Nearly home

On my way home now after 3 weeks in Taiwan.

Sat in the KLM lounge at Schipol wondering why did they stop the sausage rolls? It's cup-o-soup and nacho's now, although you can get mini cakes which is some consolation. Anyway this will probably be my last visit to the lounge as just as I start travelling again I lose my gold card, typical.

Just a quick flight left now after my 15 hour marathon, for the first part of the flight I was sat next to a guy from South Africa who went to Asia to surf and never went back to South Africa. He teaches english along with jumping off moutains with a parachute attached to him. You have got to admire the life, here I am sat in an airport lounge writing a blog entry, while he is probably recovering from a hangover and preparing to head to the moutains in Thailand. Oops just checked the time in Thailand he is probably back in the bar!

Second part of the flight was uneventful, slept most of the way which is unusual for me, must have be the beer on the first flight ;-)

Airports are strange places you get a hugh cross section of society each going somewhere, all in a relatively confined space but the majority do not know the person sat next to them. Then we all finally get on a plane and equally do not get to know the person next to us even though we are closer than we get to most people.

I think that's it for now. Just time to pack up the laptop, browse the duty free and head for the gate. One note about duty free here at Schipol it's the only place I know where in the DVD store you have Postman Pat the childrens cartoon next to Postman Pat does Debbie, which apparently is not a childrens cartoon judging by the cover.

Dazza

First Post - Hsinchu, Taiwan

Hello and welcome to the ramblings of me.

I am here in the Ambassador hotel in Hsinchu, Taiwan. The hotel is next door to the Pig & Whistle (http://www.pigandwhistle.com.tw/english/english.htm) which cliams to be a British pub but does a good pint of guinness with some decent pub food. Ask about the discount card which can lead to free guinness.

In Hsinchu you have all the basics, Mcdonalds, Starbucks, KFC, TGI and Burger King. Although if you ever get here you should try the local food it is good although you need to like eating meat off the bone and soup. For the veggies, Tofu is big out here and it tastes pretty good.

Everyone is friendly and smiles all the time, most people have basic english but a few phrases of chinese would be handy. Shame I have not had the time to learn the few phrases that would make life a bit more easy especially with taxi drivers.