The Markets.

Finally made it to computer alley, and I have to say that it is a little bigger than the back lanes back home. I am happy to say that I did blow the budget on electronics that I will have to send back as "Gifts" to Canada. In fact, I was a little shocked that the stuff we had in Canada was cheaper and had just as many bells and whistles. I hear that Japan is the place for really cool stuff, I will have to check out the airport on my way through.

As a law abiding citizen I was also pretty impressed with their ticket and towing system. First, I noticed this white tow-truck stop and back-up. Then I saw a woman running, (they patiently waited, but she was only going to a scooter), so they went into action. I think there was a pit crew of at least two, but there could have been more. In the span of 40 seconds, they photographed, ticketed, and towed the offending vehicle. I kept waiting to see if someone would rush out and try to save their illegally parked car. I guess if you really want to see the rush of the crowds, you have to follow around the truck with a crane attachment, (these guys go after the scooters).

It is true that you can buy anything at the weekend flea market. I don't know where they get all this stuff, (Mike, Andrew?), but they have a lot of it. If you were looking at buying a corded set of power tools this is the place. Hey, who doesn't need a Dewalt reciprocating saw, and a circular saw or two. Of course the saying about not needing it was completely accurate. One thing we were looking for was a snake to fix the slow draining sink. We did find snakes, I think there was a cobra in a cage, but I did not stick around to see what they were doing with it, "Snake Wine", no thanks. However, since we did not find a plumbing snake, we had to make do with the tools we already had, and guess what, the sink drains quicker.

Don't think this has been a giant, shop, shop, shopping trip. We did manage to find some time to travel to the coast and see the Strait, and some container ships. I am not sure, but I think one wave looks like any other wave, (my camera was unable to get threes complete pictures for a landscape shot). Oh yeah, another rookie mistake. At some point, I must have turned down the quality on my camera since I was only getting 1MB pictures, I may have to return to the coast and flea market one more time.

10 quakes a day, is this a minimum or maximum

Well, it is true that taller buildings sway more. I remember being in a house in Ottawa when there was a tremor and it was nothing like the side to side motion of the shocks we had yesterday. Fortunately for me, the epicentre was not in Kaoshiung, but about 100kms away, so we only got the sway and not the dish rattling, window breaking, effects they had around Nantou City, and Hualien City. I did go onto the Central Weather Bureau's website to check out the quakes, and it seems that there were 10 tremors (shocks and aftershocks) yesterday, and 10 today. Just a little warning for my Canadian friends and family who are experiencing the first touch of winter, don't look at the temperatures, they will not make you feel all light and cheery, ;-)

http://www.cwb.gov.tw/eng/seismic/quake_index.htm?

Still no trip to "Computer alley", but I did manage to go to a couple of markets, and the location of a giant flea market was pointed out to me. I heard it is like Preston Hardware, in that if you can not find it here, it does not exist or you don't need it.

First trip into the country

It is good to know that scooters can be used for distance travel, and Google Earth can be used for directions. After a day of nothing but reading, scratching mosquito bites, and general all around laziness, it was time to get out of the apartment and try a short road trip. After a somewhat early start, (breakfast and showers before 10am), we took to the scooters for a trip to the Fo Kuang Shan, (try to say that five times fast), about 20 KM from the apartment. I was told that the trip would take about 45 minutes, and we would be in the country.

My guide was a little off, but not by much, if we did not count the time spent getting to the city limit. After parking the scooters, and getting a quick drink, and an Ice Cream cone, we stopped by the gift shop to pick up a hat, and Dave wanted to buy a couple of souvenirs. Then onto the temple, but first we had to get our temperature checked, (I am not sure how accurate the infrared scans are but they are using them everywhere). I was told we could have taken the elevator, but my time in Shimla, prepared me for the climb. Fortunately, there were a number of interesting photo opportunities along the way, so breaks were possible.

I have never seen so many Buddha's in one place, (BuddhaLand), but it was pretty spectacular, seeing hundreds upon hundreds of identically posed statues. I was a little concerned about the photo ops, we were attempting, but I realized near the end of the tour, where we saw many different types of statues (white ones), that enlightenment does not mean "no laughter", I like to think that if the wise guy was with us, he would have suggested other pictures we could have taken with these statues. Of course, what he would think, and what those who follow his teachings think are probably not the same.

I also sat in my first ESL class. While I am not sure if I would give up my day job to teach English, I do think you could have a lot of fun teaching this subject. The problem would be adjusting your language to match your students levels.

I have also been into a Taiwanese version of Future shop, I am happy to say that I did not buy anything, but I will not jinx myself, since we still have not browsed "computer alley"

Nope, my name is not Andy.

Well, yesterday (Halloween) was a trip to my favourite store. Yes, I went to Costco, and it was a little taste of home to see Kirkland brand snacks, and trays of muffins, and of course electronics. I want to thank Dave and Shannon for arranging to have their computer monitor die when I entered the country. I am not sure how they knew that I was craving some western style electronic shopping, but this whetted my appetite for a little while. Although, I hear there is a computer alley, somewhere in the city.

Well, since the scooters were full of stuff, and I did not yet have a chance to walk around the city, I decided to trust my GPS and walk back to the apartment on my own. I was pretty sure I could find my way back, but about 10 minutes into the walk, I realized I should have taken a cell phone, and maybe the full address, (in English and Mandarin). I thought I was in pretty good shape until I turned, and I was heading away from where I was supposed to, then again, could I really trust the GPS, I am a guy after all. I think I added a few extra blocks to my route, but I eventually found my way back.

I have to wonder, exactly how much we westerners appear to the locals over here. I never expect to be mistaken for someone else in Canada or anywhere for that matter, but I guess if it is going to happen anywhere, Asia is where it is likely to happen, since all us "weiguoren" or "gwai lo" look alike. On my little walk, (need to find shade), I was a little startled to hear "Are you Andy", (I feel sorry for Andy, since obviously he looks like me), ;-). I think this little unexpected usage of English threw me off, since shortly after, I made the wrong turn. Although, I am not sure if I even had to make a turn, since I think I found the spot where I turned, a block or two from the apartment.

I was a little worried that Dave and Shannon had gone back and looked for me, since they were not in the apartment when I went up. Once again, "I should have taken a cellphone", well I decided to wait outside the building for them to come back after looking for their wayward guest. Once again, my hosts have been very helpful in providing fodder for my stories, but not necessarily involving me directly. Which was especially thoughtful since I don't think 2 motorcycle (scooter)accidents in as many months would give me the confidence to get back on my bike in the springtime.

It seems that the Costco bags here, do slide on the scooters deck, and while Shannon was adjusting it back into place after it had fallen, she was rear-ended by another scooter. Fortunately, neither she or Liam (their son) were injured, although their scooter took more damage. The other guy was not as lucky, as he actually fell off his scooter onto the grassy median, but his scooter was not damaged, so it all comes out in the wash. We now have to take the scooter for repairs, and my hosts have decided that it might be a good idea to get local driving licenses, instead of IDP (International Driving Permits).