Made it to Taipei

I have found a computer with internet connection in my hostel. I doubt I will have another post while in Taipei but at least I can get some stuff down before I forget. Pictures will come when I return in Hong Kong. I will also spell check when I get back.

So my flight out of Hong Kong was in the early evening at 6:15 on Dragon Air. I am traveling with Chase and Pierre. The flight was only an hour and 15 minutes but they made it very nice. It was a large Airbus 330 and they served dinner (chicken and rice, it was very good). We arrived in Taipei and got through customs and immigration with no problem. Taipei International Airport is not very big and seems a little behind the times. We managed to find the bus service that would take us into the city near where our hostel was. The bus ride was about 45 minutes long. During the ride we realized that the city is very spread out. There is no cluster of major buildings like most other major cities I have visited. There were decently high buildings everywhere with an occasionally tall building sticking out in seemingly random places. Once we got to the bus stop it was not that difficult to find our hostel, The Holo Family Taipei Traveler's Hostel. To check in we had to go to the 22nd floor of the building. The building it is in is perhaps 25-30 floors with all kinds of other businesses and apartments. The hostel itself is scattered throughout 10 floors. Due to room constrictions we managed to get a really good deal. Our room is a lot like a lower end hotel. We have it to ourselves with two beds and a private bath. The owner of the hostel (I'm guessing Mr. Holo?) is quite an interesting character. He is so calm and relaxed. He calmly clapped when we first arrived and then did it again the next day when we booked the room again. He had forgot who we were and thought we had just arrived. We had to show him the receipt from the night before to show we were here and he was shocked when he found his signature. He often tells us strange things too. He told Chase today while rebooking that he need to put his luggage aside to get the room again. The request didn't make any sense and a woman (his wife?) told us just to ignore him.

Since we arrived somewhat late, we just walked around a couple of blocks. Taipei seems a lot different then Hong Kong. There are some main streets, but most are smaller and pedestrians wonder around in them a lot. Traffic laws are interpreted creatively. On the first night we watched a van run a red light by honking and waving his hand at opposing traffic. In Hong Kong there is very little if any honking. Here is really common. Some road seem like alleys but will have a random 7-11 store in the middle that is open late at night. We then went back to the room to figure out what we wanted to do for the next day