Today started off rather badly. I had another early flight so got up before the birds despite not having gone to bed until 2am. Got to the airport, checked in and all was good. The I tried to get some breakfast. They were so slow in making my breakfast that I had about 5 mouthfuls before I heard the last call for my flight and had to run through Bangkok airport to catch it. That didnt put me in a good mood.

The flight was full and body language of the passenger next to me was rather interesting. She was a young Taiwanese girl who very obviously wasnt comfortable with the guy sitting next to her to the point that she was leaning into my seat to get away from him despite the fact they were travelling together. Eventually she fell asleep… on my shoulder. I shrugged and she moved… then it happened again… and again and again. As you can imagine I wasnt impressed.

Plane got to Taipei and I got shoved out of the way by passengers trying to get off. By this point I was really annoyed. I guess lack of sleep didnt help my mood.

Finally got through immigration and customs and tried to find a taxi. No one knew the hotel. Eventually one taxi driver phoned a friend who spoke English, I read them the address of the hotel and they then translated that to the driver.

Got to the hotel and as usual internet isnt working so I spent an hour sorting out their router and connectivity. I cant count the number of times I have fixed a hotel’s internet access on this trip. Crazy!

100 Countries!!

Went to go and get some dinner, wandered around a bit looking at the pictures on menus since I dont speak, read or write Taiwanese. Eventually decided that I would just go to the next restaurant that had a crowd so I followed a group of people up some stairs to a restaurant which turned out to be a sushi train restaurant. I guess that was cheating but I had some really nice sushi, sashimi, miso soup and mango pudding for about £5 so I an not complaining.

After dinner, I was walking back to the hotel when I stopped into a Chinese massage place for a foot massage. The masseur was brilliant! I would really like to take this guy back to London. He knew how to touch a girl in all the right places 🙂 There was one part on my foot that hurt like hell and he told me I’d had stomach problems… Ummm… yes! How the hell he can tell that from my feet I dont know. It was without doubt the best foot massage I have ever had.

Am now back at the hotel. Am going exploring tomorrow.

Cant believe it but I have made it to 100 countries. I’ll have to apply to the Traveller’s Century Club tomorrow 🙂 The achievement doesnt actually feel real but it is. I wasnt going to do this blog but am now glad that I have so to the people who encouraged/harassed me to do it… Thank you!

I’ll take some photos of Taipei tomorrow when I am out and will add them when I get a chance.