A Weekend in Macau and Taipei. Even Typhoon Nepartak Could Not Dampen Its Allure!

My wife and I spent a good deal of time deciding when and how to fit a weekend trip to Taipei into our busy 5-week visit to China.  We finally chose the weekend of July 7-10, 2016 since it also allowed us to celebrate my birthday (July 9) in Taiwan.  We worked hard to find the most efficient, economical way to travel between Guangzhou, China and Taipei (high speed train between Guangzhou to Zhuhai/Macau and a round-trip flight between Macau and Taipei), chose hotels, planned our activities, and booked everything.  We were all set to go and we anxiously awaited our day of departure, Thursday, July 7, like two children eager for the arrival of Christmas morning!  On the day prior to ourscheduled departure, I was casually watching one of the few news programs broadcasted in English and was shocked to hear that a level 5 super typhoon, Typhoon Nepartak, was bearing down on Taiwan with a projected landfall date of Thursday morning!  I was flabbergasted!  How could this be happening??  Would all of our plans be dashed due to this storm?  I, of course, also was very concerned for the well-being and safety of Taiwan's inhabitants but selfishly I was also worried about our plans falling through.  Our flight was scheduled to depart Macau at 8:45 am reaching Taipei at 10:00 am - right in the heart of the expected arrival of the storm's eye to the island.  We watched and read everything we could regarding the storm and decided to simply move forward with our plans, hope for the best, and see what happened.

We traveled to Macau on Thursday, spent the night at a wonderful hotel, The Landmark.  If you are planning on visiting Macau (I highly recommend that you do), keep the Landmark on your short list of hotel choices.  Great hotel, excellent location, plush accommodations, and wonderful service from the staff.  Their rooms even come with a mobile phone for you to use during your stay providing free internet access, local and international (in Asia) telephone calls!  

We checked out at 6:30 am Friday and headed to the airport.  Upon arriving at the airpot, the airline, Air Macau, informed us that, due to the weather conditions from Typhoon Nepartak, our flight departure was delayed until 6:00 pm.  The storm was battering the southern part of the island but Taipei and the other northern sections were only experiencing gusting winds and rain.  The conditions in Taipei were expected to improve later in the day and the airport would re-open.  We called the Landmark to inquire about our room since their official check-out time was noon.  We explained our situation and they happily agreed to allow us to return to our room!  Their manager even extended our normal check-out time of noon to 2 pm since our flight was not scheduled to leave until 6 pm.  Could the day get any better??

After catching a couple more hours of relaxing sleep, we headed directly to our favorite snack spot in Macau - Cafe e Nata, for some of their AMAZING egg tarts!  I have written about these previously so, take my word, this is a "must-visit" spot for any visitor to Macau.  The cafe is a little hard to find as it sits in an alley way between streets in a crowded area of central Macau but it is only a half-block off of several main streets so it's really not too hard to find.  Just ask for directions either at your hotel or while you are walking through the streets.  It's a very popular spot so people know where it is.  You'll be rewarded for your efforts with flaky, fluffy, delectable treats that you will love!  Order a few (they are small and you'll definitely want more), add a coffee (hot or iced), and find a spot at one of the picnic tables or benches found right outside the small cafe (there is no room to sit inside).

After enjoying our egg tarts, we had to make the short (2-3 blocks) walk to the historical center of Macau for a little more shopping as the store Sasa.  The center area of Macau is really cool with its mixture of Chinese and Portuguese culture and architecture especially the use of the famous ceramic tiles for the walkways/streets.  But one of the main attractions for female visitors is Sasa.  The main branch (Sasa has a few stores in the area) is near the main square and the atmosphere inside may only be described as a shopping frenzy!  Sasa sells high end cosmetics/beauty products at incredibly reduced prices.  It is ALWAYS packed with women furiously, but happily, searching through shelves and bins for all types of products.  The few men who have either volunteered or were forced to accompany their wife/girlfriend into the store all had the same glazed, "please-save-me" look on their faces.  Guys, the best decision is to speak with your better half and determine how much time she will need in the store (trust me, no less than 45-60 minutes), and then head out to explore the rest of the area on your own.  Just imitate George Jetson, have her empty your wallet, and head out!  You'll likely find that, upon your return, she'll need/want a little more time (and maybe more cash), but in the end, she'll be ecstatic so you will be, too.  Be sure to visit the ruins of St. Paul church which you'll find at one end of the shopping area.

