Blogs from Taiwan, Asia - page 120

Sweat stings my eyes; it's dark, polluted, hot and hectic. "How many blocks now?" I plead with Jennifer, who has the 'book'. "Five - six maybe?" she shrugs trying to peer at the map as we attempt to sneak a way through the traffic. Flustered, I wave frantically at an oncoming cab "Let's get this, or we'll never make it!" We've been in Taiwan for all of an hour now, and here we are dashing manically through the streets of nocturnal Taipei in search of an English bar in the midst of the slightly seedy 'Gigi-gig area'. Why? Well why else would there be such a pressing need? England v Portugal of course, which kicked off exactly 7 minutes and 23 seconds ago. I know you watched it, and if you didn't, I can tell you ... read more

The wife and I hopped on a flight from Taipei to Kaoshiung on impulse, and because it was so cheap (she being a flight attendant). When got out of the taxi at Sungshan domestic airport here in Taipei, there was a plane leaving in 15 minutes. It was a clear day and I had a window seat overlooking the Taiwan's Central Mountain Range. It was close to 100 degrees outside, a the blue skies seemed to be frying the clouds into cotton balls of white phosphorous in the sky. Rivers and puffs of clouds glided through the massive valleys of mountain peaks, which seemed to rip up the atmosphere with their jagged summits. 40 minutes later we began out descent, entering a yellow smog zone of napalm scooter and factory exhaust. Three distinct layers of atmosphere ... read more

Mike and I decided to make a trip out to Fulong beach. Fulong beach is the nicest beach in Northern Taiwan. There are long sandy beaches, and it's not to crowded. The beach is only about an hour from Taipei, so it makes for a nice morning trip. I don't work till 7 on Tuesday, so I think I might make it a point to go every Tuesday. The water is perfect and you might even catch some people surfing. ... read more

PART ONE: One things for sure, the mosquitos LOVE me here in Taiwan. Everyday I have a new and interesting bug bite. My first week I received over a dozen bites, with a memorable one on my arm that started to swell out so much it looked like a new arm growing. At this point, I had had enough so I purchased bug spray from a pharmacist named Space. This has helped quite a bit but every few days I will still get a bite. This morning has proven to be the worst yet, I guess I had forgotten to spray my face before I went to bed, and when I awoke and opened my eyes, one eye wouldnt open. I went to a mirror and sure enough I had been bitten on my eye lid ... read more

One hour before the bus leaves for the airport. I guess I should try to sum this trip up...but the energy isn't really there after having spent most of yesterday in bed fighting a bad stomach flu. Today I'm doing much better though, but still lack the energy. There's so much to say about this trip...about the people...and everything I've seen and experienced...I guess I need good with time to do it all justice. I will arrive Stuttgart around 9am tomorrow. Wish me a good flight! Bye for now /M ... read more