Howard Plaza Hotel Taipei

... nyttemmin on joutunut tyytymaan kakkossijaan ("Burj Dubai" meni ohitse). 509 Metria ja 101. kerrosta. Rakennusta ei voi olla huomaamatta esim. kaupunkiin saapuessa. ..ja komealtahan se kylla nayttaakin - Aasialaisine vaikutteineen. Maisemat tosin nayttivat viela komeammilta nakoalatasanteelta (Vierailtiin yoaikaan) josta nakee luonnollisesti koko kaupungin ylitse. 101:sen lisaksi ollaan kayty katsastamassa Ximendiningin mieleton ostoskatu keskittyma (kaikkea ...

... my key and another woman took me to the women's dorm room, which was on a different floor. We made small talk while we waited for a roommate to emerge from the shower. She took quite awhile, though, and I was left to pick a bed from 10 in the room. I asked my roommate if a certain bed was taken, but she didn't quite understand. Simple chinese took care of that, and I settled into cot #4.
But, the night was still young (10pm) and I hadn't had time to take ...

... Well, it was another crazy travel day, as I tried to get the Alishan Train up to the mountains (train closed until 2009!), and then went on to Sun Moon Lake (barfy touristy trap with Sound of Music elevator music in the visitor center - hysterical), so on to Taichung, where I got the HSR back to Taipei. Oh well, I guess I am back in Taipei! The next day, I made it up to the mouth of Taipei's river to Danshui. So, this is where the white people and ...

... leave the country in order to be able to apply for a resident visa - which is a requirement to apply for an Alien Resident Card to be able to work here legally for any length of time. Such a trip may come at a difficult time, financially speaking. If you are just beginning a new job, you may not be receiving a regular paycheck yet. With this in mind, there are several options available to those who wish to save as much money as possible when undertaking such a journey ...

... that redeemed the shabbiness of Wanli, it was that meal. Oh My God. Tiger prawns...sushi...sushimi as think as a deck of playing cards...oysters...fish intestines (disgusting to think about but really outstanding!)...etc. It was a typical mishmash of Chinese, Taiwanese, and Japanese cuisine. Afterwards, Elbert asked if I'd like to take advantage of the local hot springs. Who was I to say no? He escorted me over there and proceeded to speak to the man behind the counter ...

... We were openly stared at...even more so cuz we were soaking wet and laughing while everyone else was dry and straight-faced. :p We rode all the other rides in the park. There was another (not so wet) water tube ride and a few roller coaster type rides...including one where you were completely in the dark and the roller coaster flew around the tracks. THAT was a whole new experience. We ate at this 'Castle Restaurant' and played in the arcade a bit. I won a stuffed ...

... and be on the lookout for cameras! Anyway, we arrived and Enon had arranged a homestay with a famous farmer granny. We had a very nice room and granny ('Oma' in Chinese) showed us her extensive farm that she handles all by herself. She has all kinds of dogs and ducks and chickens, etc. and grows all her own veggies. Needless to say we had some great food and plenty of fresh veggies to grub on ...

Route: Kenting - Taipei ( by bus ) Total Distance: 9 hours After some neighbors still chatted till 11:30 pm I can find rest. At 3:15am I hear 'plog - plog' on my tent. I know , although I hope it would be, that is is not from monkeys, squarrels, falling betel nuts or mangoes. So my sharp conclusion of a sleepy mind: Rain! It can't be, all predictions and local expertise were No No No, but Yes I feel the drops falling through the tent's ventilation hole. At ...

... we learn they are brothers and father - coming down from La La Shan with the wooden logs on their shoulders. I won't mention my 15 kg backpack anymore. I ask if they could carry my backpack up, but they didn't seem to be too keen on it - they understood the joke. We don't meet anybody else until near to the highest point when a group of 20 plus hikers walks down to Fushan; some brief hellos and exchanges about the trail and we pass. Finally the ...

... she'd never been to the States. I don't remember her Japanese name, just that the kanji that makes her name in Japanese is simply "G" in Mandarin. So I called her G the whole night. It turned out G was staying at the other TaiwanMex building, and Sarah was one of her roommates. Sarah was at the airport picking up her friend, so G went back to her room and waited for her. It was quite the reunion, and to know why, I should finally tell you about Sarah. Sarah is beautiful. It hits ...