July 18th - July 19th: Last hours in Taipei, and arrival (for Eric) in Seoul.

Our final hours in Taipei were pretty relaxing. We went out for dinner, took a walk around Muzha (mainly on Zhinan Road (指南路), and spent most of our time in the townhouse where Greek Shih and Susan Lin (Susan is Jeri’s maternal cousin, the daughter of her mother’s younger brother) live. It took a while to organize our luggage, but we got it done at a leisurely pace. We watched some movies on television as well.

I enjoy the Taipei airport in Taoyuan. Every time I go there I remember arriving in Taiwan for the first time, back in early July of 1990. That was my first time in East Asia. Anyway, the airport in Taoyuan is quite modern, and there are many interesting displays of Taiwanese art or handicrafts.

As a special treat, we purchased some fragrance for Sebastian and Arthur. After trying out about a dozen fragrances, we decided on Eternity Aqua, as the best one. I think this is the first time I ever purchased a cologne.

Arriving in Seoul, I had to collect my two large bags and check them into storage (not too expensive, and right by the check-in area for Asiana, the airline I was using). I then took a train from the airport to Seoul Station. It was too late in the evening for the express, but the normal train is very cheap, and takes only about ten minutes more time. It was just under an hour from the airport to the train station downtown if we include the time getting from the train to the main station hall.

I has reserved a room with Agoda at the Ramada Hotel and Suites in Namdaemun, just a couple blocks north from the train station. Upon check-in, found that I had been upgraded to a large suite. Everything in the room was splendid. Less than five minutes after checking in, M.J. arrived, and we went out to see Seoul at night. Around midnight we stopped the car in the garmant district and walked around. I was astonished to see how busy and crowded the shops were, right up through 1:00 a.m. in the morning. Around 1:30 a.m. we went to the Kwang Jang Market (just to the east of downtown) for some very late dinner. The woman in charge of the stand where we got our food was funny and friendly.

My first impression of Korea is that it seems to have more in common with the United States in terms of streets and urban planning than China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Japan. It is still quite different, and very Asian, but it seemed less foreign to me. Or so it was from inside M.J.'s car. That said, there weren’t many signs in English or with the latin alphabet, and as I can’t read Korean, I was glad to have M.J. there to show me around.

 

