Although I’ve been walking to and from work for several months, people still stare up at me like I’m a creature from another planet. If I catch their eye, I will smile at them and it takes them a few milliseconds to realize I come in peace and they smile back.
As I passed the Palace HD Hotel (not sure what the HD stands for) on Anhe, I noticed a funny sign out front. At first all I could read was “SEX” and as I got closer, I could see it read “SEX & CITY”. I’m guessing they mean to pay homage to the popular TV series and movies starring SJP et al. What’s funny about it is that the Taiwanese are outwardly very conservative and the fact that they don’t seem to understand that such a sign, so close to a hotel has a, shall we say, unintended meaning for English speakers.
this is hilarious!
The women’s magazines here all come shrinkwrapped with all sorts of goodies inserted as “bonus” gifts. Sometimes it’s full-sized beauty products and sometimes a PILE of samples. I love it! (The German magazines have the best FREE stuff in ’em!)
What can you use to decorate your walls that doesn’t have to be painted over when you want to change your color scheme? Paper tape from Japan, of course! What a fun idea!
Bill paying, Taiwan style: take your bills – ALL of them – into the nearest 7-11, smile, hand the clerk the bills and some money and within seconds, it’s done. Done. DONE. For the entire month! (Most folks get paid once a month.)
Asia's best kept secret... 
Oct 07, 2011 @ 12:53:24
Hi Monica,
I continue to enjoy reading your blog. My acupuncturists are Taiwanese, and you are helping me to understand their culture. How great, to live and work in an interesting way!
-Melisa
ps: I like the method of bill paying; it seems very ecological.