Asia Trip - Day 8

Sunday, 10/12 -

My last day. Time to go home. My adventure in both Hong Kong and Taiwan was exciting, if at times frustrating. The day I was to leave, I had a lazy start considering I still had Taipei 101 to cross off my list. I trudged towards there, wishing I had done this first and gotten it out of the way so that I could perhaps do something else on my last day. I envisioned long lines and complicated people to deal with. Instead, the place had just opened for the day and myself and a bunch of Australians were part of the first group to go up for the day. I hadn't been in a building this high since the WTC and it left me feeling a bit melancholy.

The ride up is probably one of the fastest. The views up top were a bit disappointing considering Taipei doesn't have a lot of architecture to gaze at. Plus, it was overcast, so things were a blur past a few miles. Overall, I lasted about 10-15 minutes in the observatory before heading back down and calling it a day, but not without a stop at Starbucks, which is considered a high class establishment here. I became a bit weepy on the MRT thinking about all I had seen and done in this country. Also, thinking about the way in which I was able to come here made me count my blessings a lot more.

I took my time leaving the station, even stopping at the top of the escalators to take in the last of this system which helped me see much of the city. I walked at a slow pace back to the hostel, wanting to savor the feeling of being there. Saying my goodbyes and leaving the hostel, I grabbed a cab back to the railway station, but not before asking the driver to stop at Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall so I could take photos. Whatever feelings I had developed from my travels here good, bad, or indifferent, washed away and nostalgia kicked in for a country I had no intention of visiting until I dropped that sweepstakes slip into a box became a winner.

The lines at the airport were crazy and although I got there very early, it looked as if I wasn't going to make my flight. Luckily, I sought out an employee and told my tale of woe and was allowed to check in on the business line. An uneventful flight and a new discovery of Mos Burger rice burgers (freakin' delicious!!), I was lucky to snag another window seat. We got into JFK about 9:30pm, an hour earlier than expected. Still, there was the business about retrieving my luggage, clearing customs, and waiting for the express bus back to Grand Central. I didn't get in my apartment until a little before midnight, craving tap water and Mexican food. I didn't get to drink enough fluids prior to the flight home and paid the price with a lot of swelling. Boo!! Surprisingly, I had no real bout of jet lag, aside from napping in the evening a few days after I returned. Yeah!! A miracle, considering the twelve hour time difference.

This trip was different in many ways. I never intended to visit Taiwan and was surprised upon learning I had won a flight there. The language barrier was intense. Thankfully, both Taiwan and Hong Kong have excellent tourism infrastructures for English speakers. The people are wonderful and helpful, Taiwan especially. Still, I tried my best, and when it got frustrating, remembered how lucky I was to be there. Trust me, there were many frustrating moments. To be honest, I don't see myself going back to Taiwan on my own. I would go back if I were with someone who really wanted to visit, but it's not high up on my return list. Hong Kong on the other hand, I definitely want to visit again. The next time (if there is one), I would like to stay much longer and stay in Macao as well.

Originally, I shied away from other's compliments of my bravery. Looking back, I was brave. I did this alone. Aside from the help I received from M my first day, most of this trip was done on a wing and a prayer. If someone had told me years ago I would be on the back roads of a rural Taiwanese town waiting for a bus, I would've thought they were crazy. Today, I remember that feeling. The mix of fear and exhilaration that comes with conquering the unknown. I knew I'd be alright, even if I ended up back where I needed to be in a roundabout way. I am most definitely brave. Today, I own that appellation.

Asia Trip - Day 7

Saturday, 10/11 -

Today, I got out much earlier than the day before. I was excited at going to my next destination, Yehliu. Yehliu is an odd place, but not by choice. It's famous for it's curious rock formations that formed due to sea erosion. It's absolutely stunning to see this in person and it all looks like they're made from clay. In fact, the ground has a soft feeling and does resemble clay, but it's not; it's rock. Because of the frequent rain northern Taiwan was having, certain parts of the ground looked muddy. It wasn't. Instead, spots were darkened from the rain and the many craters formed millions of years ago filled with water giving off the appearance of mud.

Again, it was a long holiday weekend and there were of course, many people about. I couldn't get a single shot of the famous Queen's Head without someone being in the background. Otherwise, it was really an interesting place to visit. The area around Yehliu Geo Park is dominated by the fishing industry, but the Geo park is a definite tourist attraction. I rarely saw Westerners around Taipei, let alone English speaking Westerners. Imagine my surprise when I came across a Western English speaker working at the park. Still, I was a curiosity for most and was aware of many eyes on me while walking around.

