A post from my friend, Jack, who visited me here in Taiwan…..
I had been traveling for close to three weeks already, which isn’t long except that I was on the move every four days and had to plan everything in advance. Most of my interactions were with non English speakers whose desire to help often outweighed their ability to do so. So I planned ahead, often for days at a time, getting friendly expatriates and supportive locals to write out my plans in Traditional Chinese for me to hand to cab drivers, bus ticket sales women, and Hotel counter staff. It was like a puzzle every day. I can say Hello and Thank You in Chinese thanks to J’s tutoring in Austin. Ever the teacher, she knew what I needed before I did. It is amazing how much you can accomplish with Hello, Thank You and smiling eyes.
So my arrival in Taipei was a welcoming thought on several levels. I would get to hang with Nellie for five days. I would meet her welcoming friends and I would be able to speak unbroken English to my heart’s content, and actually see understanding in the eyes of my companions. My weary heart raced at the thought of a local guide, not being responsible to pantomime with cab drivers, and ordering food without wondering what would come to the table.
I met J’s and my new friend Sherry at the airport with minor adventures in misdirection. It was bliss to find the locals able to answer in English and guide me to the next terminal. A quick cab ride to J’s and there were hugs and kisses all around, AND J has strong air conditioning and isn’t afraid to use it. Antibiotics are great and all, but whoever invented air conditioning gets my vote as the true savior of mankind. Taipei is like China except without the pollution, crowds, or bugs on sticks for sale at the market. There is plenty of unknown food for sale, but no bugs on sticks that I saw.
We ate lots; apparently the folks in Taiwan spend more time thinking about food than sex. I find this a little confusing, but ok. They have shaved ice desserts that are like eating flavored snow. No ice here, just melt in your mouth goodness than makes you think there may be something to this food obsession. They eat a lot here, and shop for clothes. It seemed normal after three weeks in China, I got used to every single thing being new, and so whatever happens is normal now.
So Taipei is like a ghost town after China cities, you can walk down the streets without dodging locals and getting bumped along. They also have temples on corners, kind of like the US has 7-11s. Just these random highly ornate temples that make Catholic churches seem austere. It’s like a seminary full of details packed into a 400 square foot efficiency. They have very bright colors and designs.
That is what all of Asia felt like to me, interesting and fun but without any overall theme. So go visit J, just don’t visit in the summer unless you like being in a sauna with your clothes on.
