Around Taiwan in One Day

Yesterday we did a whirlwind tour of three different cities in Taiwan: Taipei, Kaohsiung, and Pingdong.

We started the day by gulping down breakfast at record speed in the hotel restaurant. There, we met Mel and Craig, the Emmendorfers, and the Shaffers, also in town to pick up their children. My uncle then came to escort us through the subway. We would've been very lost without him.

Unlike American subways, this one was brand-spanking clean, thanks in part to the no-food policy. I didn't realize this rule also extended to chewing gum. No wonder the little girl in the seat across from us was giving us funny looks. If caught, we would have been fined $100.00 USD. At least they don't beat you with a cane like they do in Singapore if you commit the same offense.

From there, we took the High-Speed Rail, where we spent the next hour and a half gazing out over the countryside. The land is dotted with tropical trees, rice paddies, and quite a few temples decorated with ornate roofs. It was all in all a very pleasant ride. We chose to take the reserved car, which comes with the upgrade of wider seats and footrests, modeled by Craig in the photo above. A stewardess comes down the aisle offering snacks and drinks. There's also a cleaning crew of women in trim beige uniforms. They patrol the aisles with rolling trash cans, collecting garbage.

The train took us down to the last stop, Zuoying. There, we were met by another uncle, who drove us to Kaohsiung to meet his son (my cousin, Piers), his charming wife, and their very cute 17 month-old son, Victor. Piers and his wife are both public school teachers in Taiwan. It's worth noting that teachers are treated with much greater respect here than in America. Getting a teaching job is a highly competetive process. The position also comes with nice perks, such as discounts at restaurants and parking locations.


Piers was quite gracious and took us to a drugstore in Kaohsiung to hunt for Snow formula and pacifiers similar to the ones used at St. Lucy's. I could have spent hours browsing through that store. It was aisle to aisle of baby gear bliss. Unfortuantely, we had to head out quickly, but not before I nabbed a basketful of pacifiers (sadly, they turned out to be different than the one William was given at SLC) and two bongo drum-sized cans of Snow formula. Uncle and Piers then took us out to eat at a humongous vegetarian buffet restaurant, the likes of which I have never seen. It truly is amazing what they can make nowadays. Faux squid made of mushrooms? You'd never know.


From there, we walked along the Kaohsiung harborside, which is quite lovely. (Kaohsiung, by the way, is the second largest city in Taiwan and soon-to-be home of the 2009 World Games.) We then jumped into Uncle's van, wound our way among a gazillion people on scooters and perilously narrow roads, and drove off to Pingdong to meet up with my maternal relatives.

Pingdong is a much smaller town with a mixed small urban feel and a strong countryside influence.



We visited my 90 year-old grandfather and met 5 out of 6 of my mother's siblings, some of their spouses, their children, and grandchildren. We all gathered at my grandfather's old home, built in the traditional style, for a group picture.



Later that night, we all went out for dinner at a restaurant well-known for its spicy cuisine. This was real Chinese/Taiwanese food, not the typical salty/oversauced stuff we're served at our local Jade Lotus Garden Imperial Szechuan Peking Happy Dragons in America.


Towards the end of the evening, Craig became quite the sideshow entertainment as the lone Caucasian in the whole establishment. All the children in the group worked up the courage to practice their English on him (children in Taiwan are taught English beginning in kindergarten). They then tried to teach him some Chinese and Taiwanese. The results sent the whole room into loud laughter. All I have to say is I sure did marry a good guy.


We then retired for the night to my aunt's friend's house to rest up, once again preying upon the kindess of my relatives. At day's end, they certainly bent over backwards to ensure that their American counterparts were lavished the utmost level of hospitality and graciousness. Craig and I are thankful to them for making our journey to pick up William was a comfortable and enjoyable one. We are terribly spoiled.