Shanghai Surprise

I just returned from a short trip to the other side of the great (fire)wall - China. A short journey to a small village to check out a new vendor.

Since I could not create an itinerary that allowed me to get back to Taiwan without one more night's stay in China, I holed up in a budget hotel near Shanghai's Hongquai airport. Here are some highlights:

state-of-the-art* in-room entertainment system

"vintage", "aged" mini bar booze

technicolor carpeting, I did not dare tread upon it bare-footed

But at least the view was nice:
I didn't dare check the box spring for dismembered hookers. Just popped a couple of Advil PM and drifted off.

Still, I am very happy that I visited China early in my trip. It has made my visit to Taichung seem like the poshest place on earth. My current view from Hotel One:
More to come...

*for 1977

This Pretty Much Sums It Up

sign in the Taipei airport check in area

Due to mechanical issues yesterday, the normally-scheduled 747 that shuttles between Taipei and Narita Japan didn't make the trip down last night. 350 passengers were affected, including myself. A few hearty souls (me and a group of Taiwanese) are standby on EVA Air to San Francisco. Now I'm just waiting at the airport, hoping I can get out tonight. Next direct-ish flight that United can confirm me on? Saturday morning. The confirmed backup plan is obnoxious: Sleep at airport-area hotel, then fly tomorrow morning, TPE > Hong Kong > Chicago > LAX > Carlsbad, landing Thursday night.

Fingers crossed (not that it does any good)...