A curious thing happened on the bus back to Taipei. I sat next to a young woman who kindly went to remove her bottle of ice tea that was in the pocket in the seat back in front of me. I motioned that it was fine to leave the bottle there, it wasn't in the way. She said she remembered me from Yehliu then offered me some of the tea. I obliged; it was tasty. She introduced herself as Amy and apologized for her English. To be honest, it was pretty good. She probably just needed a few months of immersion in the US or Canada (Taiwanese learn American-English). We spent the bus ride back to the city talking and she was excited to learn I was from NYC. She pointed out a temple we were passing by and discussed her religion.

Her parents were in the seats behind us and she translated for them. They said they admired my bravery to explore Taiwan alone. In Taipei, they got off at a different stop, but Amy's father spoke to the bus driver, telling him to make sure I got off at the right stop. The driver turned in my direction, said a loud and exaggerated "No problem!" in English, and laughed. Amy then handed me her ice tea, her mother's recipe. I was so amazed at her generosity. In NY, her kind of behavior would've had me reaching for my pepper spray, or a pen to stick in her eye. Since I'm a bit more genteel outside of my surroundings, I realized this kind of friendliness actually exists. In the sea of goodbyes to and from Amy and her parents, I forgot to ask for her e-mail address. To this day, I am disappointed at this loss.

Riding high from my trip to Yehliu and the friendly encounter I had, I decided to attempt a visit to the Maokong tea plantation. To my dismay, the gondolas to get there weren't operating, breaking down the week before in the typhoons.
Okay, I have a confession to make. Looking for the gondolas, I spotted a Ponderosa steak house. I know, trashy, but trashy good! Elated at such a discovery, I simply couldn't wait to eat there. I hadn't had a decent full sized meal since I arrived back in Taipei. You would've thought it was Peter Luger's by the way I was salivating. It was the same set up as in the US but everything had that different taste to it, even the butter had an odd flavor. The meal was pretty disappointing, but filling.

My next stop was the area of Shilin to see the night market. I preferred the ShiDa night market to this one. Shilin was mostly food oriented, but the main strip was glitzy. I was dismayed at seeing so many pet stores. For a country with such a large stray population, it was uneasy seeing so many puppies and kittens for sale. I also suspect given the sheer amount of stores lining the street that they came from mills. Quickly bored of Shilin I took the MRT to the Xinbeitou stop to visit the Beitou hot springs.

Thankfully, I packed my swimsuit in my tote bag, because by the day's end, I needed a dip in the hot springs. Taiwan is famous for its hot springs, and many people here enjoy taking the cure in the various springs that dot the country. Taipei has a few with Beitou being a popular choice for tourists. It was easy to find but time consuming to get to. This is because it's on an annex off the Danshui line of the MRT. After a bit of anxiety about protocol (where to change, where to store my belongings, etc.), I was able to have a relaxing time.

One thing not to do is immerse your head, like I did, and burn your eyes from the salty water. The sign out front informs visitors not to stay too long, for health reasons. I realized this was true because as soothing as the springs are, staying too long does make you start to feel sick. I did two hot dips and two cold, making sure to alternate between hot and cold. This excursion to the springs set me back only a few US dollars. The most I paid was for the flimsy towel they sell you at the entrance.

Back at the hostel, I packed for the flight the next day and headed back to the ShiDa night market. At this point, I had visited almost every single night I had been there. I loved walking that neighborhood with it's alleyways and narrow streets revealing the surprise of the night market ahead. I also fed a stray cat, feeling like I did my good deed, and called it a night.

Asia Trip - Day 6

Friday, 10/10 -

Today was my excursion to Jiufen (or Chiufen). I had a late start due to the temperamental washing machine I had issues with in the morning. Or rather, the washing machine had issues. Considering everything had to be air dried, and it was awfully humid outside, I wanted to get my wash out to dry in case it needed extra time. That said, I finally got out and questioned whether I had both the time, courage, and the stamina to attempt such a journey to this town.

Getting the tickets for the train to Keelung was pain free. Everyone was helpful despite the language barrier. Thankfully, thumbs up, winks, and plenty of smiles were the norm here, so I wasn't causing any cultural misunderstandings. The moment the train arrived in Keelung, it began to pour buckets of rain. I'm talking tropical storm kind of downpour. I managed to find my way to the bus to Jiufen, which was a bit of a lip biting experience, but I managed. I also had a really good book from the tourism board that showed the destination and directions in both English and Mandarin. That way, I could point to the page and people would know where I wanted to be.