We were nearing our new check out time (2 pm) so we returned to the Landmark to check out.  We stowed our luggage with the concierge and walked across the street to the MGM Hotel and Casino (yes, that MGM Hotel and Casino) to check out their always decorative Grand Hall.  It did not disappoint us as it was, as usual, ablaze with artistic splendor.  

We grabbed a quick, but delicious, lunch as one of the many local restaurants found directly behind the Hotel Lisboa (the oldest and perhaps the most fabulous Macau hotel), then returned to the Landmark to pick up our bags and head to the airport.

The flight left perfectly on time and we experienced only slight turbulence on our way to Taipei.  We arrived and caught a cab to our first hotel - the Beitou Hot Springs Resort.  Beitou is a neighborhood/area of Taipei that contains a natural source of hot, geothermically created, spring water.  The area contains many remnants of Japanese culture left over from the years when Japan invaded and controlled Taiwan.  The Resort is wonderful with separate general bathing areas for men and women.  Each contains three huge pools (one cold, one warm, and one very warm to hot) filled by water from the natural springs.  In addition, each room in the hotel contains a private, deep, luxurious hot spring pool to soak in along with a large shower to bathe in after soaking.  

We only were able to spend Thursday evening and Friday morning there due to the delayed flight but it was amazing!  If you stay there, be sure to include breakfast in your room reservation.  There is an additional cost (around $20-25 per room) but the buffet contains an excellent blend of western and Taiwanese breakfast foods.  The people working in the cafe also happily provide instructions on how to properly combine and eat the Taiwanese items (they showed me how to build a delicious steamed bun sandwich with soy-soaked pork and a couple other tasty toppings).  After enjoying the hotel facilities, be sure to explore the Beitou area being certain to visit their library (completely energized by solar power), the Beitou Hot Springs Museum, the Katagalan Cultural Center, and the Beitou Hot Springs water source.  All are within a 10-15 minute walk from the hotel.

The center of Taipei is a short (15-20 minutes) metro ride from Beitou.  As in other Asian cities, Taipei's metro system is incredibly affordable, spotlessly clean, and very easy to utilize.  Abundant signage and instructions exist in English in every station including on the ticket machines.  There are several ticket options, single use, one-day, etc., so you may choose the option that best fits your needs and plans.  We jumped on the train and headed to our next hotel - the famous and fabulous Grand Hotel.  The aptly named Grand, was built because President Chiang Kai-shek wanted to build a five-star hotel to accommodate foreign ambassadors and dignitaries.  HIs wife, Soong Mei-long, chose the location, Yuanshan Mountain, and oversaw the building of the hotel.  The hotel was built in the style of historical Chinese palaces and its location, and size, allows for it to be viewed from all parts of Taipei.  The gardens, the lobby, the restaurants, and the private club on the hotel grounds with its huge swimming pool and numerous tennis courts, all provide guests with a constant feeling of opulence and splendor.  You definitely feel like a king or queen while staying at the Grand.  But do not worry, the Grand has a large variety of accommodation options so everyone can find a room matching their budgetary guidelines.

One of the best ways to explore a new city is simply to wander around and see what you stumble into.  We bumped into a Farmers' Market just outside a metro station not far from the Grand and decided to spend a minute or two checking it out.  One to two minutes quickly became 30-40 minutes as we were amazed by the volume of delicious food choices available in this small, outdoor market.  We enjoyed scallion pancakes, black tea, shrimp crackers, pineapple cakes (with parmesan cheese) and the sweetest pineapple and mango slices we've ever had!  It took a concerted effort on our part to leave the market so we could continue sightseeing as we were so thoroughly enjoying ourselves but we finally moved on!

No trip to Taipei is complete without a visit to Taipei 101 - Taiwan's tallest building and the 4th tallest building in the world.  Be sure to visit the Observation Decks as the view of Taipei is outstanding!  On the ground floor of the building you will find a HUGE food court serving more types of foods than you can imagine.  We had a bowl of Taipei's famous beef noodle soup (do not miss this when visiting) and it met and exceeded our every expectation.  If you visit Tapei 101, try to enter its food court with an idea of what you'd like to eat because the number of choices can be overwhelming!

