Landing in Taiwan

It was like my Journey had begun a new. I was in another vastly different country. With a different landscape, different customs, even a different climate. Right from the moment I landed I could tell I was in a smaller city compared to Hong Kong. Although it was still crowded I was processed with ease through Taiwanese immigration. No questions were asked and it seemed only a drug/bomb sniffing dog was lead around the airport.

I was nervous, I was to meet two lovely girls whom I had never met in person. Little did I realize that these two girls one from Taiwan the other studying abroad from China, would capture my heart and become two of the best friends I could ever ask for. I wasn't nervous because I thought they might do me harm, I was nervous because  I was afraid the language barrier would be too great. Online we had only texted in Chinese and English so i wasn't sure if their spoken English would be the same level.

My heart raced as I searched through the crowds of people for them. For them I was easy to spot any western male sticks out like a soar thumb in Asia. Their faces were gleaming with excitement as was mine. Without thinking I gave them both a big hug.

We said little that first half hour in the airport uncertain of how to gauge their English. Later I found out that I wasn't the only one who was nervousness. I nervous to use my what little Chinese I had and they their English. Even though we spoke little I felt we could still understand each other.

The airport which I arrived in Tao-Yuan was not actually in Taipei but a city about an hours drive away.After boarding a bus we made our journey to Taipei station.Right away I could see a vast difference in the land space and the roads. It was somehow quiet and quaint compared to the bustling city of Hong Kong. In retrospective it took guts, I was here alone trusting two girls I had never met. I had no contacts here besides them and a few other pen pals.

I sat there quietly taking everything in, it was too dark to see anything and I was thoroughly exhausted, I hadn't eaten since earlier that day, I was starving.My friend just like any american I knew had their head deep in their phone. Her phone had the Cheshire cat for a case. I said one word to her "Alice" she looked at me smiled and said "Yeah" in a kind comforting voice. We looked at each other a moment, and then I realized from that point on I was in good company.

Taiwan was full of cute and sometimes
bizarre art work and cartoons

Taipei station, for some reason people
only sat on the black tiled floors

After dropping my things at my hostel we headed to Taiwan's famous night markets.....

The Journey to Taiwan

The journey to Taiwan was an adventure in itself. The airport was crowed and lush with people from all over the globe.People from not just Asia all passing through or stopping in Hong Kong to conduct business. Africans, Americans, Europeans hearing at least a dozen different languages being spoken. This airport was ginormous making even Logan Airport in Boston look tiny. I must have walked over a mile just to get to my gate, even with the help of the moving walkways.

What amused me the most was the glass smoking areas, jam packed with people in a haze of gray smoke filling every inch of the room.  Starved as I was there was no time for me to wait in the obscenely long lines to get food. I settled for a small snack at one of the news stands.

After sitting down in my seat I immediately drifted off into a deep sleep.

Last Day in Hong Kong

This was my final day in Hong Kong the rain had cleared from the previous day. I was both sad and a little excited to leave. To most Hong Kongers this city is small with not much to see as a tourist, but I found 4 days was not enough. I had just become accustomed to life in Hong Kong. I finally felt I was getting used to the flow of the city. I was able to navigate alone unchallenged by the thick weave of streets.

My flight was later in the day, so i had time to explore just a bit more. I headed for the Avenue of Stars, which is located right along Victoria's Harbor facing with Hong Kong Island just across the bay. It was only a short train ride from Kowloon maybe one or two stops.

It was still early in the day when I arrived at the stop closest to the harbor. Because this was a weekday the streets were less crowded than I was used to,so it was kind of peaceful just walking about while everyone was at work for the day.

I found this guy taking a mid morning nap  on part of the art display.

 The harbor was quiet with a steady ambient noise from the construction of a towering skyscraper nearby. I seemed to have gotten used to the obscene heat and humidity of Hong Kong by this point but the breeze coming off the harbor was refreshing.For the first time in my life I felt content calmly watching the boats navigate through the haze of the harbor.

Even in this condensed city new building are still erected 

I went down one way occasionally seeing another group of tourists taking selfies of the harbor.

I remembered how when I begun to plan my trip I had wanted a strict schedule so I could see everything. I would take a few pictures just to say I had been somewhere;This was better. If I have one piece of advice for travels it is this. Don't make plans the best things in life are spontaneous . Sticking to schedules will make you stress and that will only make your travels less enjoyable.

I headed down the other direction of the harbor towards the Avenue of Stars. Hong Kong for those of you don't know has had a history of cinema. Much like Hollywood Hong Kong too showcases their most famous stars on a walk of fame.

Of course Hong Kong's most famous star was ironically American born. Bruce Lee is a name that still lives on today as a pioneer in both the film and martial arts industry. As both a film buff and a student of martial arts, this was a must see for me.

