First post in a while, been having Internet snafus at the in-laws place in Taipei. [Note from Sherry: Actually, we bought mum a wireless router, but the software is all in Chinese... so while Bill is trying to figure it out, I've not been all that helpful with comments like "it says, type in the something IP something network."]

Trip from SFO to Tokyo was arduous for a 6'3" guilo like me, but I have to say this: I love Asian airlines! Very service oriented, and always ontime. Not once have we had a gate change at a terminal, whereas with Air Canada I usually get at least one a trip. We had very good food on the overseas JAL flight, but I think I actually ate too much. The trip from Tokyo to Taipei was much better for me as the flight was less crowded and I was able to stretch out. [Note from Sherry: In my family, I'm the big one. My three sisters are all tiny, so usually I get them to give up space for me... and I get to stretch out into their space. Well, being 5"4' and smaller than Bill, guess who has to give her space now?!?!]

My wife's parents, Mike and Julia, have a very nice condo in Taipei. They're located very close to CKS airport, but it makes for a long trip to head into town. It's very busy over here, and I'll never think that Toronto has a lot of traffic. The height of rush-hour is lazy compared to the roads of Taipei. [Note from Sherry: Yes... I've been trying to tell him why I just don't really get bugged by Toronto traffic all this time!]

Mom & Dad's place in Taoyuan Taipei Traffic!

Went up the Taipei 101, currently this hour the tallest building in the world, but it was so smoggy you couldn't see much past the bottom of the building. The most impressive part of the 101 is the elevator, rated in Guinness as the fastest elevator in the world. It took all of 37 seconds to travel 91 floors. The ears pop something fierce during the ride though.

The Chaing Kai Shek memorial was an impressive visit too. It's a huge square with a seperate concert hall and theatre, with the massive memorial at it's base. We had a very nice dinner with Sherry's friends and relatives last night, as we celebrated her grandmother's 89th birthday. I guess with that kind of lineage I can look forward to several more decades of rolling-pin clobberings from Sherry! [Note from Sherry: You'd better believe it! But I think I would modify that to chop stick poking rather than rolling-pin clobberings. :) ]

Sorry for the lack of photos, as I'm creating this blog on a public laptop with internet access at the airport. We're off for 5 days in Beijing! [Fixed!]

[Bill with the National Palace Museum as a backdrop... he's got a receipt for his lemon tea in his left hand (the government implemented a standardized receipt system that includes a lottery to encourage everyone to requests receipts from all vendors - great way to ensure that all revenues are captured and taxed).]