Lucky enough to find myself in Taiwan for the second time. The first was in September 2004. The route is pretty similar: Taipei, HsinChu, Taichung, and Kaohsiung. It's vibrant and friendly. English is still rather spartan but with so much readily recognisable, it's pretty easy to get by outside of work hours.

Taipai is surprisingly quiet during daylight hours. It lacks the bustle that bothered me about China (but not India) and things seem to progress at a pleasant and more leisurely pace, until the evening when things liven up, almost as though they're making up for lost time. (Not that I've seen anywhere like that on *this* trip!)

Highlights on this trip? Well, aside from staying at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (nice!), I've met the British Ambassador, visited a number of night markets, and enjoyed good company. amd a cracking British pub in Kaohsiung called the Pig & Whistle where I also managed to "bust a few moves" on the dance floor! Classic.