Frightened that I would not know which stop to get off on, I turned around and was so happy to see a fellow Westerner named Steve. We engaged in conversation and I discovered he was living in Taiwan as an English language teacher. First off, it was nice to talk to someone from the US, second it was nice to talk to someone who was incredibly friendly and helpful, and it didn't hurt that we were going to the same location. So, if we didn't reach the correct stop, I knew I had a sympathetic shoulder to cry on! That wasn't needed however, because Jiufen was a major stop on the route and someone reminded us when to get off.

Jiufen was once a thriving Japanese mining town. Perched up in the hills, like my experience with the Peak in Hong Kong, the bus twists and turns skyward to reach it. The main draws are the stunning views and the tea houses that dot the area. These aren't quick stop in places to refresh yourself, but establishments where you sit and relax for hours on end while taking in the magnificent views. I'm antsy by nature, so I ended up walking around and stopping in a few tea houses along the way. Jiufen will also be the place where I became acquainted with squat toilets. These are not third world dirt holes, but well kept toilets that happen to be in the ground. Let's just say, it was an experience that I wasn't used to, and not going miss anytime soon.

One of the tea houses I visited, Old Town, was the most English friendly. I kept wondering why every place I stopped into questioned first whether I wanted milky tea. That is, until I remembered M telling me that this type is more preferred by Westerners. I did end up indulging in some at Babka, another tea house, and M was right; I did prefer this to the other teas I previously tried. I also tried the Taiwanese version of an Americanized pizza, which I picked at. When I wasn't in tea houses, I walked up and down the old streets, permitting myself to get lost in the maze. Jiufen is small enough to allow this. Wufan tunnel, an old mine, was cool and I didn't realize I was in front of the most iconic spot in town until I turned to see tons of people snapping photos. Apparently, this spot, the narrow stairs festooned with several red lanterns, was featured prominently in a famous movie, and the image is used in all tourism promotions.

Night was falling and I knew I had to get back to Taipei. I seem to have decided to leave around the same time as almost everyone else and since it was Taiwan National Day, a holiday, there were tons of people waiting for the bus. The line to get back to Keelung was unbelievably long. There were few buses, so it had to pick up and then drop off at the bottom before coming back up to accept more passengers. Of course, as in these situations, it began to pour buckets again. I stood out there about an hour, moving at a snails pace, before it was my turn to board the bus back to Keelung and catch my train for Taipei.

Asia Trip - Day 5

Thursday, 10/9 -

Thursday morning, I headed back out to the airport to board the plane back to Taiwan. To my surprise, and without my knowledge, they upgraded me to first class. You can imagine my reaction when I automatically turned right to head towards the economy section and couldn't find my seat. So roomy and comfy. I sat in amazement throughout the 1 1/2 hour flight.

Back to TPE and on the bus to Taipei. This route was getting tiresome by now, but this time, we passed by rice paddies and people in stereotypical dress working the fields. It was a classic National Geographic people watch moment and odd against the industrial backdrop of a highway and tons of construction going on around them.

I decided to "splurge" as I took a taxi to the new hostel I would be staying at. Considering all the shopping I had done in Hong Kong, my shoulders weren't ready to handle the new weight of my luggage. I say splurge because normally, I would rely on public transportation to lug my belongings around. Considering the exchange rate, I knew I could manage the costs. 120NTD was about 3USD so that wasn't exactly breaking the bank. I settled into the hostel immediately where I was shown my own room and the facilities. This was by far, the BEST hostel I think I have ever stayed at. The people were fantastic and besides a temperamental washing machine, everything went smooth. Since I had so much trouble finding breakfast the past four days, I decided to purchase some oatmeal, milk, and fruit at the supermarket nearby to last me the length of my stay. The hostel was in a neighborhood called ShiDa, and it's the stomping grounds of Taiwan's university crowd. I was bound by academic obligations I couldn't get out of, so I spent Thursday afternoon finishing up some school work.