Although this wasn't the most incredible sight i saw on my journey, it still brought a great big smile to my face. I must also point out how difficult it was to get a picture of Bruce Lee with no one taking selfies. Even on a weekday morning people seem to flock to sights such as this just to take a selfie and to say "I was here"

There he is that pig again

Another Favorite of mine Jackie Chan is another
famous actor in Hong Kong Cinema

As a side note I found some interesting signs along this boardwalk,

I sincerely hope this isn't a real problem in Hong Kong

It is a good thing I left my Hawk at home. I would also
like to know how one keeps a hawk in a city of this size

After traveling the length of the boardwalk I made my way into yet another shopping district. I was getting hungry at this point,so i stopped to eat.

I found many restaurants near tourist areas seemed to be good about having English menus. Which was good for me since I cannot read Cantonese. I sat down to have at one of my Hong Kong friends suggestion Kongee an almost rice porridge. Although not as filling as I had hoped it helped settle my already upset stomach.

After eating i wandered around some more in and out of some malls. I found a One Piece 3D Art Museum. One Piece is an anime that is huge all over Hong Kong. Everywhere I saw merchandise related to this or other anime. It was kind of neat, you would go in and take pictures of yourself next to the art and it would look as if you were in the Anime.

 I headed back to Causeway Bay for the last couple hours to get some nick nacks and maybe a book on Cantonese. Otherwise uneventful I made my way back to the Hostel where I packed up.

While packing up I made a friend of  both my host and another fellow from Columbia. I truly wish I had more time to talk to them. They were both fascinating people an artist / hostel owner, and a free lance translator in visa limbo from mainland china.

Like a pack-mule I headed towards the airport ready for my next leg of my journey. I was truly sad that I only had a short time in such a vibrant lively city.

Day 3 Macau Part 2

We were on our way to Macau tower. As we waited at a bus stop I noticed how dissimilar the architecture was from Hong Kong it was as if I wasn't even in Asia. Even the people had a different. look to them. Aside from the Chinese writing everywhere I would have never had guessed I was in Asia.

Passing through the city I noticed how extravagant some of the casinos were sadly I did not have the opportunity to go into any of them.  After a short ride. Similar to the space needle in Seattle giving a fantastic view of city and the surrounding mountains. I truly wish the weather had been better.

What fascinated me most about the tower was the number of people who bungee jumped from the top of the tower! My friend and I were awestruck watching them over and over jump from the tower. Something I don't think i had the courage to do.

After circling the top of the tower we went below to see the jumpers jump from the top.

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After eating dinner at a local restaurant. She took me back to the ferry to make my way back to Macau. I truly miss her and I wish I had more than one day to spend with her.

 On the way back to Hong Kong the sky began to clear up and I had a wonderful view of the casinos and massive bridges.

Day 3 Macau Part 1

I had my ticket passport in hand I eagerly waited to board the ferry to Macau. Now for those of you who don't know Macau is also autonomous from mainland China. Meaning I did not require a visa to enter,but it also meant i needed to show my passport of entry of Macau and exit of Hong Kong. The boat was jam packed 3 rows of 3 seats each. I was positioned in the middle with no view of the journey. There wasn't much to see anyway the weather was too rainy.

Although the trip was only an hour I tried to get some rest,but the rock of the sea and the pit in my stomach made me nauseous.From my seat I could see nothing but rain and waves. The boat moved at an incredible speed across the water. After a short time we had arrived.

I searched for my friend having never met her before I didn't know who to look for. For her I was easy to spot being the only westerner on the boat. Her face lit up when she saw me. She is a native of Macau,but she had studied in Taiwan so she could speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. Her English was limited,so i had to use my Chinese the entire time I was with her. It was such a delight.

Immediately i could see a vast difference from the atmosphere of Hong Kong. It is hard to describe even the architecture seemed different Macau, had once been a Portuguese colony so i guess it is safe to say it had a Portuguese feel to it. The first place she took me was a vary famous tourist spot catering to the rich. 

The streets did not feel as crowed as Hong Kong but they were still booming. We talked along the way in simple conversation as much as my Chinese would allow. She spoke simply for me understanding that my Chinese was limited but I felt she understood every word.

We arrived at the ruins of St.Paul dating back the 16th century. This is the history symbol of Macau.

I was amazed to see how from all these years this one wall remained from this great structure. Everywhere everyone was taking pictures just as I was. Everyone wanted a selfie.

Behind the temple was a Buddhist temple from what I could understand of what my friend told me. There were even a few people stopping to pray. 

Near by the church we ventured into a small park at the base of a giant fort. I admired the green foliage as we circled the base. We followed the winding path up the fort to a nice view of Macau. It was such a grim day for a walk now that I look back. I think she brightened the mood of this dreary. day

I found the building of Macau to look much older than those I saw in Hong Kong  aside from the Casinos.

We made our way to the bus stop our next destination was Macau Tower