My first trip to Taiwan

coincided with Tomb Sweeping holiday. Unfortunately, hotel vacancy plummeted while prices sky rocketed. That’s how I ended up in this capsule with shared toilet for $70/night in Taipei. The weather in April reminded me of that saying, “April showers bring May flowers.” I didn’t stick around long enough to know if flowers bloomed, but it rained every day in Taipei. Days were gray and drizzly, like the sky had an annoying runny nose… or was I who had an annoying runny nose?

Having arrived from Thailand where I was able to read a little Thai, the Chinese signs left me feeling lost. Literally. Even using my maps app, I got lost multiple times for the first few days. Also, I downloaded the taxi app but it was all in Chinese, so it was difficult to use.

Some things I found surprising

included the desolate, empty streets, such as the photo above. No, it’s not some ungodly hour such as 6am, but nearly lunch time.

Having lived in Thailand for the past three-and-a-half years, I had become accustomed to seeing generous helpings of both locals and foreigners jostling for room in the streets, crowded around street vendors, open markets, and public parks.

I realized that life in Thailand is much more outdoors, in the form of open-air restaurants, cafés, and bars, street-food vendors, and as mentioned earlier, open markets.

I had been attracted by the sign “Schoolmates, Art + Gift Gallery.” However, upon closer inspection, I discovered posters of young men clad in skimpy skivvies. Hmm, interesting “art + gift gallery”…

To the south, Kaohsiung

I booked the room above specifically requesting “window view”. It turned out to be a window overlooking an inner hallway, with cigarette butts littered under my window. Although a non-smoking room, previous customers had smoked in the room and tossed their butts outside.

That desolate, vacant feeling

continued at the tourist areas in Kaohsiung. I visited Love Pier, where the lone crowd assembled around a bride and groom posing for their pre-wedding photos.

I wandered further to an artist co-op. The positive side of empty streets: the ability to take photos without having strangers walk into your shot.

Typical plate lunch of protein and two vegetable sides.

Thank God for 7-11

I fell upon hot coffee and gourmet chocolate. 7-11’s in Taiwan operate as convenience store cafés, offering tables and chairs. After a long day of hoofing it on my feet, I snagged a table looking out onto the street. While seated there, I witnessed locals bring their kids to play the claw-game to try to win a prize; others eating a snack, and a couple of women who sat together doing their make-up. 7-11’s in Taiwan provide that third space at a fraction of the price of a Starbucks latte.