Off to TAIWAN

Morags alarm went off about 50 times before she decided to get up! Luckily my bag was packed so I didn't have to rush too much. Marie-Lou had cut up mango again in the fridge for us. Going miss having that every morning. Marie-Lou wanted to have pictures with us before we left. We gave her our present for her. Took the taxi that was waiting for us outside. Apparently the traffic was really busy because Miss World (who is Filipino) is doing a parade! Long ride to the airport. We eventually checked our bags through after a long wait in the queue kicking our bags forward slowly. Paid our terminal fee and got through immigration. Had to make up a name of a hostel we are going to stay at in Taipei to get through immigration. We used up our spare change to get some mentos... big disappointment as they tasted of cough sweets. We then got a very cheap carbonara which I decided to flip onto the floor... so annoying. Our seats were at the very back of the aeroplane. Morag and I were sitting opposite each other on the third seat. Poor Morag had a strange gay guy sitting next to her. His partner was in front of his seat. The aeroplane food was disgusting... However, the guy sitting next Morag was absolutely loving feeding his partner!! Also when he slept he wore a eye mask and a mask over his mouth. Morag was obviously a little smelly!! It is so strange out here as masses of people wear the masks but some of them don't understand that not everywhere is polluted! Bumpy landing as we arrived in Taiwan... a little scary. Exchanged our money in Taiwan dollars and then went through immigration smoothly. We got a little fright on the plane as the Filipino people sitting beside me told me they had to apply for a visa! Anyway... we collected our bags and went to get a ticket for a bus. No-one spoke English which is slightly scary. So we guessed and got a bus to Taiwan main station. Quite a long journey until we arrived there. We then tried to get a taxi to one of the hostels I have on my phone. None of them understood. Luckily, a lady came over to us and asked if we needed help. She used her phone to get the name into Chinese so the man understood where the place was. When we arrived at the 'hostel' the very basic receptionist had a little man behind it who spoke no English. Not very helpful. After waiting a rather long time a lady came over to say they were full. So, 2 hours of wondering around we came across a little hotel sign that was actually in a beautician place. Took them a while until they told us they had a place! Soooo, we are staying 2 levels up in a massage room on two massage beds with the hole for the head!! We have a area with big massage chairs where we can watch tv if we want! Probably one of the strangest places I have stayed. Had a chinesey supper and we then walked around Ximen area for a long time. It is a really cool buzzy city. There are lots of people performing on the streets. There was one guy with a yoyo who was incredible. Did a spot of shopping around. So many cool shops here. Morag and I love all of the guys haircuts out here. They can get away with absolutely anything. Also the fashion, you can go as crazy as you like!

The picture is us in the process of trying to find a hostel!