Flying and Initial Reactions
It's Monday night and I have other stories half written, but decided I should see this particular blog through to the end. It is boring recapping these things for me, but hopefully interesting for you. Or at least it will answer some of the many questions you may or may not have been wondering about since my departure.
Both flights were fine. The first was actually better than the latter, despite the fact that it was 9 hours longer. If you come to visit, which you probably won't, fly ANA. The food was great, as was the service. Didn't get much sleep though. Johnny and I tried unsuccessfully to sit in Business class on the 2nd flight, but were kicked out soon after sitting down. I believe the line that left my lips after being told to move was, "I didn't know I couldn't do that," a la Dave Chappelle. It would have been nice to get some extra free service and bigger seats, but we were so tired at this point we could have slept anywhere. So, we grudgingly obliged and moved to our original, less comfortable economy class seats. Oh well.
Fred, a good friend of my Aunt and Uncle's who has been helping with this trip all along, met us at the airport and took us back to the hotel. He was flying back to Taiwan from Malaysia and his flight was landing at the same time as ours. He told me that when I exited the airport I should look for an Asian man in a straw hat... he wasn't joking. So I trusted his word, and lo and behold, Fred was the only Asian man in a straw hat in the airport. We headed for the bus station.
The bus traveled through an endless Chinatown and arrived at the hotel around midnight. The number of scooters on the road at midnight was utterly insane. I could only fathom what it would be like during the day. Soon I hope to be a part of that madness. Bright lights and signs in Mandarin. Food being sold on every street corner, from vendors and storefronts alike, and . 7-11s everywhere. Seriously. If you think Starbucks is bad in the states, the number of 7-11s in Taipei is dauntingly outlandish, and kind of awesome at the same time. If the countdown on the crosswalk sign is too long I know I'll have enough time to run in and grab a Slurpee on any corner for about NT$50.
We woke up the next morning around 8, grabbed breakfast and headed out with Uncle Fred. It was a nice easy first day in which Fred had us doing job interviews within the first 12 hours we were in the country, totally unprepared, lacking formal attire and accessories like resumes and pens. But hey, we hit up 4 schools and now know what to expect when we start the job search in the coming days for real, kind of.
Later that night, wandering through a supermarket with Fred I had my first encounter with all those "weird" foods everyone has been asking about. Walking past a steak house style salad buffet Fred turns to me and says something along the lines of free samples late and night. Basically, Fred, like everyone else, enjoys free food and pretends he is not stealing. Works for me. The next line is some along the lines of eat this first, ask what it is after you swallow it. 10 minutes later I am still chewing pigs guts and chicken feet trying not to projectile vomit on some late-night shoppers loafers. Let me tell you, chicken feet look, taste and feel like you would expect them to. Moral of the story? Ask first, then don't eat.
It's Monday night and I have other stories half written, but decided I should see this particular blog through to the end. It is boring recapping these things for me, but hopefully interesting for you. Or at least it will answer some of the many questions you may or may not have been wondering about since my departure.
Both flights were fine. The first was actually better than the latter, despite the fact that it was 9 hours longer. If you come to visit, which you probably won't, fly ANA. The food was great, as was the service. Didn't get much sleep though. Johnny and I tried unsuccessfully to sit in Business class on the 2nd flight, but were kicked out soon after sitting down. I believe the line that left my lips after being told to move was, "I didn't know I couldn't do that," a la Dave Chappelle. It would have been nice to get some extra free service and bigger seats, but we were so tired at this point we could have slept anywhere. So, we grudgingly obliged and moved to our original, less comfortable economy class seats. Oh well.
Fred, a good friend of my Aunt and Uncle's who has been helping with this trip all along, met us at the airport and took us back to the hotel. He was flying back to Taiwan from Malaysia and his flight was landing at the same time as ours. He told me that when I exited the airport I should look for an Asian man in a straw hat... he wasn't joking. So I trusted his word, and lo and behold, Fred was the only Asian man in a straw hat in the airport. We headed for the bus station.
The bus traveled through an endless Chinatown and arrived at the hotel around midnight. The number of scooters on the road at midnight was utterly insane. I could only fathom what it would be like during the day. Soon I hope to be a part of that madness. Bright lights and signs in Mandarin. Food being sold on every street corner, from vendors and storefronts alike, and . 7-11s everywhere. Seriously. If you think Starbucks is bad in the states, the number of 7-11s in Taipei is dauntingly outlandish, and kind of awesome at the same time. If the countdown on the crosswalk sign is too long I know I'll have enough time to run in and grab a Slurpee on any corner for about NT$50.
We woke up the next morning around 8, grabbed breakfast and headed out with Uncle Fred. It was a nice easy first day in which Fred had us doing job interviews within the first 12 hours we were in the country, totally unprepared, lacking formal attire and accessories like resumes and pens. But hey, we hit up 4 schools and now know what to expect when we start the job search in the coming days for real, kind of.
Later that night, wandering through a supermarket with Fred I had my first encounter with all those "weird" foods everyone has been asking about. Walking past a steak house style salad buffet Fred turns to me and says something along the lines of free samples late and night. Basically, Fred, like everyone else, enjoys free food and pretends he is not stealing. Works for me. The next line is some along the lines of eat this first, ask what it is after you swallow it. 10 minutes later I am still chewing pigs guts and chicken feet trying not to projectile vomit on some late-night shoppers loafers. Let me tell you, chicken feet look, taste and feel like you would expect them to. Moral of the story? Ask first, then don't eat.
sounds fun. i was under the impression you had a job already. good luck with that. and definitely dont just stick anything that claims to be edible in your mouth.
ReplyDeleteas for the blog, you should keep it up, but blogs can be quite a chore. try not to look at it like something you have to do because you started, and just update when you feel like it. if you make it a job you'll probably quit.
now go get yourself a scooter and a slurpy.
Sounds like your trip is off to a successful start!!! Miss you Dave and Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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