Day 2 (04/19/10): Errands, eating and extreme jet lag.

Day two! First stop: the local black market currency exchange to turn some greenbacks into Taiwanese... blue and red backs.

Operating out of a 'gold shop' located in a row of stores that includes a bookstore, mom and pop eatery and a clothing boutique; the small, sparse storefront leads into an even smaller back room where two middle-aged men sit behind desks. The slender man does the talking and handles all transactions while his larger colleague, ostensibly the brawn of the operation, sits reading the newspaper and, when called upon, double-checks the count.

There was nothing secretive about the transaction; all business was conducted out in the open (the door and window leading into the back room were kept wide open). And aside from the standard ceiling cameras, there was no real visible show of security, no bullet-proof glass or buzzers, etc. Ballsy.

Anyway, it was all very fast and easy, convenient, decent rates, and no questions asked or paperwork required. Interestingly enough, I learned that the newer U.S. 100 dollar bills are worth slightly more than the older ones.

No photos were taken because I enjoy being able to walk and having all 10 fingers.


Zhongxiao Fuxing station in the morning.

Afterwards, a lengthy stroll through the East Metro Mall, an underground concourse/marketplace connecting the Zhongxiao Dunhua and Zhongxiao Fuxing metro stations. Nothing much to see, really, but hey the air conditioning was nice on a hot, humid day.


Lunched at Shang, on the twelfth floor of the Ming Yao department store. We ate there a couple times during my visit last year, good stuff. Onto the food porn!


This nice girl eating alone at the table across from us must have really thought highly of her getup that day because she kept taking self-shots with her camera phone, checking it and then re-taking.


This happened on and off throughout her meal and then continuously for a good 10 minutes as she was signing for her bill.


Me, I was smart enough to take advantage of the complimentary mirrors.


Two hours and a belly full of beer and raw fish later.


Dad in front of his old office building. He tells me that this was one of the first tall, modern buildings in the area when he was growing up. My grandfather then turns to me and goes, "This all used to be farmland."

We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the neighborhood, and then shopping for supplies at the RT-Mart, a gigantic, subterranean Walmart-esque shopping center.


The Taiwanese take their toothpaste seriously.


Ramen, too. This was aisle one of three.

Then I went home and passed out. Thanks, 12-hour time difference!

Day 1 (04/18/10): Travel day and Friday's.

An inauspicious start to the vacation: pulled a calf muscle climbing into the war vehicle that transported me to the airport. Now, pictures!


Ready to roll. First shot from the new toy, the senior Mr. H himself. The camera, by the way, has a food mode. Oh it's on.


Airport lounge food. $8.50 for a cold, ho-hum 'chipotle' grilled chicken wrap. $9.25 after tax... highway robbery.


Fast forward 9 hours, layover in Anchorage. Display case of banned items made from endangered species/reflection of exhausted traveler.


The duty-free shop. Very much regretting not having purchased this.


Back on the plane, which was covered with (and seemingly held together by) these stickers. The aircraft must have been from the 90s if not even older, what with the ashtrays (glued shut, of course) and the CRT televisions overhead very obviously playing VHS tapes (your in-flight programming: a prerecorded BBC news broadcast and then Avatar in breathtaking 1.5D). China Airlines vs. Cathay (last year)... big difference.

Also, going west at night absolutely blows. We flew in the dark the entire trip -- imagine not being able to see where you're going for 17 hours. The most miserable way to travel imaginable.


Arrival in Taoyuan. I see Asian people.


...and look adorable doing so.

Once in Taipei and settled in, I paid an afternoon visit to the Shilin night market. And just how could I travel halfway across the world without dropping by the local T.G.I. Friday's?

Potato skins jones fulfilled, it was back up the mountain, where I had a pretty Asian girl walk on my back. The rest of the evening was spent with delicious Taiwan beer and good, label-less company; hoping there wouldn't be a repeat of last year, that the rainy, humid weather would clear up.


Group photo! The miracles of technology.


What jet lag?

Day 20 (1/17) Ending on a bang

I'll keep the recap of my 25th hour in Taiwan brief.

Lunch with the grandparents.

My grandfather is awesome, but I don't think I've ever seen a photograph of him smiling... making him all the more awesomer, if you ask me.


Back at home, they relayed some last minute instructions/wisdom. This included home buying (renting vs. owning), financial (save!) and marriage advice. Regarding the latter, I will be sure to find a nice Taiwanese girl of similar disposition with that special twinkle in her eyes.

Spent the rest of the afternoon wandering about, did a bit of shopping, last minute errands...

then sukiyaki for dinner with Amy, Jim and Robin.
One last bowl of shredded ice

with lemon jelly and tapioca pearls, I think.


Totally random, but just the way I likes 'em.

Afterwards, Jim and I sped around the city on his motor scooter. We headed to a dimly lit underpass (the best kind) and I fiddled around a bit on it myself

The 'little sheep' can really fly.


What a rush.

Day 19 (1/16) Formosan sand

Broke fast and explored the oceanside for much of the morning.


This must be what owning an island is like. We've had the pool, jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, restaurant, rec center and now the beach--basically the entire resort, it seems--all to ourselves.


Taiwan rocks


Aunt and I.


Sea snake? Eel? I hope so, 'cause we helped it along into the water. The waves kept pushing it back though, which must be how it got ashore in the first place.


Assorted junk dad found on the beach: a knife and a pretty nice Nokia cell.

We then headed over to visit my grandmother at the Buddhist monastery where her ashes are. No recap necessary.

Afterwards it was onto nearby Yehliu Geopark.


Because I'm too lazy to explain what you're seeing.


Heart?

Some old ladies scraping the rocks for seaweed. There were a lot of them.



Getting my rocks off. Wait... what?



The queen's head.

Next stop was Jing San, an area known for their duck. The town had a bustling marketplace but there was one particularly busy storefront, and that's where we lunched. The kitchen continuously churned out side and other dishes, while at the front there was one guy chopping up cooked ducks and another plating or packaging them to go.


You line up for your duck and grab any other side dishes of your choice and head over to one of at least eight other storefronts nearby used exclusively as dining rooms.


Lunch. Clockwise from top: noodles, bamboo shoots, some sort of innards, salt and pepper fried crab, duck, squid and celery. Little in the way of presentation... it's all about the food, and the food is good.