Category: Taiwan2005

Just a backstreet somewhere

Originally uploaded by Gridman.

We arrived before 6:00 AM and everything at immigrations went smoothly. It was interesting to see that they were screening all disembarking passengers with a thermal scanner to detect people with illness – a holdover from the SARS epidemic.

Cramming 2 cars seats into the back of Mr. Huang’s station wagon was no easy task, and Irene barely had any room at all. That may be a problem as the trip progresses, we dont have any other means of auto transportation.

There’s a typhoon coming and the weather is clear, hot and muggy. No matter where we went as we drove through Taipei, we can see Taipei 101, the world largest building. If the weather holds, we might visit tomorrow when we can see.

Not much sight-seeing or adventure today: unpacking and letting the kids unwind is a full-time job. We did go out for a walk for some food and to obtain phone SIM cards. Success on food, none on the SIM cards, but planned to try again later in the day.

In the afternoon, I managed to take a nap, but apparently started to toss, turn and mutter in the evening. Irene thought I was awake and insisted I get ready to go get the SIM card before they closed. I wasn’t awake, but it was lunchtime back home, which may account for my tossing. I felt like I’d been clubbed unconscious and just couldn’t wake up properly. I finally dragged myself up and we went after the SIMs, but the store was closed.

Here it is at 3:30 AM and Michelle is wide awake, she ran into her grandparents’ room, turned on their light and dragged grandma up.

All the commotion woke me up and then I was wide awake too. Poor grandma was trying to entertain Michelle, but she was obviosuly asleep, so I finally put some Bugs Bunny and Finding Nemo on the computer for Michelle to watch and that got her distracted long enough for grandma to go back to bed and for me to start writing.

It’s 5:45 now and the sun is coming up. Michelle will be wanting to go to the park soon.

Time differences were really pronounced today, after a long flight, we arrived just before 6:00AM, ready to start a whole new day of eating.

The food on the flight was as good as could be expected, but not an overwhelming amount for a 14 hours jaunt, so I was hungry.

Our first excursion for food was to Mr. Cong You Bing – that’s not his name, of course, just what I refer to him as. His Cong You Bing is very different from all the others, being deep fried. I didn’t see Mr. Cong You Bing at the stand, and was surprised that the cooks were wearing facemasks. Sanitary conditions is Taiwan?! Is it possible? They were good, but a little smaller than I remember.

Although I wasn’t hungry, the family felt the need for taking us to lunch, as I’m the picky eater, it was decided we’d go to Din Tai Fung for dumplings.

They were excellent, but, fatigue, heat, lack of hunger and Michelle acting up certainly didn’t improve the experience. Still, I correctly estimated that I would eat about 8, but with extras being ordered at the lat minute, I ended eating about 12.

For dinner, I was completely unconscious, that didn’t stop them from feeding me though. While everyone else had scrambled eggs, chicken (I think) and some vegetables, Johnny was sent out to get me spaghetti to go.

With a certain amount of surprise, the spaghetti was tasty, although, I’m pretty sure it didn’t taste like any spaghetti I’d ever eatenm the flavor was Italian, and completly familiar to me… but in my groggy state, I just couldn’t place where it was familiar from. It had lots of cheese in it, and so may have tasted more like a lasagna. I guess I’ll have to try it again and see if I can identify it.

Disturbing Teapot Head Man Poses with Michelle

Originally uploaded by Gridman.

We’ve arrived.

There’s really nothing that can make that flight enjoyable, but there are lots of things that can go wrong. Many of those things you can see coming a mile away… like for example, the kids being utterly bored and bothersome (or worse) during the flight.

In this case, things couldn’t have been more different, Michelle and James were exemplary on the plane – much to our relief and probably the relief of many other passengers.

One disappointment, despite what might be written on Singapore Air’s website, wireless internet and powerjacks have not yet been installed on all their planes, and ours didn’t have it. I didn’t even bother to pull the computer out of the overhead bin.

This was my first flight on a 777 and it’s a great plane, almost enough room even in economy class. As always, Singapore Air’s staff and amenities excel over any other airline I’ve ever flown.

At the airport we were greated by this disturbing-looking new mascot for Taiwan. He’s so disturbing, it actually took us a while to get Michelle to go pose with him for a photo.

What were they thinking? My guess is that they came up with this idea after watching Japanese kids shows for a few hours.

The weather is good today, but it is muggy. 6:00 AM in the morning and we’re sweating like pigs already.