That night, I explored ShiDa night market. First off, I would like to explain that I did not like any of the food in both countries I visited, unless it was Western fare. This is not a reflection on the countries themselves, but purely on me. I consider General Tso's chicken ("I'll pay more for white meat, please") the most exotic meal I think I've eaten in my life. I'm not a foodie, nor am I food adventurous. I'm a stickler for specific consistencies and textures and if it goes slightly askew, I will spit everything out immediately. I'm the one that will tell your grandmother I don't want to try her famous *insert meal here* because it includes an item I refuse to eat.

Back to ShiDa. This was by far my favorite night market of the handful I had visited in Taiwan. Smaller, younger, hip, and filled with college students, I felt at place, even though I probably graduated the year they were all born. This market was different because you had a mix of people selling schlocky jewelry in suitcases opened on the side of the street, tables of cheap clothing laying out to rummage through, and funky boutiques offering more expensive designer clothing. I stumbled upon a boutique with a jewelry maker outside churning out really nice pieces for sale. I chose a nice pair of funky earrings and ended up going back several times to purchase more. It was humorous to know that I had literally bought something "Made in Taiwan".

The Taiwanese love to snack and night markets are the place where they can enjoy this pastime. There aren't really meals for sale here, but tons of booths offering little things to munch on. Given my aversion to the food, I chose things such as fruit, Bubble tea, and ice cream. Nothing substantial in the end, but filling my belly just the same. I noticed the sign at the ice cream shop assuring customers, in English, that they don't import milk from China; the melamine scare was in full force.

Asia Trip - Day 4

Wednesday, 10/8 -

My second day of Hong Kong was just as exciting and exhausting as the first day. What with the hills and and constantly losing my bearings, by nightfall, I was looking forward to the less frenetic pace of Taiwan again. I had tooled with the idea of doing a half day in Macao, to see the ruins. However, darting around for last minute looksies quickly used up my time, throwing any notions of an attempt at visiting another country (even if for a few exhilarating hours) aside.

Some of the things I saw my second day are edible bird's nests. How anyone eats this stuff is beyond my understanding. I try to be culturally sensitive, but this one boggles the mind. Man Mo Temple was cool but the incense coils burning throughout the place really did my lungs (and my eyes) in. Cat Street was a disappointment and the Mid-Levels area with its escalator system, was a cool neighborhood to walk around in.

Back on Kowloon side, looking for the Jade Market was tiresome. This included walking several blocks before realizing I was going in the wrong direction, getting on a bus, missing the stop, and thinking that it would only be a few more blocks past it that it would stop. Wrong! Instead, it went further to the bus depot and I had to wait awhile before it would restart it's route again. By the time I found the place, and saw what was actually for sale, I wasn't interested in the least.

My previous assumptions of the Jade Market were that there would be several purveyors selling unique pieces and I would hem and haw over which seller to choose. Not so in this case where each and every both sold almost identical pieces of beaded bracelets where you could easily see where it was tied off and cut. Plus the hard desperate sell got to me in my exhaustion. Yawn. All that time for this? Anyway, the benefit to this excursion, and I believe everything happens for a reason, was that I was now in a very non-Western part of Kowloon. We're talking I got some serious stares as to why I would be that neighborhood. I stumbled upon a market on Reclamation St, found a supermarket in which to peruse for some goodies, and most importantly, discovered another cool temple. Not too shabby.

The shopping here is amazing. There are several mall type stores which are really just rabbit warrens of tiny shops selling super cheap clothing. I had heard of this before from the girls at work, but seeing is believing. I left Hong Kong with a heavy suitcase a credit card without a dent in it. For once, I felt I had benefited from a shop till you drop excursion!

Asia Trip - Day 3

Tuesday, 10/7 -

Hong Kong was wild, and I'm glad to have considered a side trip there. For a little over $200 in airfare, it was cheap and well worth it. An exhilarating mix of East and West, the city was easy to manage but I totally lost my bearings a lot. This included finding my hotel.

Today was a pavement pounding day. My first stop was the bird garden. I'm petrified of birds and pretty much despise them, but this was a cool place to walk through. I followed a basic walking tour from my guide book which brought me through the flower market then on through the goldfish market. After a bit of souvenir shopping in Tsim Sha Tsui, and traveling from Kowloon (where my hotel was) to Hong Kong Island on the famous Star Ferry, I walked around the city taking as much as possible. What I didn't know until much later in the day, that it was a holiday on Tuesday. This explains why the area under the HSBC building and the street nearby was crowded with Filipino women. I was told that the city shuts down certain areas so that they can come together on holidays to commiserate among their brethren. Apparently, tons of women from the Philippines come to Hong Kong to work as maids.

