Three Teas in Taipei

Day 2 in Taiwan started with a whole new set of scavenges. It rained on and off all day – which made the whole day even more challenging - because it was too windy for an umbrella but wearing a raincoat in topical heat turns every event into a full-fledged steam room experience. Nanny and Ben (being all stoked about their scavenge success from yesterday and with a little bit of smack talking) decided to scavenge without us. So Rainey and I choose to do one of the bonus challenges. So we did not even see them until check-in.

Favorite scavenges from today:

#1: High Speed Train: We had to take the High Speed Rail train from Taipei all the way down almost the entire island of Taiwan to Kaohsiung. The High Speech train is not just high speed – it is downright super-sonic. It goes like 298 KM/Hr – so fast that the world going by outside is out of focus. Yet, inside the train is quiet and a smooth ride. What amazing technology. In Kaohsiung, we had to find a specific set of pagodas on a lake: a tiger and dragon pagoda that you can walk into the mouth of the animals.

# 2: Teahouses: We had to visit two different tea houses and sample 6 different kinds of tea – using proper tea etiquette. We learned all about different teas: which ones have to be made with warm but not-boiling water (to not overpower the flavor), which ones have to steep longer etc. And we sat on little stools before a tea table and drank cup after cup of tea from little girl tea set cups on tiny saucers.

#3: Gross food scavenge of the day: We had to find a specific night market called “Snake Alley” and eat either barbequed rattlesnake, turtle soup or stir-fried mouse. I went with the turtle soup as it seemed, at first blush, to be the best option. What a mistake!! It comes on a combo-platter with a red glass of turtle tea (which looks just like a glass of turtle blood), a white shot glass of turtle egg drink, a green shot glass of who knows what and then, the granddaddy of all nasty food things, an entire bowl of cut up turtle in brown stew. The turtle comes in such big lumps that floating on the top of my bowl was a full foot (including flippers and toes) of a small turtle. Yuck!!!

And some quick observations from our time in Taiwan

Observations # 1: Ben’s first experience with a very fancy (5 star) hotel cracked me up. He wandered around for the first ½ hour dressed up in the white plush robe and slippers - like Hugh Hefner in miniature - trying out every free sample in the wooden box in the bathroom (he brushed his teeth twice with TWO free toothbrushes, used the free comb and even wiped down his face with the free cotton balls just to see what they felt like). But then the jackpot – the toilet had an entire console of add-ons: butt warmers, water that sloshes up (and you can choose any temperature for that water); dryers that then come in to finish up the job. Yes, luxury has a new meaning now…

Observations # 2: We had to sample some local ice-cream flavors at the Ice Monster shop. Not to be critical, but I have never been much of a fan of Mung Bean Grass Jelly Ice dessert (whatever that even is). And when its added to ice-cream, it looks downright stomach curdling.

Observations # 3: This is my first time in Taiwai – so first impression is: Taipei turned out to be a successful, efficient, surprisingly clean city filled with nice and gentle people. Despite the language barrier (have I already mentioned that NO-ONE SPEAKS ENGLISH here), they try very hard to help you at all times. And such polite and well-mannered people. You can be on the most crowded of subway platforms and no-one is pushing, or speaking rudely to the each other or being aggressive. Instead, everyone has a kind smile for you.