Curiouser and Curiouser.

We've made it!

00 - Safety video and tiny seat

Eva and I are now resting comfortably in her parent's home in Taya, outside the city of Taichung. It is raining pretty heavily outside, but that's quite alright as I'm sipping a cup of really hot, fragrant tea and Eva's mom is just outside the room cooking a lamb stew along with a little bag of Chinese herbs and the sweet smell is filling the house.

One of the things that has been difficult not to notice is that I seem to have grown considerably on the flight across the Pacific. Already I've banged my head three times as I attempted to pass through doorways, and earlier today I could not drive Eva's sister's scooter because my knees impeded the turning of the handlebars. (As for wearing a helmet, my head may as well be square shaped.) In fact my inordinate growth rate must have happened immediately upon my stepping onto China Airlines flight 005 because my knees were flush against the back of the seat in front of me, and at one point the only way I could get comfortable was to get on the floor and rest my head on the bottom of the seat as Eva, sitting comfortably in her Asian-compatible sized seat, stroked my head to comfort me.

01 - TPE Arrival

As difficult as the 13.5 hour flight was, the 1.5 hour bus ride from the airport to Taya was exactly the opposite. The bus ride felt more like a Winnebago ride (circa 1976) as the interior was decked out in wood tones with fully reclining, extra wide leather seats (also, inexplicably, wood-toned) and the cushioned tapered headrests were a welcome addition. Several TV sets providing us with our own personal DVD screening of Alien vs. Predator, though I question the judgment of the bus company encouraging their drivers to fiddle with DVD controls while driving, as ours obviously was. The windows were decorated with tasseled curtains, of the kind you'd expect quite at home in your grandmother's den (or, perhaps, her Winnebago). Also offered at the front of the bus were little sealed 8 oz cups of water, with plastic sealed over the top. The idea is that you pierce the plastic at the top with pointy-edged straws, however I did not know this, and I will offer you this advice-- if you are ever in Asia faced with a plastic sealed cup of liquid, do not attempt to pierce the top with your thumbnail while squeezing the base of the cup.

02 - Mr. Teapot Head

It has been a long journey, but I'm so glad we're here-- and I'm glad you've chosen to read along as we begin our six month journey through Asia.

Adam

03 - Bus

04 - Adam and Eva in Downtown Taya

05 - Adam is tall

06 - Out in Taya

07 - Ride with Fion