There are seemingly endless sights to see and things to do while in Taipei so you will have to pick and choose based on your tastes.  But one thing that you MUST do is visit one of its many Night Markets.  We chose the Shilin Night Market and all I can say is...OMG!!!  We thought that the night markets would be small, indoor markets similar in size to the Farmers' Market we had visited earlier in the day.  We were completely wrong.  The Shilin Night Market is basically a large, busy commercial area in Taipei chock full of stores and vendor shops.  Visitors wind through countless streets and alleys buying all kinds of goods and choosing from an endless collection of delectable treats.  Despite a steady rain falling, the Market was packed with people and umbrellas and we dove right into the action!  The food is AMAZING and basically free so you will be able to gorge yourself without emptying your wallet.  We had SO many snacks such as grilled squid, vegetable omelets, sweet potato balls, pork and vegetable dumplings, deep fried softshell crab, bubble tea, and local Taiwanese craft beers.  All of this and, believe me, we did not even scratch the surface of all the available food options!  So be sure to build up a huge appetite before going to a Night Market so that you may enjoy as many different Taiwanese snacks as possible. 

Our weekend in Macau and Taipei was a wonderful, memorable experience that we will never forget.  Both cities are must-visit places so be sure to put them on your "soon-to-be-visited cities" list!  You will be glad that you did!

Happy Travels!  Power to the Purple! 




  

LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Melo Anthony, and Chris Paul open the 2016 ESPY Awards by saying, "Philando Castile. Alton Sterling. We're Tired of This!"

I had written the follwoing piece before seeing the opening of the 2016 ESPY Awards when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Paul stood up and gave this powerful message:

I applaud these brothers for taking such a strong, public stance and for encouraging their fellow athletes to join them in fighting the injustices that exist in our country and in our black communities.  I am completely with them in this mission and I'd like to share the thoughts that I had even before hearing their message.  Here's what I wrote:


This year, I spent my fourth consecutive birthday traveling away from my home country, the United States.  I am quite comfortable celebrating my birthday away from home now. in fact, I have come to greatly appreciate the opportunity to review my life while seeing new places, meeting new people, eating new foods, and observing new cultures.  My first "birthday" piece, posted last year (Another Birthday?  Learning to Enjoy Aging!), contained my general musings on the process of and the lessons learned from aging.  It was written during a relatively peaceful time as thankfully there were no major disturbances in my immediate and general circles.  Sadly, the arrival of my birthday this year coincides with several tragic incidents in the States.  Two Black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were senselessly murdered by police officers.  Mr. Sterling was killed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on July 5 while already restrained on his back, on the ground by two officers.  Mr. Castile was killed in his car in Minneapolis, Minnesota after being pulled over by an officer.  Mr. Castile was shot as he was reaching for his identification, as instructed to do by the officer.  Mr. Castile had already informed the officer that he was licensed to carry a handgun, as all people who receive weapon carry permits are instructed to do, yet the officer shot him four times killing him in the front seat of his car - in front of his fiancé and 4-year old daughter.  Thousands of people across the country immediately voiced their anger about these murders both through physical rallies in many cities/towns and also by expressing outrage via social media and other outlets.    More death occurred as 5 police officers were killed, and 8 other officers and several protesters were injured, by gunshots from what is claimed to be a single gunman during a rally in Dallas, Texas.  The suspected gunman was killed by bomb detonated by a police robot.

As I watch the coverage of these incidents both through my limited access to English-speaking television programming and by scouring various internet sources, I share in the deep pain being felt by the families of those killed and by the millions of others who know that they easily could have shared the same fate.  "There but for the grace of God go I," is the thought that immediately races through my head and the heads of countless other black men in America whenever events like these occur.  It infuriates me to not only have to continue watching brothers be outright killed in the streets as I have for my entire life, but also to have to discuss these tragedies with my son and other young black men who are now realizing exactly how perilous their existence at home is.  How do I help them come to terms with this nonsense?  How do I help them understand that, despite having Black President, the United States is nowhere near a post-racial society?  How can they ever feel safe and free to walk the streets as their white friends do?  How do I tell them when these events will stop happening?  How do I answer these questions for myself?  I just turned 54 years old and it seems like nothing at all has changes regarding the amount of "value" placed on a black person's life despite the valiant efforts of many people, including, but not limited to, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Angela Davis, Malcom X, Maya Angelou, James Baldwin, Cornel West, Bell Hooks, Thurgood Marshall, Stokely Carmichael, Fannie Lou Hamer, and so many others during those years.  WTF?????

