It can't rain all the time..
Well here we are, and Taipei is very foggy and rainy. It's tipped to rain all week, in fact. The lush green hills around the city look like traditional Chinese ink paintings.
As is so often seen in major Asian cities, the contrast between the dynamic glass and steel, and the older commercial precincts is marked. It's crowded and grimy, but nowhere near as flat-out grey as Bangkok. Lots of Chinglish in the signs; there is a popular chain of cafes here called Dante's Coffee. :P
We're ensconced in very plush surroundings indeed. Thanks to my brother's Diamond Club status, we've been upgraded to a suite in the Grand Hyatt, with access to the Club Lounge - free drinks and nibbles 6am to 11pm daily, ranging from tea and cookies to cocktails and canapes - and free broadband. This suite has two marble bathrooms and two flatscreen TVs too. I think I need to rib Brother Dear about exactly how much holidaying he's been doing, not that you'll hear me complaining about the benefits.;)
I'm just about dying for a shower now, and am somewhat sleep-deprived, as the second leg of travel saw me trying to sleep, contorted in an airline seat that wouldn't recline. At least there was no screaming kiddies.
And taking the boots off - New Rocks seem to scare airport staff in Asia, go figure - was one of the loveliest things ever.
As is so often seen in major Asian cities, the contrast between the dynamic glass and steel, and the older commercial precincts is marked. It's crowded and grimy, but nowhere near as flat-out grey as Bangkok. Lots of Chinglish in the signs; there is a popular chain of cafes here called Dante's Coffee. :P
We're ensconced in very plush surroundings indeed. Thanks to my brother's Diamond Club status, we've been upgraded to a suite in the Grand Hyatt, with access to the Club Lounge - free drinks and nibbles 6am to 11pm daily, ranging from tea and cookies to cocktails and canapes - and free broadband. This suite has two marble bathrooms and two flatscreen TVs too. I think I need to rib Brother Dear about exactly how much holidaying he's been doing, not that you'll hear me complaining about the benefits.;)
I'm just about dying for a shower now, and am somewhat sleep-deprived, as the second leg of travel saw me trying to sleep, contorted in an airline seat that wouldn't recline. At least there was no screaming kiddies.
And taking the boots off - New Rocks seem to scare airport staff in Asia, go figure - was one of the loveliest things ever.