It's been quite a day. I got up at 6.30am and did some of my walking. I didn't bother with the 10,000 steps as I knew I'd be pacing the corridors of a few airports. I spent so long getting the place ready for the students that I only had time for a liquid breakfast. I think all is well now in the apartment although, by the time the ladies arrive, it'll need a thorough dusting. Yesterday I took my large, empty suitcase across the road so I only had my smaller suitcase to carry. It's quite a challenge tackling the 38 steps, unlocking and locking two doors in the process. I've decided to give in to age and so I go up and down multiple times carrying a few things. I packaged my leftover yogurt, peanut butter and cheese for the boys.
I'm always baffled at the amount of stuff Asians (and maybe other nationalities) carry on planes. I would like to tell the airport authorities to have a separate queue for those only carrying suitcases. I've never seen so many boxes; the family in front of me had 8 enormous boxes plus five suitcases. They were heading for San Mateo in California but I don't know if they were moving there or returning. I presume the boxes were full of Khmer goodies. The queue crawled along so I was glad when a lady called me over to her counter and I was through in five minutes. I'm going to have to stop noticing things while I'm in line. Today I saw an employee from the check in counters, approaching a couple. He obviously knew them. He took their documents and checked in for them and then he went back, gave them their boarding passes and took care of their bags. I felt like saying, "Do you mind doing the same for me?"
I might have been the only non Chinese on the flight. I enjoy EVA airlines because the staff are hard working - it seems to be a trait for non-Western airlines staff. I notice on Air Canada flights to the UK that the staff give us dinner and then they go to bed until breakfast.
I sailed through transit in Taipei and then I walked the long corridors and eventually got my 10,000 steps. It's an interactive airport with lots of things for people to look at and for children to enjoy. There are flowers everywhere, especially orchids, and lots of huge pictures depicting Taiwan's beauty. There are art galleries, a museum, a place where you can watch traditional tea making. I've just had a lamb curry with rice, veggies and a cabbage with a sauce so my stomach's happy until I'm fed on the plane. I don't think I'll venture far now from the lounge; there are lots of people going by so I can people watch. Some are very strange but there again, they may think I am too.
I can't see much happening between now and midnight, when I board the flight, so I'll send this off now. It's pouring with rain here; I wish I could blow it towards Cambodia. See you in Canada.
