First Stop: Taipei, Taiwan!

A salty welcome.

So after experiencing the longest flight of my life (literally) next to the chinese brad pitt wannabe I arrived Taipei 15 hours after take off.  Which put me in on the 13th when I left the 11th of January… go figure, I still haven’t got the hang of how the world ends and begins the days in the pacific ocean. After nearly being stuck at the airport, I caught the last bus out, and used the MRT (subway) to get to the hostel previously scouted out on my phone.  But lucky for me I showed up around 0115 and found no welcome as it was locked and it became apparent no one was going to open the door.  (Did I mention it was raining) and I was starving.  And completely wide awake. So I wandered around for a few hours trying to locate available wifi so I could find the next prospect but eventually settled for a sketchy hotel and decided I would find a place in the morning.

Nice Hostel found, found food. And all is well in the world.  I even started getting comfortable with navigation through the streets.  Sort of.  Haha I got lost several times with a few blocks at first. But started getting better and  using the MRT full time.  Over the next few days I visited the Taipei 101. Tamsui (name of a fishing city), the night markets and several temples.  I found a nice hike up elephant hill in the middle of the city about 15 minutes away from the Taipei 101 (the second tallest building in the world) it gave spectacular views of the city and put the tower into some perspective.  Lots of people out and about in the parks exercising, giving me a reality check on the round shape of America as whole… Also people here have no tattoos. Like as in I never saw a single one.  Haha oh yea I also got yelled at on the MRT(subway) for what I eventually figured out was Chewing gum.  All of my middle school teachers combined had nothing on this guy, you’d have thought I was burning the national flag by the way he was screeching at me. Haha he was all up in my face about it and it turns out it’s illegal to chew gum on the mrt($7500 ticket), and my guess is that people get part of the fine if the tell on someone for doing it. haha or something I don’t know. Anyways I stunned him by swallowing my gum and he was very apologetic for the remainder of the ride.

Not too many people speak English in this country and I’m overjoyed when I find someone who does. It’s the little things.  Also not a lot of backpackers, the two guys back at the hostel are both from Australia both here studying mandarin.  They’re cool, but both staying long term and more on the serious side.

This country is plagued by 7-11’s. Like they are everywhere. Convenient really. 

Taiwan Cool Country but really looking forward to the Philippines.  I booked a bunch of under a $100 flights without doing much looking into where I was going – (very unlike me I know ha). Anyway figured out that the Philippines will be more my style.  And it is!