The peak tram is a must do, but the lines to come back down were insane, so I grabbed the number 15 bus to get back down to the city. This is what I would recommend to anyone who does this trip, go up on the tram, come down on the bus. The bus experience is not to be missed because it spirals down the winding hills at break neck speed. I had the luck (or misfortune) to snag the top front left side of a double decker. When the bus turned the sharp corners, branches would slam into the window next to me. How there are any more branches hanging down from this route, I don't know. The views are just as stunning going down, if not better. Make sure you sit on the left side though.

I made it back to Kowloon in time for the Harbor Light Show. It's kind of tacky but a must see. Prior to the show, the buildings "talk" to each other before dazzling the audience with the laser lights and orchestra accompaniment.

At this point, I was in the mood for Western food and resigned myself to Pizza Express, a restaurant type pizza place I had been to before in England before calling it a night.

Asia Trip - Day 2

Monday, 10/6 -

I couldn't arrange departure for Hong Kong on the Sunday I arrived. This kind of sucked because it was a wonky way to break up the trip. I figured I would use the morning and afternoon to visit the National Palace Museum. First, I looked for breakfast, but had to settle for McDonald's (blech!). There is so much shopping in Taipei, but the pickings were slim in the area I was staying. Mostly junky Forever 21-ish clothes. Since I'm not into gold lame shoes and white plastic hoop earrings, there was nothing really of interest to me. I did pop into a store after seeing something I liked on the mannequin from outside, and ended up buying a nice sweater. Next, it was on to the National Palace Museum.

The National Palace Museum is really a miracle in the making. Most of the artifacts come from China and were carried into Taiwan for safety during the Chinese Civil War. When China turned communist, Taiwan kept the items. It's an easy museum to navigate, and the exhibits are quite small compared to the Met, considering you are only seeing a very small percentage of what they have in their possession. My favorite exhibit focused on the curios. I didn't care for the print room. I saw the jadeite cabbage and the meat shaped stone made from jasper; both items are supposed to be highlights of the museum.

A curious thing happened to me here. I stumbled upon a stamping station, which delighted me to no end. I looked up, startled, to see a young Japanese man who asked me where I was from. I told him and he immediately explained that he was from Japan and was learning English. The thing is, his English was terrible, but I totally understood his dilemma. The poor lamb is busting ass learning another language and works up the nerve to finally try it out on an native English speaker, only to realize right then and there that it's not up to snuff. I felt for him and tried my best to communicate, asking the most basic questions and giving the most basic answers, but it was futile. He went on his way and I was relieved to rid of the embarrassment between us two.

The gift shop was nothing to write home about. I like to collect a postcard or two of the exhibits I enjoy, and NPM doesn't really "do" this in terms of souvenirs. I chose a magnet and called it a day. I would have to retrieve my luggage back at the hostel and head off to Hong Kong.

My flight to Hong Kong was for 7pm. The journey went off without a hitch. After customs and traveling to my destination, I didn't arrive at my hotel on Kowloon side until about 11pm.

Asia Trip - Day 1

I had either no internet access or I was so tired I didn't have time to post. Therefore, the dates are off. For the purposes of blogging, I will name my posts after each day of my trip.

Sunday, 10/5 -

I've arrived! In one piece I might had. The plane ride wasn't fun, and was delayed an 1 1/2 hours in Anchorage, Alaska while fueling up. This wouldn't have been so bad if we weren't on the plane when the problem happened and inside the terminal where we had just been. I don't know the specifics because the sound system wasn't properly working in the back of the plane. And no, I couldn't see Russia from Alaska!

Still, I had a window seat, which was more than I could have asked for. It sure as heck wasn't first class sleeper seats, but better than the dreaded middle seat. I was able to stretch for long periods of time behind one of the galleys in the back of the plane with others. This helped lessen the toll on my body.

My co-worker's friend, M, met me at the airport and would be my guide for the day. I don't know how I could ever thank him, but he was a godsend in a city that although looked as if I could manage it, was still a bit trying for someone who has absolutely zero knowledge of Mandarin.

I needed a Silkwood scrub down after being in the air so long. Afterwards, we stopped at Tea Ren, which is probably like the Starbucks of Taiwan for tea, and ordered a bubble tea. I discovered that bubble tea originates from Taiwan and it appeared to be the drink of choice there from what I saw in my travels. Also, all sales receipts are part of the national lottery system, so they each have lottery numbers on them.

