Taiwan

[Kuroyama]

Long story short... I was gonna spend 10 days going home to San Diego and check out the ComiCon... but due to tremendous workload my vacation has been changed from 10 days to 3. We decided to check out Taiwan. Im really not good at traveling. If I were going to meet someone, buy something, or fix a server, Id have no issues. But just going to... hang out? Shopping? The wife is ecstatic... so Im happy for her.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where to go or what to see? Ideally (for me) Id try to hook up with a martial artist named Adam Hsu. Theres no time to train, but I think it would be cool to meet him as Ive enjoyed his books. The wife however, would NOT be down with such a plan... so Im planless. Are any 44s IN Taiwan?

[aelward]

Adam Hsu used to teach at the Sun Yat-Sen memorial. I met him through one of my kung fu brothers who had trained with him previously. That was a long time ago, I did not realized he remained in Taiwan... The most fascinating Kung Fu guy to meet, if he is still alive, is Gao Dao Sheng. He's a Northern Mantis/Long Fist master, who was drinking his students under the table when he was in his mid 80s.

Anyway, it has been years since I lived in Taipei, but I've heard Taipei 101, the world's tallest tower is worth seeing; shrimp fishing is fun, it can be done up near the Palace Museum, which is also a great place to visit if you are into Chinese art. Heck, even if you're not, it's still mind boggling.

If you want to skip the urban setting altogether, go to Taroko Gorge near Hualien. It is probably one of the most breathtaking places I've ever been to.

[Kuroyama]

The wife has already got us booked on tour busses and buffets. Weve been in the sticks too long. She wasnt like this back in Cali... I guess Im just dreading the trip in general. The only reason Id really want to go to China is

1) learn the language - cant be done in 3 days
2) find a good teacher and train taiji and xingyi - cant be done in 3 days even if I spoke the language, which would likely be required to truly transfer knowledge from older guys - see number 1
3) to buy cool jian, dao, or Kwandao... which would likely require 1, and 2. Even if I had those and was able to find something nicer than the stuff from CAS Iberia (not likely) then I still couldnt take it back to Japan.
4-35) Assuming I had points 1-3 locked up, I dont think Teh Wife would be down with that itinerary.

I guess in Taiwan the mood toward Blacks might be cautious. Even if I see other North Americans there, I doubt Ill see any Black people. What I have no idea about is how people will react to Japanese people. For example I have heard that the mood in Taiwan is not as harsh as it might be on the mainland. Still Im not sure if speaking Japanese to the wife in public is the move to make.

Teh Wife read that in Taiwan some Taiwanese speak Japanese. That may be true, but then many Japanese people Ive met that speak English arent thrilled to speak it with a Black person.

I feel prickish for being so concerned about race on what should be a vacation, but Im certain that it will play a factor in how we are regarded there. Im just trying to know before I go.

[poisenedrice]

You'll be fine, guy. A lot of Taiwanese like the Japanese, and you'll see Japanese influence in the fashion, pop culture, etc. (that whole colonialism thing, barf). For example, the former president's deceased brother fought on the Japanese side during WWII. Or how the dude that invented ramen was actually a Taiwanese cum naturalized Japanese citizen. Hell, why do you think Takeshi Kaneshiro and Hitoto Yo are both half Taiwanese?

So, don't worry and enjoy.

And be sure to get some "niu rou mian" (beef noodle soup).

[Kuroyama]

Taiwan trip is cancelled.