Made in Taiwan

Pixies are running up and down the mountains and coast of Taiwan. I have been traveling in Taipei Taiwan on business and managed to sneak away for the afternoon to see some sights.

I have been staying in city of Taipei and I can describe in a few words: energetic, frenetic, polluted, smoggy, and friendly. If my descriptions betray mixed emotions about this country, that's okay. Read on:

I have been constantly struck by how westernized Taiwan is. I had lunch at Burger King today (more about that later), there is a Dominos Pizza, 7 Eleven, and Ponderosa restaurant nearby. While Taiwan is highly westernized, there are distinct qualities that seperate it from anything western. Motor scooters travel the streets like schools of fish, somehow miraculously never running into each other and causing a catastrophic chain reaction. People everywhere are polite, friendly, and defferential. Yet, the most unique features of this country are the marketplaces that are unlike anything you will ever see in the US.

Today I walked through a marketplace in the village of Chiufen. I was compelled to try foods that I didn't recognize. Only half of the unusual foods that I tried were difficult to swallow. (Note to self, next time take some strong mints or gum to counteract unpleasant flavors that seem to hang on the pallete like a long humid afternoon.) The narrow pathways through the marketplace had a dirty film over the buildings and cobblestones deposited there from a combination of smog and street cooking. Several of the food stands would wash pots and pans or even rinse foods out onto the walkway. One stand cooked their sweet potato dumplings by placing the dumplings in a colander and washing hot water over them and allowing the water to run down the side of the walkway. The result is smells that tug wildliy on your senses, running from the warm, soothing smell of tea to the putrid odor of slightly rotten meat or fish. I experienced sensory overload. They must have been laughing at the wide-eyed white guy. Tomorrow night I am going to a much larger "Night Market" in the city.

If you want to see my pictures, take a look at my family gallery under Marc in Taiwan.

About that Burger King: I must admit that I am a sucker for a hamburger and french fries--even one from a fast food joint like Burger King. Today I strolled into the Burger King, pointed to the meal-deal menu on the counter, and used hand gestures to indicate what I wanted. The cashier held up a cup to ask me what I wanted to drink. I said "Coke." She knew what that meant. I guess that Coke is a universal term. I got my burger and headed off to a counter to devour it. I need to tell you something else about my burger and fries addiction. It also includes ketchup. This is not merely that I like ketchup with my fries and on my burger. I see the ketchup as a side dish. I am the only one I know who agreed with Ronald Reagan that ketchup was a vegetable, and for me, it is! I like to hold a bottle of ketchup and pour it on my burger, individually, for each bite. Well, here in Taipei, you get one ketchup packet with each order. I didn't want to be rude so, I had to make do with only one ketchup packet. Nevertheless, after eating excellent Chinese dumplings, yummy tropical fruits, and noodles and rice with everything for the last week, I was highly content to eat my burger without additional ketchup and ration out my ketchup for each fry. Taipei is cool, but I miss home.