Today was my first full day in Taipei and I set off early as had lots of exploring. First at the metro station was a bakery selling a variety of fresh breads made onsite. I bought a raisin loaf for 30 TWD ($1) and a melon bread for 28 TWD ($1). I love bread and bakeries, but koreans dont. I wasnt going to miss up on my chance to eat as much baked goods as I could. The train ride from my terminal station back downtown to the memorial park was about 35 mins. For th...

Having checked into the hostel I now had some time to check out the old town where I am staying. The metro line terminates at Tamsui but the neighbourhood also called Danshui somewhat confusingly as there are two spellings from the original chinese. This was the original colonial settlement founded by the Dutch and the Spanish when they came in the 17th century. There are forts and colonial homes from this period. The guy in the hostel had given me a map of the l...

blog entries coming upon my return no more overseas trips till August... I hope! http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blog/l ondone7/20/tpod.html

For my trip to Taiwan I started a day early by taking a train to Busan to get a motel for the night. I had a ticket booked for 5.23 but then found out this was the vice principals last day and she had left so I could actually sneak out. I tried to change to an earlier train but the next one was 5.11 so not much difference even though I reached the station after 3pm. At Gupo there was rain and I met up with a friend. Then we looked for a motel. Last time I found a...

Korean TV has lately been running a series of Darth Vader Cell Phone commercials. My favourite one is at a crowded subway platform where he 'warps' to take the seat before an older korean lady, then quotes the line from The Empire Strikes Back "I am your father"! There are other versions trapped in a crowded elevator or parading CGI stormtroopers but they are not as funny! You can see the subway commercial here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3miNY1sx hY0&feat...