Guangzhou/Taipei

This is going to be a running summary. We can now fly directly from Taipei to China. This change is relatively new and cuts our travel time in half. Unfortunately, dad and I both missed our first flight ever. We rebooked on China Southern. It smells like feet on the CS planes. Not recommended. Got seated next to a young man who cried because he left his girlfriend in Taipei and missed her already. Dad called him a baby.

Guangzhou seemed a little safer this time around. The streets near a cluster of our facilities have been paved and electricity is now available during the day, everyday. Our driver didn't carry a machete, although I'm sure if there had been a collision, punches would have been thrown. Minimum education requirements had been bumped up to middle school for many regions but it's still very common to see kids working throughout the city. Very sad. The income disparity is still quite large. The average wage of unskilled labor is approximately US$200 a month.

We stayed in walking distance to Beijing Lu. Despite the median wage rate, everyone shops all the time. We walked into a Chinese fast food chain called Kung Fu. It was yuck. They serve the type nutritious stews that my mom would make if we were sick or had menstrual cramps. Here we are walking around on a Tuesday night. I couldn't help wondering if all these people had to work the next day.

We spent the 24hrs in Taipei mostly with family. My cousins took me to the Shilin Night Market. I ate a bunch of stuff. I'm not sure what most of it was but it was good. We live next to the BEST salty soy milk and "yu tiao" breakfast joint. They also make dumplings, baos, and rice bombs throughout the day. There's still a flourishing gyaru trend transplanted from non other than Japan. In general the girls look cute. The only problem is that they all look the SAME. Flamboyant blond hair with bangs and makeup with falsies and extra wide enlarging contacts that blow out the iris area to cartoon proportions.There's also some phenomenal vegetarian food. If you're into it, Evergreen Vegetarian Restuarant is excellent. All the monks eat there. It's not s tourist spot but it's nice. My favorite places to eat, however, is in the basement level of department stores and at the main train station. Good and cheap! I heart Taiwan!