July 12, 2007

  • Like A Virgin

    The first time I
    came to Taiwan, many years ago, I met up with one of my former
    colleagues who is based in Hsinchu, just 7km to the south of Taipei.
    We arranged to meet some place, close to what sounded like "Madonna".

    I told my friend
    who was looking after me where we needed to go, and said it was
    opposite the Madonna, and she realised immediately where we had to
    go. Nice one. I was expecting an effigy of the Queen of Sleaze, or
    perhaps some Catholic statue, but no. As soon as I saw it, I
    understood... it was the Mac Donalds.

    Raymond took me
    around a couple of the tourist sights, to the Martyrs shrine, and the
    National Palace Museum, close to a theme park where there is also a
    Starcraps. It is in that very same Starcraps that I currently find
    myself, with those memories of a beautiful September day in 1999. It
    was during that first trip that I had made my decision to move here.

    It is very
    strange. Back in July 1999, when my life was in serious need of a
    change of scenery, I decided that I either wanted to go and live in
    Taiwan or Honduras. Why Honduras? I have no idea, to be honest, but I
    had made a few enquiries as to getting a job there, and one guy had
    written back to me via e-mail, saying I should go over and we could
    talk through everything then.

    In the end I came
    to Asia, and despite a short deviation to USA land, I am still here
    now, eight years on. I have been away from Germany now for longer
    than I was living there, and I have no intention of leaving Asia in
    general, and Taiwan in particular. With plans to open a sales office
    here in Taipei next year, which should be headed by your humble
    chronicler, I feel more than at home here. It is almost safe to say
    that I have settled down, and found a place I can call home. Anyone
    who has visited my apartment (especially when it has been freshly
    cleaned – which is not very often, I have to admit) will understand
    the reasons why.

    Today is another
    one of those seriously hot, sunny days that is commonplace in Asia,
    but I hear a typhoon could be heading this way. And it should
    possibly arrive on Friday, which suits me just fine, because I will
    not be here.

    I booked my
    ticket via Asia Miles to go to Finland, getting a free flight to
    Helsinki on Cathay Pacific and Finnair so I could go to the Fat Boy's
    wedding. I had to apply online for it, and I was informed that a
    representative would get back to me within 7 days. 10 days later and
    I still had not heard from them, so I called up their toll free
    number, which was not working.

    I mailed them
    again to let them know, and also called up Cathay Pacific in Taiwan
    to see what had happened. After a couple of hours of chasing, and
    also calling up Hong Kong (premium rates apply! How nice!) I finally
    found out that my flight had somehow got lost in the system, and was
    nowhere to be found.

    "No
    worries," I said. "Just book me on the flight please."

    Alas no flights
    available. Every single flight was full, except for a flight out to
    Helsinki on the Sunday. As the Fat One's wedding is on the Saturday,
    that was not really much help.

    "Sorry sir,"
    came the feable apology from the Asia Miles girl. It wasn't her
    fault, but I was upset all the same.

    But nowhere near
    as upset as the Fat Boy was, who still believes I am talking
    bollocks. Which is fair enough.

    So now I have to
    find a way to use my air miles which are going to expire in a few
    months time. Having accumulated more than just a few miles over the
    last five or six years, I decided to cash in with a free flight to
    Japan. As I was booking, the last flight to Tokyo was snapped up
    (bastard) so I booked to Nagoya instead. Business Class. Very
    Shagadelic. So instead of heading to Helsinki, Japan will see my
    triumphant return, with Emily in tow.

    I have booked a
    decently priced hotel that is convenient for us to get to from the
    airport, and we will spend a couple of days in Nagoya before Emily
    heads back (for work) and I stay on (for work). Actually I have not
    yet informed Emily of this. I hope I tell her before she reads it on
    my blog!

    With my camera
    now broken, after 5 years of service, I need to get myself a new one.
    Alas with the Suzuki still not repaired, after 2 weeks, I know that
    the spare parts that have been ordered will cost a fortune, so I am
    not sure I can warrant getting myself a new camera just yet, so
    pictures may or may not come in one of the future posts.

    I have not been
    to Nagoya before – I hear it is far from a tourist place, but I
    have done some research and it looks as though there are several
    things we can do there, so I am sure it will be fun.

    To the Fat Boy, I
    do truly apologise for my absence – but good luck to you and your
    wife all the same. With my impending visit to Europe, I will –
    assuming my invitation is not rescinded – head up to visit you over
    at least one weekend between August and October.

    But before that,
    it's in to Virgin Territory...

    Finally – to
    the mother, happy birthday! I hope you have a great day!