BootsnAll Travel Network



Taipei and zhongxiaou Fuxing, mixed fruit juice, comic store, post office, largest chemist, malaria tablets, public library and internet

Yesterday night I packed all my crap into my backpack and waited for Ling and her big orange car (which I didn’t see at first – Ling was shocked and my reassurance that I’m not that blind and that I was daydreaming did not wash down; I don’t think she believes me).

Ling drove me back to her place but before we went upstairs, we stopped by at her favourite juice store. There, I found out I can combine fruits to make the most unbelievable flavours. One of her favourites which I tried was the mixture of mango, guava, milk and pudding. Heavenly, sweet but without the sugar (I’ve been told). I asked her about this pudding but after a minute of explanation, I gather only it’s a type of pudding that’s pronounced in Mandarin ‘buding’ (like pudding but with a ‘b’); she tried to show me it in its physical form but she explained after searching that the owner probably put it in the fridge to keep cool so I left it at that – the mysterious Taiwanese pudding. She had another combination of kiwi and pineapple – just as yummy. She then took me to her local comic store where she borrows comics and novels and the like, like a library but not a library; you pay a tiny amount of a couple of dollars for each comic and when you’ve finished you take it back – there is a due date and you’re fined if you go over – Ling had to that’s how I know.

Ling’s place is a spacious bedsit with a bathroom. My things have invaded a little corner of the bed and my aim til I leave is to get rid of as much stuff as I can. Today, looking at Taipei’s Metro System map (MRT) that I’ve managed to live in the near (not far end) east of the metro (Zhongxiao Fuxing), the near west (Ximen) and the near south (Taipower Building). I moved in – though Yating kindly offered for me to stay until they move in next weekend – so I can attack Ling’s DVD collection (she put aside ‘Three Times’, ‘Cafe Lumiere’ and her showreel for me to watch) and the Blockbuster store nearby.

I got out late this morning and found a Sushi Express near the MRT – total heaven! I’m addicted to raw fish or you can argue I’m addicted to wasabi – not the same without wasabi and lots of it! I quite like Sushi Express because you face the plates of sushi going around on a belt so it’s kind of okay if you’re on your own; outdoor stalls are the same. I ask for miso soup this time; they don’t understand English; and I found out it’s simply ‘soup’ in Mandarin which I know how to say.

Ling had given instructions, after helping me ring around to find out where to find malaria tablets (thanks Ling), on how to find the largest chemist in Taipei called Shanghai Chemist. She had marked it out on a map and I left it by accident at Sushi Express! Luckily I remember the nearest MRT station – Ximen and the road it was on. When I got there I wandered about, no one seems to know where this chemist was; I was beginning to think that it didn’t exist and that somehow I didn’t hear Ling properly or I’m not saying it right. Finally, I asked a man at a small pharmacy and he directed me – competitor know-how I guess. I can understand directions but like when it’s said in English, I’m lost by the fourth direction so I keep asking and getting lots of practise. I find the road and then I find the chemist. I go to this older woman and ask her if she spoke English. She looks around and shakes her head. She asks me to write it. So I write it. She doesn’t know. I explain in my best Mandarin and lots of hand signals showing my insect bites. She runs to get some insect cream; I say no. I explain that I’ll be going to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia etc. I don’t think I made sense but she got it. She came back with Lariam (Mefloquine), the one I’ve heard bad things about. I ask her if she has others. She comes back with another which I’ve not heard of; I open the box and read the detailed instructions which were luckily in English and it’s what is given if you’re suspected of suffering from malaria. She’s been so helpful but I didn’t want Lariam so I explained I’m looking for Malarone (a combination of Atovaquone 250mg and Proguanil 100mg); it’s more expensive than Mefloquine I say but doesn’t have the side affects of Mefloquine – one of which I know I’m prone to and that is you become more sensitive to the sun and heat (what the nurse said at my GP). I explain this to the lady. I manage to put it simply as the one I’m looking for is very expensive and it’s good. The one there (I point) is not good, and not good for going into the sun. She nodded; she knew; she understood. I told the lady I’d think about it. I’m going to see if there’s another solution.

Back in Zhongxiao Fuxing, I try to find the Post Office. Again asking lots of people; I understand straight ahead and then right or left but if they mention other things that just confuse me so I walk straight and then right or left then ask again. Once, I felt really good when I recognise what the boy told me; about passing a park (I know the word) and I was very pleased with myself. Asking someone directions can be upsetting I feel; in China, any woman I’d call her ‘sister’ and they seem pleased because I guess they think I believe they’re young-looking. I called a bunch of young boys ‘young brother’ and they seem okay about it, though I’m not sure if that’s right. I will ask Ling later. Once I found the Post Office (the front is green and has banking facilities), I saw a desk with some wrapping paper and tape; I asked the woman sitting closest to me in Mandarin if it was okay for me to use. She said yes and I used it; wrapping my stuff very quickly dreading someone tapping me on the shoulder and asking me why I was using their stuff. No one did. I went to the counter and told the woman I’d like to send it to UK and asked her for snail mail, the slowest I said. I had already sent back my diving book near Yating’s place and the slowest was 2 months. In Australia, the slowest is 4 months, just right, my other diving book will get back the same time I get back, that’s okay with me.

I tried to track down the public library near Ling’s place, which offers free internet (Ling told me); it’s on the 8th floor above a fire station. I found it in the end. The only people who seems to know it exists are the teenagers. The internet is free (4 computers) but after 30 mins, if there is someone waiting, you will be kicked off and the computers are a little slower than in internet cafes but hey, it’s free. I used it and after sending 2 emails I was kicked off. So I am in an internet cafe. And the only people who know where internet cafes are the teenagers. Playing games via the net is very very popular here. Internet prices tend to range from $40-$100 depending how cool your computer (it’s $60 and the screens are flat screen) and cubicle/facilities look ($40 gets you a row of computers with no separation; $60 gets you a cool modern cubicle all to yourself, lots of space and a phone; naturally, the atmosphere of both are way different. Here there’s the club vibe with rap music blasting away in the background. Most are the same in terms of speed and accessibility. Sometimes you just don’t have a choice.

Now, I’m going to find out how to ring home the easiest way possible. Out to the moisture-laden streets again.

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Hi Olga!

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Quote of the day
Photo of Tallulah Bankhead
Photo $5.99
(92 x 115 in)
If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner. Thinkexist.com Quotations
Tallulah Bankhead. American Actress, 19031968


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