Dr. Joy DeGruy's book Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome explains the serious condition that the black community in America suffers from due to generations of suffering and oppression faced by the initial Africans brought here during the slave trade and their ancestors.  She explains that this compromised mental state was created not only due to the institutional forms of slavery but also by imbibing all people, black, white and other, with the necessary beliefs that blacks were inherently and/or genetically inferior to whites.  The overt and subliminal systems created during slavery times have been updated/replaced by new and improved forms in order to maintain the status quo.  Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, explains, in a detailed, fully referenced manner, the latest rendition or version of the continuance of slavery in America.  Both of these authors expertly explain the current depressed physical, mental, and financial state of black folks in America as well as the ancillary issues and conflicts.  It is very important to note the often overlooked mental stressors felt by oppressed people as they often contribute greatly to the physical ailments and issues.  After all, oppression is much more effective when the oppressed peoples are "convinced" that they are inferior thereby rationalizing the need for the oppression in order to preserve social rank and hierarchy. Obviously, we NEVER received our '20 acres and a mule" but we also never received any mental health treatment either to address our damaged mental condition.   

One must note that American whites, despite the fact that the majority of them never truly lacked for anything, also never received mental health care to overcome the same false beliefs that were drilled into them to pave the way for slavery (the inherent inferiority of blacks relative to whites).  These beliefs were "created" well before the beginning of the slave trade, however, we may focus on the work done during those times to gather acceptance for the brutal institution as it was substantial.  As with American blacks, these "beliefs" have been overtly and covertly instilled deeply into their psyches for over 400 years.  They are passed along in words, actions, and traditions.  They are so ingrained that white people not only fail to even recognize their existence but also will argue against their existence when issues are brought to their attention by black people.  I will NEVER forget the argument that I had with my former college roommate in 1986 just after Michael Griffith was hit by a car and killed while being chased by a mob of white teen boys who had severely beaten him and his two friends as they tried to find help for their car which had broken down in the Howard Beach neighborhood of Queens, NY.  My roommate, with whom I was so close that he had served as a groomsman in my wedding in 1985, came from a nice, Italian family in Freeport, Long Island where I had visited on many occasions during our college years.  Throughout our years together, he had never expressed even the slightest racist attitude so imagine my surprise when he told my wife and I, as we all sat in the living room of our apartment in Queens, that he felt that Griffith was at fault for his own death because he should never have tried to cross the highway!  I actually laughed when he first said it because I thought he was joking - just messing around trying to be funny.  But he adamantly stated that Griffith should have stopped running once he and his friends were trapped between the highway and the mob and just fought with the mob.  He refused to alter his position even when informed that the mob, at least 10 white men some of whom had, and had used, baseball bats in their attack of Griffith and his friends.  He said that he thought the mob (the group was primarily of Italian descent by the way) were just "young guys goofing around."  Despite a LONG argument, he never changed his opinion leading to the effective ending of our relationship.  This incident led me to seriously worry about the ability of many white people to fight the effects of the psychological training they have received to justify slavery and racist attitudes.  Prior to our argument, I felt certain that my roommate was not the least bit racist and truly viewed all people equally.  Most importantly, he was a very intelligent, well educated person (we roomed together during our undergraduate years at Yale) and not the ignorant, uneducated type of white person normally associated with holding racist beliefs.

I am not sure what to do now.  I am tired of seeing black men like me killed in cold blood and having their murderers walk away with impunity.  I am tired of watching grieving mothers, fathers, and family members mourn the loss of their innocent loved ones of all ages.  I am tired of living my life in fear of the exact people whose job it is to protect me.  I am tired of having to fight for rights and opportunities that others receive freely simply due to the color of my skin.  I am tired of people making ridiculous assumptions about me and other black people based on state sanctioned racial profiling,  I am tired of people grieving more for the murdered police officers while not doing the same for the murdered victims of unwarranted police violence.  The dead officers deserve to be properly mourned and their familes properly supported as this should occur whenever lives are lost, however, it is unbearable to watch communities mourn for the officers who never felt moved to do the same just a day or two earlier for Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, and their families.  I am tired of traveling through other countries and observing the consternation they have regarding the proliferation of guns and violence in the States.  I am tired of being fully accepted and embraced while abroad but regularly questioned and feared at home.  Most of all, I am tired of watching a country possessing such abundant resources and seemingly limitless possibilities for its citizens to acheive greatness remain convinced that it is better served by maintaing a restrictive, oppressive approach towards a segment of its population based on the belief in white superiority.

This has to change! 

Power to the Purple (and the People)!