The end in sight...

It all seems so long ago now... I'll keep it brief

11th feb
We took one final stroll around xiamen. There were groups of schoolkids selling newspapers to raise money for their schools who spoke a bit of English who were eager to practise their skills on us. We were sad to leave the place as it's just so stimulting and different. In years to come western culture will have completely takeover and it won't be that different to HK...

In the afternoon we flew on to HK. Uneventful, but we were pleased to find that the hotel had upgraded us! A quick chow down at the hotel and a drink in the bar chatting to a Karaoke singer. We ended up going to bed much later than we planned with an early start in the morning...


12th feb
Very very very early early early start for taipei. We were up at 5 and out by 6. Unfortunately our ticketing had been screwed up so it took ages... Taipei airport could do with a tidy up. It doesn't look like it's been updated since the 70's... Our hotel was next to the Taipei 101 - the world's tallest building. It also has the world's most magnificent food court! Every Asian food type is covered (and even a few European). After an afternoon nap we had a really really nice Tepanyaki meal. The steak was incredible. And don't get me started on the pork... At first glance Taipei appears to be an incredibly busy city with London style traffic. It's also supposed to be a culinary delight with strong Japanese influences too. Our Thai dinner didn't dissapoint on that front...


13th feb
Sleep! We caught up on sleep. At midday we met Uncle Adam (though rather than Uncle I think he's Jo's Dad's great uncle). Anyway, he very kindly met us at lunchtime to entertain us for the afternoon with his wife Julie. Lunch was a huge feast of Dim Sum and soup. In the afternoon we were given a bit of a tour. First the Chiang Kai-Shek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Kai-shek) memorial. Then afternoon tea at the Grand Hotel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Hotel_(Taipei_City)). Uncle Adam also made arrangements for us to visit the Lin Family Home & Gardens on Thursday.

In the evening we went for a Hot-Pot dinner with Bruce - Bob's cousin's husband (one of the cousins we met in LA). Bruce spends most of his time working in Taipei so he took us out to a really nice Japanese style Hot-Pot restaurant, or, Shabu-Shabu as it's known. Similar to the Chinese one we wnt to there's a boiling pot of water each, a load of vegetables and some fantastic thin slices of beef. All of which is boiled in the water. Served with a selection of sauces, dips, rice & noodles. All washed down with some top drawer Taiwan Beer. Nice.

On the way back to the hotel Bruce took us to the local night market. Taiwan is famous for it's night markets. This one was selling a lot of tat and more practical things too. Household wares and food and the like. Lots of hot food too. It was quite funny to see the market shifting shape quite quickly as the police patrol for illegal traders. One minute your surrrounded by stalls, next minute they've all gone and your in a dark alleyway with a few other punters and no stalls. Bizarre.

Update: 8th April. Sorry it's so lame. Too busy working. Honestly, us kids have no stamina. No commitment. Hmm, starting to sound like my old man... Oh...

14th feb
Valentines day. And the wife gave me a big kiss. The only treat I need. Well, maybe that and food. Oh, and cake. I guess football and cricket too. Yeah that's about it. I guess Oxygen and the like are a given. But anyway, a good start to the day. Onwards and upwards eh!

Bruce picked us up round lunchtime and took us to the Chinese palace museum. This is a very special place. It's not just the Taiwanese museum but the largest (or second largest) collection of Chinese historical artifacts in the world. Basically when the Chinese fled the communist regime from China to Taiwan (if my history is correct) they took all the historical stuff with them (along with the newly drawn up constitution if I'm right - and I'm probably not!). So, the result is that if you want to learn about Chinese history, head to Taipei! Unfortunately, with this being the run up to Chinese New Year most people were off work - the kids were at least. This meant that the place was busy. Really really busy. So busy in fact that Bruce couldn't park within a few miles of the museum itself and it was gridlocked. So, reluctantly, Bruce dropped us off there and went back to his day. Fortunately, Bruce has been many times so didn't miss anything he hadn't already seen. Very grateful for the lift there though... After three or four hours of looking at centuries old jewellery, caligraphy and the like, we tucked into afternoon tea at the tea shop there. Awesome. Great buns. The food, not the staff.

