Well after a long 48+ hours I finally got a bed and a shower. Oh the feelings of rejuvenation! Now comes the adjusting to things like say, cold showers and hard beds.
Yesterday I got to visit Taipei and see some cool sights. To my brother's suggestion I was able to connect to Christine from my high school days that lived there. She graciously showed me around and helped me experience a little bit of Taiwan. It was rainy and wet but that didn't stop us from standing in line for a local, but famous breakfast joint in Taipei To experience soy soup? Your pick of savory or sweet and a delish egg sandwich thing. I've still been able to keep to vegetarian eating, even with the weird looks of all the people I ask (Mainly the flight attendants so far). However I haven't asked what exactly is in the broths of such foods. Next we took the train system to Chiang Kai-Shek memorial hall. Beautiful! We watched the guards switch shifts in a very formal marching kinda thing. Well I say watched but i wasn't able to see much due to the abundance of people and my lack of vertical abilities. A very kind gent took a video the whole time for me.
Next we went to the older part of Taipei where a lot of the stalls were textiles and food. Talk about every fabric, color, pattern, or texture you can only dream about. It amazes me that people didn't get lost in the labyrinth of cloths! With so many stalls in the market that has the same wares and products it makes you wonder how they stay in business. With the success of not getting lost amidst all the colors and patterns, we ventured out to go and find a Taipei street food favorite - the stinky tofu! My brother being the very venturesome eater of the family suggested the need to try this local bite. Not sure why since he has abhorred tofu since a wee lad, when my mother tried to trick him by making a tofu pie or cheesecake and see if he would eat it, while my other brother and I snickered in anticipation it seeing his face. However I jumped with both feet. To say that it stinks is an understatement. It smells like poop that's being fried, but it was quite delicious and I ate my fair share (even after I googled how it was created). I won't ruin it for you so if you dare go look it up.
After that we departed to the 101 building that was said to be the tallest building in the world until Dubai decided to rain on that parade! 95 stories high, at least. We didn't go up because it was foggy and raining. But the view of it was awe-striking. Then she dropped me back at the airport.
A good way to kill a 7 hour layover if I do say so myself.
Flew into Bangkok and proceeded to stand in the longest queue for a taxi. Very foreign to me but got to people watch which is always entertaining. Imagine a foreign country and being able to do that! Then off to my little room to pass out.
#talesofatravelinggypsy
