It is coming true

I have booked the air tickets finally. Leaving on 15th May and coming back on 30th, after the youth trekker discount, it cost $570.73.

With the confirmation letter from the airline, everything is finally coming true. I am really embarking on this Taiwan trip. Spent the past few days confirming my accommodation, can't believe that I will be sleeping in nine different hotels and homestays for this trip.

Initially I planned to stay in Taipei for only two nights and return on the 28th, reason being I have gone to Taipei twice and i have already visited all the tourist attraction. 士林夜士，西门町，北投温泉，淡水渔人码头，阳名山，故宫，101，中正纪念堂，even 九份 and 野柳。

This is why I changed my mind: 1) 29th and 30th are weekend, i don't need to extra leave for this slight extension; 2) since I am already there, why not stay longer.

I told myself I would just take it easy and take it slow during these two extra days. I would ask the hotel reception what's worth visiting when I reach Taipei. I would hop onto a bus and alight after ten or twenty stops and explore the area. Sounds so fun and spontaneous.

But oh well, I should know that with my plan-all-ahead nature, this is not happening. My list of places to visit in Taipei is simply growing.

地图

对我来说，旅行最重要的两样东西：一、钱；二、地图。

有钱就算不带行李，也可以把衣服、日用品买回来。买东西当然要知道去哪里买，所以地图不可或缺。

当然，你也可以向人问路，但去到某些语言不通，或当地人人品复杂的国家时，问路不一定行得通，甚至可能不安全。

所以，我习惯每次旅行都带着几张地图。酒店周围一张，要去的景点各一张，交通路线图一张。我也知道这些从网上印的地图，没有在飞机场处处可见的现成地图那么清楚。 可是，如果不印一些地图，我还真的会没有安全感、心理不踏实，担心万一机场没有地图拿，会迷失在陌生的城市。

女人给很多人（尤其男人）的印象是没有方向感，更不用说看地图了。有一回，我和一位同事到淡滨尼，他开着车子绕来绕去还没到目的地。

我：我们要到了吗？
他：我们好象迷路了。
我：把地图拿来。
他：你会看地图吗？

他不知道我未满十岁时已经在看地图了，而且看的还不是新加坡的地图。小时候，爸爸常载着一家人开车北上，到马来西亚旅行。妈妈要照顾后座的弟妹，所以我就坐在司机座位旁的乘客座。爸爸不可能一边开车一边看地图，所以他大概看了一下，弄清楚去向后，就把地图放在我大腿上，然后说：＂你帮我注意一下路牌，在经过Jalan X后，我们要转右到 Jalan Y，然后经过Z大厦后转左。＂在无数个左转、右转后，我也解开了地图的密码。

一生人一定要学会两种技术，一、游泳；二、骑脚车。如果加个第三的话，我会毫不犹豫列上看地图。

Warm hearted Taiwaneses

People who have not been to Taiwan (and does not have cable tv) may have a bad impression of Taiwanese - aggressive. Why? Because of the fist-waving and shoe-throwing seen in Taiwan parliament.

My mum is one of them, she is afraid that she will engage in a bickering session with the vendor if the price is not right. Her impression changed after hearing from relatives' experience and watching cable tv (her fave 冰冰好料理).

During my first visit to Taiwan, I experience the friendliness of Taiwaneses. I remembered fondly that after the first night staying in a hotel in 林森北路 which happened to be a mini red light district, I decided to change to a hotel in Ximenting. When I was carrying my luggage down the stairs of the MRT station, an old grandfather came up to me and offered help. He was at least 70 years old and was carrying a big bag himself too.

Over the week, I was emailing homestay and hotel owners to book my accomodation, again, their warmth oozed out from simple email replies:

Homestay owner 1: 以上兩種匯款方式擇一選擇即可，如果你們那邊的匯款方式跟台灣不同的話，只要您確定您已經訂購到來澎湖的船票及返台的機票之後並告知聯絡方式，我一樣可以為您保留並不收取任何訂金，畢竟國外的朋友舟車勞累，加上有許多困難需要排除，所以這部分我們可以不收取您的訂金。

Homestay owner 2: 因为我们常有许多国外的客人来住宿我们家，接待的经验之中，到目前为止，我们也认同大部分国外的客人是很守信用的，都可以在约定的日期准时前来，即使若是客人临时改变行程时，客人也都会在第一时间尽快主动地与我们联络，还不至于让我们造成空房的困扰；所以，只要我们双方都秉持互相信任的原则，一旦有任何变动之处，都能立即而且主动地通知对方，所以我们很愿意帮有需要的国外客人直接保留客房，这样也可以避免您跨国汇款定金的困扰（而且跨国汇款的手续费是很高昂的，不必要浪费金钱喔！）。

Basically, they mentioned that since I am a foreigner and is not able to do a fund transfer to Taiwan, they are fine with reserving the room for me without any deposit.

I have always enjoyed visiting Taiwan and I think the Taiwaneses is one of the reason.

To me, these define an enjoyable trip:
- not overcrowded
- not fast-paced
- no language barrier
- friendly and helpful locals
- beautiful nature and rich culture

Taiwan, has it all.