Random Pictures

Day 6: Now in Japan

This will do it for tonight, but Beth and I finally saw wach other in Japan!

It was a tiring trip back to our hotel, but after a couple hours and our first ride in the Shinkansen we finally made it.

Our hotel (for all of 7 hours) was in Ebisu- an amazing, clean and beautiful city. I got this exposed shot of the skyline before passing out.

You see a couple of kilometers of suburbia (I had no idea there was housing here) and then the endless city beyond. Tokyo Tower is in the back. I so want one of these houses.

Day 5: Last Day in Taipei

With only a few hours left I had to grab some street food. A few of my other travel companions were scared to go slum it in the streets, but this is where the best food usually is.

Herman and I ran into the back alley across from the hotel where we were served by a local that claimed to speak 7 languages. He definitely had 3 down, speaking to the cooks in Mandarin, me in English, and Herman in Cantonese.

Day 4: Taipei Dude Looks Like Christopher Walken

More of the same old site seeing, you can check it out on Facebook. But this guy I saw crossing the street merits a post. His hair makes him look just like Christopher Walken. At least I thought so.

Day 3: Taipei Short Run

After the last run I decided to not push myself so hard...but I did get a nice route through the non-touristy areas and got a chance to see where the regular Taiwan locals live. The top floors of all of those buildings down the street are all housing.

Day 2: Taipei Evening Views

OK, these are starting to back up so I'll try to get all caught up tonight.

Day 2 in Taipei was the first real work day so I only had a chance to get out and see the city in the evening (aside from the early morning run).

I didn't get much time but I did partake in one of my favorite activities- the night market. It's something we have no parallel to in the states. Lots of useless junk and for sale; the most amazing part is you'll be at one table where the food smells amazing and 10 steps away will be food that smells bad enough to make you want to puke...

Day 1: Taipei

(I have no idea what's up with the picture quality. Blogger's not as easy to use as I thought it would be.)

After an awesome 9 hours (Business class is so choice. If you have the means I highly recommend it.) heading to Narita for my connection to Taiwan I was able to grab a beer, but being Japan it couldn't just come in a bottle or can. The JAL lounge has a cool little beer dispensing machine. It tilts the glass up so the beer is poured down the side of the glass, then inexplicably a second spout adds a about an inch and a half of head.

4 hours later, finally arrived at the Grand Hyatt in Taipei. It's probably the best hotel in the city from what I can tell. I got a few quick snapshots of the night views and passed out.

The next morning I felt adventurous enough to go do a run around the city before it started getting hot and busy.

This turned out to be one of the toughest runs I've ever done: Taiwan is hot and humid. Jet lag and poorer air quality than I'm used to probably didn't help either. But I did get to see about 9 miles worth of the city on foot, take in the early Sunday locals and sights, and was able to add some awesome running accomplishments to my list:

- Run through a major Asian city.

- Run through a backalley street market (this got some curious looks).

- Run up to the top of a temple.

- Run through the outside of a shrine (couldn't really run in the shrine).

Here's the view from the top of National Decromatic something or other (the temple I got to the top of)...

More posts on the next couple of days soon- all of the pictures from that first day are up on Facebook.

We're going to Japan!

After only 7 years of being married Beth and I will be going on a trip by ourselves- without the kids. They'll be staying in San Jose with Beth's parents.

It's a half work related trip for me and luckily I'll have enough free time that Beth and I will be able to do some sightseeing across the country.

Today I'm heading to Taiwan for 5 days then hopping over to Japan on August 13 where Beth and I will meet up.


Here's the schedule:

August 9 through August 13: Bill solo in Taiwan.
August 13: Beth and Bill take a red eye train from Narita to Tokyo.
August 14: Head to Kyoto.
August 15: Nara and Himeji.
August 16: Okayama.
August 17: Hiroshima and Tokyo
August 18 through 22: Tokyo

We should be able to get internet access and post some pics and stories here, so check it out starting August 10th.