If I were to die in Taiwan...

I think it would be the result of a taxi driver.

Oddly enough, I think the odds are about the same whether I'm in a taxi or out of one. This is because the rules for taxis here are different than the rules for, say, any motor vehicle in the states.

Seatbelt Laws:
While I have observed that most of the taxis here do have a full complement of seatBELTS, have noticed that, particularly in the back seat, buckles seem to be absent. My thought is that while perhaps vehichles are required to be equipped with a belt, the people handing out taxi driver licenses don't check or care about the buckles. No doubt such equipment is then stripped from the car and sold at a flee market.

Painted lines:
While growing up in the States, I learned to consider a painted yellow line as a barrier to generally be avoided, here it seems to be more of a casual suggestion. This is particularly true going through narrow allyways, where the city planners saw fit to draw these lines, but did not see fit to make the lane wide enough for two cars to drive through

Stoplights:
Like in the states, stoplights have a 1-2 second delay between one changing red, and the other changing green. Cab drivers seem to interpret this as a free time, where traffic is allowed to move from anywhere in the intersection, either cruising through at 100kph or burnning out in an effort to make it to the next light before anyone else. Also, while there are left turn lanes, I've noticed that they are often used as alternative lanes to travel straight in, when the other left turn lane and straight lanes simply have too many cars.

Hana told me that the taxis in Serbia are much more frightening, maybe I'm just a wuss.

In less morbid news, I've made it to Taizhong, and I'm having a wonderful time. More on that probably in the next post.

Lunch in Taiwan

I'm starting to get over my jetlag and function on a semi normal schedule here, although I did wake up around 7 this morning, which for anyone who knows me knows this is entirely out of character.

After waking up, taking a shower and checking emails, we wandered down to the local OK market (which resembles a Circle K from back home, except that all the snacks seem to be some variant of Raman noodles) where we were surprised to run into Kim and John also from are Chinese class. We talked with them and found out that they were actually staying in the same hostel as us (Happy Family) just in a different building. Smalls world!

After meeting with them, we followed through on our plans to meet up with Alex in the vicinity of the paradise hotel. Along the way, we stopped in a bakery where I had the most fantastic bread I had ever tasted - melon bread it was called. Later, as we continued our journey to Alex' hotel my friend Tashi decided to make it his quest to find bubble tea.

To this end we stopped at a tiny coffee vendor, where Tashi decided to order his taro flavored bubble tea. At this point, I think that it should be pointed out that neither Taro, nor Bubble tea appeared on the menu, but this didn't discourage Tashi.

Tashi: Taro tea?
Cashier: stream of fast chinese
Tashi: Taro?
Cashier: *points to Grey Pearl tea on the menu*
Tashi: Which one?
Cashier: *comes out and points again at the Grey Pearl tea*
Tashi: OK
Cashier: *lets Tashi smell the blended tea*
Tashi: huh?
Cashier *sigh*
The Cashier hands Tashi the drink
Tashi: Duo shao qian? (how much?)
At this, the cashier just shakes her head and pushes the money away.

As one might expect, this was not bubble tea, so the search continues, but at least Tashi isn't out a dollar.

(Update: Tashi Found bubble tea at the mall, all is happy!)

After a few more blocks, we made it to Alex's hotel. Shortly thereafter, the six of us made our way to the first restaurant we could find. The double lucky restaurant served that end, and we were able to get a meal for six for $2100NT with tip and drink - or about $12 per person. The meal was big, with all sort of foods including tiny roasted whole fish, shrimp that had been cooked but not at all shelled, wonderful pork spare ribs, soup and some other culinary delights. most of the food was great, although I don't think I will be trying jellyfish again any time soon.

We wandered back down to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit - the Taiwanese subway) and took the train back and parted ways with Alex. Later I got online with him (our hostel has wireless!) and we played a game of warcraft 3 - I am still a geek :)

All in all, it was a great afternoon.

At the Double Lucky

From left to right: Lily, Alex, Kim, John, Tashi Jacob.

I'm on an island!

I got into Taiwan about 3 hours ago. Here are a few of my impressions:

1. It's hot.

People weren't lying when they said that Taiwan was really ridiculously hot. I normally expect the temperature at 7AM to be pleasantly chilled, but climbing up the stairs to my room in the hostel I was sweating more than I can really ever recall.

2. The trees!

Riding the bus from the airport to Taipei, I was struck by how dense the forests lining the side of the highway were.

3. The cops are nice :)

I was stumbling around about a block from my hostel, not quite sure where I was supposed to be going. A police man walked up and in perfect english asked "Can I help you?" I said I was looking for the happy family hostel, and he lead me down an allyway to the door of the hostel.

Anyways, I will have some more pictures and videos for everyone who reads this when I get on my laptop.