Scooters and running traffic lights !!!! - 28/10/2006

As you can see, scooter is the preferred method of transport. AG is considering buying one (mad !!!). Rather like a signaller is not a signaller until he has had a major F*** up a scooter driver in Taiwan is not a scooter driver until he has been hit twice and run over half a dozen pedestrians. Good things with scooters here are 1) you can park them literally anywhere and 2) you ignore red lights when turning right.
Now you may think the number above the green man is the number of seconds left before it goes red (and the green man runs for the last 8 seconds - must get knackered by the end of the day) but my theory is, it is the number of scooters that could still run you over !!
Over the last few days there has not been much to report as AG and myself get to grips with the Japanese Shinkansen signalling system. I don't understand how they keep them on time but as we get used to it, we may be able to tell you.
We have the privelage of travelling on the train on Monday so will update the blog accordingly - it may be a chuffernuts paradise !

We've moved on

The view outside the San Want Hotel




Snake Alley night market - Taipei

Monday 23rd October 2006

Following a jet-lagged recovering weekend (Many thanks Dave Marchant for taking us out and also Neil Thompson and Joanne for techno shopping and temple viewing) work was suddenly upon us ! Monday morning saw us an have in-depth medical (not that in-depth) and then an introduction from the Taiwan High Speed Railway Co (THSRC). Surviving those, it was time to leave Taipei and head to Jonghli where we will based.
Our first look at the job suggests interesting times ahead !!!!

The Beginning (19/10/06) - Eva comes good !!!

After a traumatic goodbye to my beloved family, my father took myself and Alastair Galt (AG) to Heathrow to start our work assignment in Taiwan. We, along with former Eurotunnel colleagues are working to set up a High Speed Railway running from Taipei to Koashuing (345kms).
We arrived at LHR around 17:30 and checked-in. The queue for security was enormous but we struggled through (quite quickly). At the gate, we were told we had been upgraded to 1st Class (someones' got to do it !) and a superb flight was had by all.
Landing on time and with no problems with immigration, we arrived at the hotel, had a couple of drinks and headed off to bed.