Taipei!

After my Manila trip, the same weekend I was off to Taipei. Like Manila, they drive on the wrong side of the road (thanks to the yanks!). First thing that hits you in Taipei. LEARN SIGN LANGUAGE! because very few people actually speak English. The taxi guys! oh! boy! you may very well be speaking klingon and its still the same.

The icon in Taipei is the Taipei 101 Financial Center. Known to mankind as the tallest building in the world today. It looks quite awesome during the day but during night, its quite a sight. I met some English dudes at a pub and they told me that it is located at the outskirts of the city and it used to be a marshland. The whole area nearby has big shopping malls and couple of nice places to hang out. There are two really nice places to go to.

A pub called Tavern and a club called Room 18. Room 18 is a hip joint where lots of people come to be seen and to see. Of course, I was the "to be seen" since I was the only chocolate coloured dude out there with couple of friends I met earlier at dinner. It was happening. Finally, I saw some really hot looking babes. But sadly all of them need LOTS OF INDIAN FOOD because damn! they are skinny as hell.

I must say this. Unfortunately, I could not spot many a cute looking girls around. They are all nice but no one struck out where I had to turn my head. I did a mental diagnostics to see if any of my systems were malfunctioning. I realised after living in Singapore for such a long time I have come to admire the beauty in asian women. Even though I come from a land where beauty is defined everyday, it still takes some time to get used to it. Sounds stupid! I dont think so. You have to been in my shoes to empathise with that. Anyways, it was with much disappointment that I did not spot many pretty babes. Just a few here and there. I mean if I go down to Raffles place for lunch, its a parade of pulchritude of women! phew! down boy down is the reaction.

Sadly, I did not venture to eat of the local food for the fear of unknown. So I wisely stuck to eating western meals (Salads, sandwiches etc.). But one evening we did venture to a Shanghai restaurant which served great food. I just ate and did not ask unless I was told what it was. One of the things I liked about Taipei and surroundings were the expanse of space, the width of the expressways (or freeways as they call them).
One afternoon I travelled for quite a distance which spanned multiple tunnels on the freeways and the view was fantastic. Houses nestled on hillsides. Reminded me of Lonavala near Bombay where houses are on hillsides and hills. From a location perspective, Taipei is unique. I was speaking to the VP of the company I was visiting and he said that he lives on a hillside house that he had built many years ago. There is a trekking patch which takes to the top of the hill. And there is a lake somewhere near by where they allow swimming. Wow! imagine swimming in MacRitchie.


The most amazing thing I found was that Taiwanese practise the art of "Siesta". Yes, my friends! During lunch time, the lights are switched off and people doze off. 20 minutes for lunch and a 30 minute nap. Heck! one place I went for a meeting, I walked in at 1:30 to setup the presentation in the conference room. There were people who had lined up chairs, and had blankets and pillows. Holy Crap! And this was everywhere I went. I am a big subscriber to the siesta practise. A power nap of 20 minutes does give you the recharge of batteries that you need. As long as you dont start snoring.

In many ways, I was able to compare Taipei to India. There are tons of 2 wheelers especially scooters. That is also a major mode of transportation in India. Tons of street food which is like Bombay. Chaotic traffic which is also like any major indian metropolis.