Scooter-Mania (The Art of Lovful Driving)

I've been on the streets here in Taiwan for a little more than two weeks now, and I am still overwhelmed by EVERYTHING.  Most of that time was spent on the back of my friends scooter (and once on a girl's scooter - she wanted me to drive her, but after watching a friend dump his girlfriend off of her own scooter that night I decided the bar was set too high and I had better leave things to the pros).  

The streets are a little confusing as there are no limits on signs and lights, scooters zipping all about, and so many people.  (Thats a messed up sentence, I admit)  There are a few videos on you tube that might give you an idea of what I mean.I think I could get used to the driving here - but then I'd never be able to drive in the US again.

With the craziness, my poor sense of direction, and no way to ask people on the street it is very easy for me to get lost.  I thought east was west for the first two weeks.  Ok, not literally, but my 'sense of direction' was completely wrong and I couldn't even decide which way to turn out of my apartment when looking at a map.  Now I can get to and from work and I can navigate little Europe and the Canal District.  I also know how to get myself to some night markets!  I haven't been trying new foods at the same pace that I was in China, mostly because its hard to find new stuff at this point.  I'll give it another go at a night market one of these days.  I'm just waiting for a partner to try stinky tofu with me.

One of my favorite things to do when I'm out is look for silly stickers on scooters.  There seems to be no end to this ... from man boy to the speedy snail clan and on and on.  I just hope my scooter has something awesome on it.  I'm supposed to get one next week!!!  Its even ok with me if its a lie.  A local friend has a scooter that says, "the glaring headlight of a motorcycle," and the headlight on it is junk.

Dude, where's my car?

Yes, I really thought that to myself this morning when I looked outside.  And, sad as it is admit, I did actually watch that movie long ago.

I woke up at 7 this morning and called the weather hotline for my office knowing that we were on severe weather alert overnight.  The office was closed so I dropped the phone on the bed and rolled over and went back to sleep until 10.

This just makes me more excited to go to Taiwan.  It's nice to see winter here, but I think it will be even better to spend my winter on a tropical island.