So I decided to save some money and take a taxi->ferry->bus->plane to get to Taipei. Everything went smoothly except for the bus to the airport. The travel agency told me to look for a bus with a certain sign on it, I couldn't find the sign so I walked up to a bus driver and pointed to my airplane ticket he "hao" (yes in Chinese) so I got on. After 5 mins the bus stopped. I asked the bus driver again if it went to the airport and he gave me a blank stare, eventually answering "hao." When the bus didn't seem to be going anywhere any time soon I decided to disembark but I had no Taiwan money, because I was going to get it when I got there. When I tried to get off the bus I told the bus driver I didn't have any Taiwan money, after some hesitation he said ok I will exchange it for you (turns out he spoke some English!). So I gave him 20 China and he gave me 100 Taiwan money. I had no idea if he cheated me or not, but at that point I didn't really care. Then I told him my plan to taxi to the airport. But he said it would be really expensive, and he promised I would get to the airport if I stayed on the bus. So I trusted him, and he went on his break, but before he went he tried to give me his rice krispie treat but I refused. After 10 mins and 40 mins until my flight he came back, and we were off. I saw the signs for the airport and felt reassured. But then we started going in circles, 20 mins until my flight I was convinced I was going to miss it and be forced to spend my NYE in this unknown city, with no way of contacting Jamie (my college friend I was meeting up with) that I missed my flight. Miraculously I got to the airport with 5 mins to spare, I ran through the check-in line in about 2 mins and made my flight! Amazing.
My last picture with Jamie in 2008.
Ok, I stole this picture. But that is how it looked. It was amazing! They shot fireworks out of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world. It looked like it was exploding. There was another fireworks show to the side of this one. Both were so spectacular I didn't know which to look at. The guy next to us kept yelling "WOW!" so whichever wow was more enthusiastic was the show I looked at. These were one of my favorite fireworks I have ever seen, that and Disneyland. I love fireworks, one main reason I still like Disneyland!
There were so many people, this is like an 8 lane street, and it was packed with people!
Jamie and I wanted to find a sparkler so we saw a man and his family doing them so we tried to buy some from him, but he gave it to us for free. Taiwan people are so nice!
My last picture with Jamie in 2008.
Ok, I stole this picture. But that is how it looked. It was amazing! They shot fireworks out of Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world. It looked like it was exploding. There was another fireworks show to the side of this one. Both were so spectacular I didn't know which to look at. The guy next to us kept yelling "WOW!" so whichever wow was more enthusiastic was the show I looked at. These were one of my favorite fireworks I have ever seen, that and Disneyland. I love fireworks, one main reason I still like Disneyland!
There were so many people, this is like an 8 lane street, and it was packed with people!
Jamie and I wanted to find a sparkler so we saw a man and his family doing them so we tried to buy some from him, but he gave it to us for free. Taiwan people are so nice!
2 comments:
the last picture stands out the most for me:
- holding a firework straight from the factories themselves (in a country that probably doesnt care as much as the US if they will explode on the kids playing with them) -- all with eyes away from the camera. Paranoid, possibly. But I still dont trust them kinda fireworks.
- the can in your hand.
- The 7-eleven backdrop (advert for more things western!)
i wanna goooo :(
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