Sorry - No witty title for today...

  Taipei, Taiwan
Friday, June 22, 2007

Today saw a sluggish start with minimum overnight sleep for me and a suspected overdose of MSG affecting Liz. The morning was spent snoozing - an outrage when in a new city for such a short time! - and attempting to change our flight tomorrow to a later time. What a challenge that proved to be! Locating someone within an airline connected with our round-the-world tickets was not straightforward even with the Chinese speaking servives of the reception staff to help.

This afternoon, we booked another 3 hour trip with the same minibus company to explore the mountains that surround Taipei and the natural springs located there. The drive there and back was an experience... no seat belts, winding roads, double lines to be ignored and motor scooters to dodge. We had three generations of an Asian/American family for company.

First stop was the Yangmingsham National Park in the hills north of Taipei and a stroll through the parklands. There were many older Taiwanese enjoying the serenity and playing card games. The second was the nearby hot springs for a one hour dip. I spent that time enjoying a coffee and chatting to our guide as I am not big on public nudity as required for these baths! Apparently, I would have felt trim, taunt and terrific next to the local, mostly older ladies, many of whom come to the springs daily for a bath in the mildly sulphurous waters that are reputed to have many healing qualities. The only English speaker in the group guided Liz in the routines for swapping between three pools of differing heats. I'll stick with the spa in my hotel room...


So tonight is the penultimate packing night in readiness for travel tomorrow to Hong Kong and the rendez-vous with Hilary, Rohan and Grandma. Will they pull off two flights with a connection in Sydney with more success than a Trenitalia trip?