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  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  On the evening of the 19th, our last night in Taiwan, we went out for dinner and walked around Muzha, the Taipei neighborhood where Susan and Greek live. This is the Mita bakery restaurant where we bought some cakes on a couple occasions. At night we walked through the National Chengchi University (國立政治大學) campus. The campus is lovely, and in the Summer it is comfortable to stroll over the grounds in the night when temperatures are somewhat moderate. This little shrine is very near the intersection of Zhinan Road (指南路二段) and Zhengda 1st Street (政大一街) in Muzha. In Taiwan you can see little shrines like this one here and there. It seems to me that what people honor at these shrines is a sort of saint, angel, or spirit, although usually in English we call the object of honor a god. I think it is worth considering what Saint John of Damascus (7th & 8th century of the Common Era) had to say about the veneration of images before rejecting the Chinese use of sacred statues as superstitious idolatry.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  We stopped in a convenience store on Zhinan Road and noticed that in the newstand area with magazines there were several magazines just about luxury watches. Here we have: Revolution (the ultimate watch lifestyle magazine) and another watch-themed magazine to “celebrate humanity with mechnaical heart beats.” More watch magazines. On the right we have World Wristwatch Magazine. We were surprised that at a little convenience store there would be such a demand for watch magazines (five different ones). I cannot remember ever seeing a luxury watch magazine in the USA. Some more watch magazines: International Watch, and Luxury Watcher, and Watch Critics. Well, Luxury Watcher isn't really a magazine about watches. It is a magazine about luxury goods and a high class lifestyle. The fourth magazine in this short is Tea Art, a magazine about tea pots and teas.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  We had lunch in Susan and Greek’s home before we left for the airport. Typical lunch in Taiwan for a vegetarian. This was my last meal in Taiwan this year. Susan took this photograph of our family in front of Terminal Two at the Taoyuan (Taipei International) Airport. We’re ready to go home.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  A funny bird bringing gifts at the Taipei airport in Taoyuan. This is part of the public arts project. The Taipei International Airport in Taoyuan had several colorful statues such as this one by the artist Hung Yi (洪易). This one is Mrs. Ducky (鴨鴨女士), and it represents this:
“Mrs. Ducky has come from Southern Taiwan to greet Uncle Happy at the airport. Bringing with her a butterfly orchid plant as a gift, she can’t wait to discuss with him the traveling plans for his time in Taiwan.” 		This yin-yang orb is the dominant statue in front of Terminal Two’s departure area at the Taipei Airport.  
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  Sebastian took these photographs inside the departure check-in hall at the airport. The schedule board in Terminal Two. I took a flight to Korea on Cathay Pacific, while the rest of our family flew directly to Los Angeles on a China Airlines flight.  
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  Chunchih, Arthur, and Sebastian at the gate waiting area, preparing to leave Taiwan. This map at the gate explains where some of the famous local products can be found in Taiwan. Green Island is evidently famous for the Jhaorih Hot Spring.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  A couple lanters made by Wu Tai-he (吳泰和) displayed in the Taipei airport in Taoyuan. Close look at a lantern. Other side of the lantern.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Face of a dragon kite by Huang Ming-can. (黃明燦) A view of the two long dragon kites and two lanterns in the Taoyuan airport. Dragon kite head.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Information about the artists who created the lanterns and dragon kites. A gift shop in the airport. This one features products made in Taiwan. A lovely lounge area in the Taoyuan Taipei airport.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  An example of Taiwan crafts displayed in the airport. This is a modern example of an antique head piece (a sort of hat). Clicking on this image gives you a huge panorama of the area between terminal one (to the left) and terminal two (on the right). The skytrain pictured here is part of the view. Typical vending machine contents in Taiwan.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Some art from the Legend of Seediq, a series of paintings by Meika Walis. One of the several paintings showing the legend of the Seediq clan. These Atayal women have the typical traditional face tattoos of their tribe. The airport had a display of some work by the Atayal artist Meika Walis. The artist is described here.  
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  A gate in the Taipei Taoyuan airport. Seoul Station, the main train station in Seoul. Advertising poster recommending that people visit a particular area of South Korea.  
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The smaller bed in the hotel where I stayed in Seoul.

My basic room was upgraded to this huge suite at the Seoul Ramada Suites near the train station. This is looking toward the smaller bed from the larger bed in my suite.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  The FamilyMart, which is a common convenience store in Taiwan, is even more common in Seoul. Night in Seoul. This is a clothing and fashion market at about 12:30 a.m. in Seoul. It was crowded and busy.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Clothing for sale in Seoul. In the Seoul Garment District. The Seoul Garment District at about 12:45 a.m.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Seoul, Korea Seoul, Korea Seoul, Korea  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Going out for dinner, at about 1:40 a.m. Kimchee. Pickled vegetable condiments.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Dinner getting warmed up. Our 2:00 a.m. dinner. Fried everything. M.J. Hwang and Eric Hadley-Ives.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  M.J. and Eric. Here Eric poses with the woman who prepared our food and served us. She liked us, so she gave us a “tip” (a discount). Saying goodbye after dinner, around 2:30 a.m.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  The Kwang Jang market area in Seoul area in Seoul. Not so busy at 2:30 in the morning. The Kwang Jang market lights were changing colors. Sign in the Kwang Jang Market advertising it as a place to shop for Han Bok.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  The Ramada where I stayed had a display of fans and calligraphy. Fans displayed in my hotel in Seoul. Fans displayed in my hotel in Seoul.  
  Taiwan Taiwan Taiwan  
  Calligraphy displayed in my hotel in Seoul. Calligraphy displayed in my hotel in Seoul. My hotel had a nice bath tub. I took a quick bath in the morning before heading out to the airport for my flight to Chicago.  
 

It had been several years since I had seen M.J., and it was wonderful to see him again. I had forgotten just how much I enjoy his company, and what a funny guy he is. My wife and sons also like him and his wife, so we are hoping to see him again, perhaps next year. I would love to go see him for a week before I start my Chinese classes in Taiwan. Perhaps we could see more of Korea.

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