site and where the doctor was located. He thought I was crazy for going to someone I had never met or actually heard of but I felt I had enough info to try it out.

So off we went and after four hours we got to the fourth floor -walked in to a dark large room that was musty, smells of burnt herbs, women with masks , 4 beds and one large desk. We waited for them to open at 2 and were rather grateful that we didnt have to wait outside in the 100 degree heat. We were greeted by a young man named Jonathan from New Jersey who lives with his grandparents in Tapei and after some human geography we learned that he lived in Kiryat Tivon for 7 months last year - what are the chances of that happening?

I knew it was a sign !😊)))))

10 minutes later the Dr's right hand man Mark came out and asked me what the problem was. I told him that I was worried that I have blockage on my right side of my body- I know it sounds crazy but that's what I think. He talked to the Dr in chinese asked a few more questions and then the Doctor looked at me, smiled and Mark said. "your right side of you body isnt going to fall off." whooo. so we decided to some accupuncture for another problem. Mark put a 10 cm needle into my A@#@#@ and 30 $ later I was a Happy RABbit.

Easy fast to all.

---

Photos

Rain
first day in taipei lots and lots of rain in 90 degree heat..

purses for my neice?
which one ariel?

Street Robot
robot directs the traffic....

Go right at the bridge
A man left his job and walked with me for 10 minutes just to show me this interstection. a good man- wonder if he still has a job

Comments

[anonymous]

have a meaningful fast! I love reading your blog edna

[Eveajy]

May I know how long the plane is from singapore to taiwan? I am going to taiwan as well