M taught me the MRT system, which is hands down, the BEST subway system I've ridden so far. Clean, functional, and easy to manage; I was impressed with the clearly numbered marked exits that you don't seem to see in other cities. In Taipei, any directions given to you from the MRT will include the exit number so you can orientate yourself once you're outside.

We first explored the area immediately around Taipei 101. Currently, this is the tallest building in the world and will be beat soon, if it hasn't already. The area it's located in is the more posh and Westernized district of the city. The mall beneath the building includes stores such as Vivienne Westwood, Coach, etc. You get the picture. This area was also where I saw the most Westerners in my travels there. We certainly stuck out like sore thumbs and quietly acknowledged each other. I counted only two people of African descent here. I know that one was definitely an American. It reminded me of footage from a heavy metal concert where you see that one single black person.

Afterwards, M took me to Daan Park. Right before we entered, we passed a group of animal supporters who were urging everyone to please adopt a puppy or kitten. I was devastated when they pleaded with me, in English no less, to please, please, please take one home. Even trying to place a puppy in my arms. I was heartbroken. M explained that Taiwan has an overpopulation problem and many animals run wild all over the city as there is really no animal control agencies.

I saw this later on with random dogs walking around, ribs and spines showing through mangy fur. Including one woman who called one of them over to give the poor dog the leftovers from her meal. Daan Park was nice and the first time I had ever seen authentic bamboo trees growing that weren't already attached to furniture from Pier 1. It was here where I was introduced to the joys of public toilets, which were…um…different.

Another official touristy stop was at Longshan Temple. Luckily for me, a procession was going on which enabled me to see people pray and offer up food and indulgences to the souls of their departed loved ones. M handed me several incense sticks and I followed, copying the bowing and throwing of sticks into burning cauldrons. Like any church, there was an opportunity to purchase religious doodads. I chose a few lucky charms and M showed me how to have them blessed. You hold them over the burning pots and circle them around three times.

The temple is near Snake Alley where there are also a proliferation of foot massage parlors. I felt sorry for the snakes being offered up for meals, especially since the pitch was akin to an auctioneer's schpeal. I learned later that the huge white display snake has been there quite some time, is fed often, and is a happy fat snake. At one foot massage store, M bargained us a few minutes of back and neck massage in addition to getting our feet and legs rubbed. The cost for 40 minutes of bliss? Ten US dollars!

It was here I learned somewhat the politics of skin color. M had mentioned skin color sporadically throughout our conversations, but I took it as he lived in a fairly homogeneous country and was curious of the different races and ethnicities in my city. He was chatting to the women as we sat side by side, getting our massages from them. He translated that they said they were jealous of my pale skin, which never tans in the sun. In protest, I took off my wristwatch to show off the pithy tan line I had to prove that I do. This only produced giggles from them and I realized I was fighting a losing battle. No matter what darker color I showed them on my body, I was still white as a ghost and living up to an image they coveted.

In the pre-trip research, I was excited to learn about all of the opportunities to acquire cheap electronics. M brought me to this multi-level building that was a labyrinth of tiny stores selling all sorts of mobile phones and computer components. My preference for an Mp3 with WiFi was met with no luck. The dazzle of this electronics warehouse quickly turned to confusion, and a headache, as I went from store to store trying to think of something else to buy instead. I liken the experience to being in the slot machine section of a casino. There is so much noise, crazy lights, and the crowds are insane. I left feeling on edge and desperately wanted to call it a night.

M left me at the hostel and I now had to fend for myself. However, I was so grateful for his help and felt confident I would be able to navigate this strange and exotic city on my own. I had booked the double room to myself, which was comfortable, and I slept like a baby.

I would only have a portion of the next day in Taipei before I flew on to Hong Kong for a short break.

I'm Off To Taiwan...

And I'm so NOT looking forward to the plane ride.

I'll be twelve hours ahead of NYC, and I don't know how my body will handle it. The most I've had to endure was six.

I'm trying to do the plane ride naturally, no Tylenol PM, no alcohol and no caffeine. I even went so far as to try the anti-jet lag diet my doctor suggested for me. It wasn't a major departure from what I was used to, no starving or anything drastic like that, but I had to abstain from caffeine all day, except between the hours of 3-5pm. Keeping this up for a mere four days was hell enough, and I'll be disappointed if this diet doesn't work!

Wish me luck.