We got a cab back to the hotel and then, based on Bruce's recommendations we booked our Valentine's dinner at a different Tepenyaki restaurant. Seven thirty. Sweet. Anyway, we got there and our table wasn't ready but we looked at the menu. This place was also in the 101 but on the 5th floor or so. There may well be some sort of pecking order. The higher the floor, the flashier the joint. A quick browse of the menu identified that the cheapest set-menu for Valentines day was £70 each. Yes, £70 each. The dearest? £120 each. Now, I'm sure it's good, but the other place was a fiver or so each. Could it be 14 times bigger or better at this place? Well, we'll never know... We dropped the menus, spun on our heels and showed a beautiful exhibition of old fashioned shoulders back, chest out, knees up sprinting. We looked like those Greek two who got done for doping. Except without the benefits of steroids, but a couple of Taiwan Beers (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Taiwan_Beer.jpg) we nailed in the hotel bar before. Must have been the ol' beer legs that carried us safely to the basement and back with our friends at the other Tepanyaki diner. We sat around the huge grills with the locals and nailed beef, chicken, soup, noodles, the works. Washed down with? Old faithful - Taiwan beer. Needs to be imported to England soon.


15th feb
Got up earlyish to get ourselves to Banquio (pronounced Pan-Chow) by 10:30. Time to ride the tube. Cheap, clean and on time. Take note London. Anyway got the tube there, and fortunately the Lin family gardens and mansion is signposted from the tube station and also on the road. So it was just a fifteen minute stroll through the suburb. And nice it was too. Plenty of character. We met Uncle Gu-Gu (spelt wrong I'm sure, but phoeneticaly close I hope). Anyway, he turned out to be a lovely man who escorted us, with an official English speaking guide round the complex. It was pretty awesome. The history and the importance to Joey and her family was quite something. And we were treated like Royalty. There was some school groups there and we were introduced to them as some sort of Demi-Gods. Very flattering it was too. Of course, Jo was humble and I was loving it. So we got to see all the private closed off areas - it was like a pop star - Access All Areas, For One Night Only, Live All The Way From the UK. Joey Hill (nee Lyn) and her buffoon husband! Anyway, it was great and we learnt an awful lot and had a lovely time with both Uncle Gu-Gu and the nice Guide lady!

After that, Uncle Gu-Gu invited us to lunch with his wife, mother and three daughters, and there's no way we're turning lunch down! Well, I'm too polite, but Joey's just plain greedy. Maybe that should be the other way round... Anyway, we had a most excellent lunch. Gu-Gu's ordering is legendary. What a feast. Add to that the fact that his English is excellent, his mum's is very good and even his wife and kids spoke more English than you might expect. So, it was a delightful feast of a lunch. Good fun. After that they guided us through the town back to the tube and we popped back to the hotel. Add dinner to that and we had a splendid day indeed. It was great to see the family gardens and mansion after all these years of stories and photos.


16th feb
Early afternoon flight to Hong Kong. Always tricky when you check out mid morning but your flight isn't til after lunch. By the time we got tour hotel in HK it was about four o'clock and we'd wasted most of the day. Hey-ho. The life of an international jet-setter. After a stroll around the Causeway Bay shops (madness) we went for some local grub. Local if you live in England that is. Curry! Sweet... The place was full of ex-pats tucking in to the food they missed most. I may well have nailed my own weight in Onion Bhajis. Again.

After our fine dinner we checked out the new year flower market. The title doesn't do it justice. This place was huge. And it wasn't just flowers. It sold tat too. Lots of inflatables and toys and crap. There were tens of thousands of people and it was all organised so well they had one way systems between the stalls.


17th feb
Star ferry. Kowloon. Copy watches and tailors. Watches. Dim sum dinner. New years eve. Karaoke.


18th feb.
Central. Admiralty.


19th feb
Central. Peak tram. Mid level escalators. Soho. Goldfish market. Ladies market. Causeway bay. Fireworks.


20th feb
Lantau island. Big buddah.


21st feb
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