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August 29, 2005
An Innocent in Taiwan, Day 1
hat's the view from my hotel room on the 21st floor. Dead center is the WinDance Mall, a place I expect to visit more than once since it has the Warner Village Theaters (Warner Brothers / Village Roadshow), which happens to be the most exciting toursit attraction they have in all of Hsinchu.
Ah, Taiwan. The Land of...Well, it was foggy and only 83 degrees when I arrived. Not so bad, except the humidity was 80% and my little free desktop Weather Channel information window tells me that it really feels like 92 degrees. Today it's already 81 degrees and 84% humid at 3:00 am. (The pleasures of jetlag.)
The East China Sea to the north, the South China Sea to the south. And China to the east, where another Chinese general was boasting about using nuclear weapons on the U.S. Somewhere in these nearby waters I hope their is a good aircraft carrier acting as the local sheriff
I had a driver patiently waiting at the Taipei airport to take me the one-hour trip to my hotel. I say patiently because the flight leg from Hong Kong was an hour delayed. I waited outside in the heat, seeing all the varieties of cars (from VWs to Mercedes). I wondered what had been ordered up for me by the hotel? Of course. A nice black Mercedes, which the hotel is happy to charge the company.
My driver called himself "Andy." Andy is married, having taken his honeymoon in Switzerland, and has two boys. He works about 20 hours each day, 6 or 7 days each week. Apparently, Taiwanese like to escape from their families as much as do all people around the world.
He asked what I did. I said training and organizational development. He was still practicing his English so I explained that I helped employees be happier and managers be better managers. Andy then smiled and said, "Ah, you are my idol!" For a moment I thought American Idol had saturated the Asian television market, but now I am convinced that I have my first devoted minion in a grand cult of personality worship that I can build in the 25 days I am here.
We made it to the Ambassador Hotel, tallest building in Hsinchu, which will help keep me from getting lost as I walk around the neighborhood. I unpacked in the room that I will be calling home for a while. Called my lovely wife to assure her that I was not a victim of technology.
Then I took a walk to the nearest 7-11 store. Seriously. One block north, two blocks west. I recognized Coke, Pepsi, Pringles, some gum and candy. The rest could have been byproducts and animal parts as far as I could tell. I say Pringles advisedly, since the one flavor I noticed was French Consumme. There were some cucumber-flavored Lay's potato chip.
I came with little to show for the trip, except hot moisture and sticky clothes.
Well, if there are few sights to see, at least I have a television set to while away the lonely hours. I give you my channel choices in this otherwise very English-friendly hotel:
1. TTV: Chinese
2. CTV: Chinese
3. CTS: Chinese
4. FTV: Chinese
5. TVBS: Chinese
6. TVBSN Chinese
7. MUCH-TV: Japanese with Chinese dubbing
8. ET-NEWS: Chinese Entertainment News
9. DONG HONG TV: Hong Kong Chinese
10. CNN Asia: All Katrina Hurricane All the Time
11. CNBC: Global Version. The Cost of Katrina All the Time
12. BLOOMBERG: They must think business travellers are only interested in business.
13. ESPN: Mostly billiards or dog show competitions, in Chinese.
14. STAR SPORTS: In Chinese
15. GTV: Chinese
16. BBC Asia: All News All the Time. All Katrina or Iraq All the Time.
17. NHK1: Japanese
18. NHK2: Japanese
19. STAR WORLD: Older American Sticoms, like Still Standing, Who's Line Is It Anyway?, Becker...
20. DISOCVERY: (That's how they spell it.) Animals and nature, in Chinese.
21. STAR MOVIE: Chinese movies with commercials.
22. HBO Asia: Older HBO movies and shows. They're just getting Deadwood. I almost started watching Claude Van Damme in Maximum Risk, but thought better of it.
23. MTV: Chinese version.
Th-th-th-that's All, Folks!
I guess there are four or five stations I might glance at occasionally. Good thing I brought a supply of DVDs!
Since I AM an innocent in Taiwan I thought I should keep some of my American roots, so I brought the first and second season of that quintessential 1980s American TV hit series DALLAS. Nothing like good ol'boys making oil deals, screwing the wives of strangers and family fistfightin'. JR Ewing, the self-made American.
I also brought the first two seasons of Stargate SG1, which must have something going for it since it's in its NINTH season. Nothing can replace Babylon 5, but there is always hope.
I also brought several movies, a bunch of Inspector Morse, and a some music concert DVDs on YES and EMERSON, LAKE, and PALMER and THELONIUS MONK.
It's close to 4 am. Time to plan the day, find the fitness room, and dedicate myself to trimming up a little so my wife is pleasantly surprised. If only I can resist comfort food in my loneliness...
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Posted by witnit at August 29, 2005 11:52 AM
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