Asia's best kept secret…

I’m awakened by the sound of heavy rain pounding the hotel window. Weather reports say a typhoon is supposed to hit parts of the island. Taipei 101 is shrouded, barely visible, except for blinking (emergency?) lights on several of the top floors. The sound of rain is soothing and I feel safe, eight floors up. Below me in the street, trees are swaying wildly. Hot chocolate would be good right about now. I wonder how long the storm will continue? I had wanted to go walking the neighborhood around the hotel this weekend. On my way home from work yesterday, I saw several restaurants that looked promising, along with a hair and nail salon. The Taipei Film Festival (www.taipeiff.org.tw) started yesterday;  I asked around to find out if any of the films would be subtitled in English but no one is sure. I hear loud voices and laughter in the hallway. Maybe the bars close here at 2am too…