Bob : “It’s not fun, it’s just different”
(’Lost in Translation’)
I’m not sure what I’m doing here, I’m not sure what I’m looking for and if I am looking for something. Most times, trying to talk about what goes on through my mind - it’s impossible. What ever words you use, they sound too plain - never adequate. The looks of the people you’re talking to clearly show that they get a completely wrong idea and that you’ve managed to once again screw the whole explanation to a point where you’re not even sure what you’re saying. One thought is linked to another, there’s so much to say, but suddenly you realize that you’re contradicting a point you were unsuccessfully …

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“I’m the only western person in history to live in all Arab countries. The story goes a long way back to the time that the British…” Was just a beginning to a very long monologue. Huh? What are you talking about? Where am I? WHO ARE YOU? Head almost falling, eyes almost closing, even humor and confusion were no decent rescue for the situation at hand.

Every once in a while I re-consider my current perspective. I’m willing to let go of the baggage, I’m willing to give the whole thing a try. This time there was a good reason - in order to accomplish things over here, maybe like everywhere else, you need connections. Everybody else pulls all sorts of …

Things that you notice:
TV - Business channels. Lots of channels all discussing the various stock markets around the world with very detailed information.TV - We call them “boob channels”, advertising 24×7 how to help the Chinese ladies increase their bust size with all kinds of techniques. Super funny.Fashion - You think you’ve seen mini-skirts before? Think again. The mini-skirt fashion redefines laws of nature as to how much material is needed to cover certain space. Sometimes, when walking around, all I can see is legs. No matter what the weather is like and how cold it is. Extremely sexy.Fashion - To make up for the cold and the skirt-miniskirts fashion there’s the socks phenomena. Long socks being pulled up 3/4 …

It’s been a few nights now that I’ve been sleeping very little. Ever since I got to Taiwan. First few nights I thought it was because I’m so excited about the the new country or the struggle against the lousy hostel. Then, that one night at the make-out hotel, I figured it’s because of all the red and erotic pictures around me. Last few nights, I figured it’s because I’m almost freezing to death in the Taipei cold. It’s got to do with nothing of the above. I just don’t sleep. 4-5 hours, maybe, and that’s enough, no matter what the conditions are.
Realization came while I was listening to Chris, my flat mate, contemplate about his situation. After spending …

After two really bad nights at the Happy Family 2 hostel (referred to by some as “Crappy family”) I felt like I had enough. Relying on my Singapore experience I knew I could find better bargains, even if those meant that I go to some dodgy places. My theory worked, as I found myself a great room to finally comfortably take a shower and do my “long business” in for little more money. True, most people come there for “a short 2 hour rest”, the whole room was red, my bed was shaped like a heart with some erotic drawings around it, and the TV offered a good selection of “male entertainment” - but, I had my own clean bath, …

"Thai what?" was the question I usually got from the Bangkokians when I told them where I want to go. Trying out "Republic of China" or "you know… that small island next to China" didn’t seem to provide better responses. I think there aren’t too many English speaking foreigners going from Bangkok to Taiwan since finding the ever-annoying updated Lonely-Planet’s Taiwan wasn’t easy and getting a good flight deal was a drag. I actually saved up a couple of thousand bahts on airfare just because a little Dutch Mhoi bird whispered in my ear that Dutch KLM flights to Taiwan stop at Bangkok as I usually got "Oh, yeah, you’re right, they do fly there too. Oh, yeah, it’s 2000-4000 …