13 March 2017
Footpath observance
Railway art park in Taitung
Taitung not only has footpaths, you can walk on them. People seem to observe the general rule that a footpath exists for people to walk along, and look in your stores, its somewhat of a miracle.
First impressions of the place suggest to me that it is a more modern, cleaner city than the better known Hualien. I am somewhat surprised, I read earlier today on Lonely Planet that 'Taitung has nothing of interest for the passing tourist to be concerned with'.
I guess that could turn out to be true, no ones coming to a place just to check out its amazing availability of footpaths.
Actually I have no idea what I plan to do here, I have to do some research and find out.
I can confirm that fighter jet are constantly buzzing the buildings in town, at night, they are lower here and closer to the city than in Hualien, it seems almost dangerous.
And as a true meaure of modernity (is that a word?) the place has a small mall of sorts as part of a 10 screen modern cinema complex, and a giant Sheraton hotel.
General street scene. The footpaths under the buildings are clear and ready for walking!
Some interesting looking youths in black clothes with hair like peacocks went down these stairs and into the apple bar, which was busy playing Linkin Park or Creed or similar at window rattling volume.
Carrefour is here. They have them in Taipei also. Excellent multi level underground supermarket. Actually I first saw these in mainland China, before seeing them in France where they come from.
The aforementioned Sheraton hotel. It did not come up in my results when I searched hotels which tells me its out of my price range, which is very low. I am notoriously cheap. Well, lots of people stay in hostels, but im not a 19 year old girl, despite the rumors.
This is some kind of railway art park. The train used to come to here. Now it stops many miles away and you have to walk. Why does it not come here anymore? Stupidity.
They have left some old trains out in the park. This is highly unusual. The doors are open on the carriages you can go right in, yet they are pristine, no graffiti inside or out.
The small mall, it has a uniqlo, in case I need more plain clothes, which I do.
Nearby was an excellent looking multi level bakery. I wanted to go in but had not yet had my dinner had I had it or had then had. Maybe they will be open before 10AM for breakfast? Unlikely, before 10 the only things open are Mcdonalds and Starbucks, and they only open at 8. Taiwanese people sleep in.
This is the outside of my hotel, but it wasnt time to go to bed yet. It looks a lot like a Daiwa Roynet in Japan.
Toms world is all over mainland China, and Taiwan. Dont let the media convince you they hate each other. One China is more real than not real. Theres talk of building a tunnel again... a mere 300km.
Dinner tonight is kind of Japanese, kind of Korean, it is ginger pork with every kind of side dish. The most confusing thing is the cup with corn on top on the right.
I thought this was a soup or a drink, but after the bit of oil on top, its a custard. They provided a small spoon, so I thought it was dessert of some kind. But no, it is a savoury custard, with chunks of squid in it, at least I think it was squid.
And finally, for my mother, a Mister Donut. Not tonight, I would rather go to the other place, and dinner was too large for donut dessert. I dont even like donuts.