Flying from Bali to Taiwan is like diving off the high diving board. We left a sunny exotic island in the Indian Ocean for another island teeming with millions of Taiwanese people all in a hurry in torrential downpours. Don't get me wrong. We are enjoying our time visiting with Nate and his lovely girlfriend Maria touring the island. Having two free Chinese translators is a good deal for us, although I think we overwhelm shy Marcia when we hotly debate issues in English and she cannot keep up. Must be tough for her as a country girl just learning English.
Nate's home of Jhongli is a dark little factory town where everything closes for Chinese New Year (this week). So we taxied on to Taipei, a huge international city with the world's most efficient light rain system. You can travel anywhere quickly for a couple of dollars on the train. We visited the National Palace Museum, where we saw jade carvings, and the Night Market where you can buy anything from highly padded red bras to matches at the shooting gallery until 3 AM. The food is varied and delicious, although I cannot get used to eating the national dish of pickled pigs' feet!
We are ready to return tomorrow to the Willamette Valley, where no one stares at us for having white skin and blue eyes. Even Chuck admits it (amazing!). So, Shien Nien Kwai Le (Happy New Year, in the Year of the Tiger....Grrrr....)!
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