The Travels Of The RJs

  Saturday 11th April  Taipei, Taiwan - Hanoi, Vietnam Temperature - Taipei Min 18, Max 24. Hanoi Min 27, Max 38. 19,992 steps Kate and I get up at 6:30am to head out for a walk before the day is started - to view again Taipei 101 but from a different perspective. Leaving Sienna and Seb asleep we catch the red line Metro to its end stop of Xiangshan one stop after Taipei 101. Already on the train it's possible to pick out a few other tourists who have the same plan in mind. 10 minutes walk south of the station we start the well-trodden trail up Elephant Mountain. It's over 500 stairs up and seemingly no two stairs are the same, forcing you to keep your wits about you.     As the hillside faces west we're not in any direct sunlight this time in the morning though it's already warm and humid. If incentive was required to not stop and dawdle, it quickly reminds you in the form of fat, slow mosquitoes who must dine out on people struggling up the stairs.   But there...

Friday 10th April Kaohsiung to Taipei, Taiwan Temperature - Min 22, Max 30 20,678 steps A similar-ish walk to yesterday to start the day, roads beginning to buzz with workers commuting or children being taken to school. We've commented on the social fabric based on what we've seen especially when it comes to road rules - here and in Taipei it all seems civil and obedient. Pedestrians too - no crossing here unless a green man flashing and the grid road system generates lots of traffic lights. The obedient behaviour even extends to on the trains; like taking calls only at the end of a carriage. The food trolley man is also quick to admonish a man who plays a video out loud on his phone at his seat. Breakfast for the last time at Joho Hotel is more dumplings and salmon and soon we're heading to catch our 10:55am train back to Taipei. 294 kilometers per hour is the top speed we spy this time but it still feels effortless or nonchalant. There's a smattering of rice fields bu...

  Thursday 9th April Kaohsiung, Taiwan Temperature - Min 19, Max 29 20,404 steps I pop out early walking down to Formosa station to admire the Dome of Light. The station opens at 6:00am and at 6:30 it is still only a security guard and me.  Walk back up to another Metro stop - Kaohsiung station - also seemingly overbuilt for its needs today, the roof spreads like an octopus up the four cross roads. I'm joined walking over the roof by various other people on their morning walk. Inside and down the spiral staircase into the main atrium, the ceiling is covered in large oval stones with occasional oval openings to the sky. More investment and regeneration in action.    Back at Joho Hotel, I have a quiet coffee on the roof before we all plunge into breakfast - xiao long baos and Chinese omelettes (closer to a pancake than an omelette) along with all the trimmings we're getting worryingly accustomed to. Mema has a cold she doesn't want to antagonise so rests in the hotel w...

  Wednesday 8th April Kaohsiung, Taiwan Temperature - Min 17, Max 26 15,093 steps We had arrived at Joho Hotel yesterday afternoon and were promptly asked for our breakfast order from a menu of three dinner-sounding-dishes. It turns out this is not a substitute for a breakfast but an elegantly laid out piece of protein with a swish of glaze or jus.  In fact breakfast is almost too nice for Sienna and Seb to enjoy - only one cereal and then items like salad-in-a-jar with condiments and extras. No pancakes, instead roasted vegetables in individual ceramic ramekins. Bowls of potato and bacon soup or a bowl of North African fish. No plain bread but cheese-in-the-bread-bread. We tear ourselves away to head to Cijin Island. Into nearby Formosa station we plunge - with its impressive Dome of Light; glass panelled columns and ceiling - a few metro stops to catch the 10-minute ferry ride off the mainland. Not the high rises of Penang but certainly no white sand beach fringed by palm tr...