Sept 1st

Went out to get our R.O.C., Republic of China, Id numbers so we can open bank accounts to facilitate our stay  and so we can eventually apply for our ARC, Alien Resident Card, later. Headed over the the National Immigration Agency and after we got our numbers we got some extra passport photos to have for when we need them. We opened our accounts and are now ready to go.

Had brunch with a giant spicy fish, asian fajita meat and veggies, Laa, and a green leafy veggie. I am having trouble keeping track of the green veggies here. They are all leafy and look somewhat alike, and of course they arent written in english so it makes thinks complicated when i want to order them later.

Jen's mom left us today and we are now officially on our own in Taiwan. She was very helpful in helping us to get around and also was quite adept at reading menus.

We rode the MRT, subway, for the first time and headed over to the Eslite bookstore. Wasting some time before meeting up with some friends also on a trip and getting hotpot. I didnt do a good job this time. No name or picture of the exterior like i usually get so i dont know where we ate. Here is how this place works though. You have 2 hours to eat and drink as much as you can. They bring you a big bowl of broth (hot, mild or both) and you drop in what you want to cook. There is a burner in the center of the table that keeps the broth boiling and cooks your thinly sliced meet or veggies, among other available items. So finding ourselves at yet another all you can eat place we did what we had been practicing since arriving here. Stuffed ourselves to the bursting point. After a dozen trays of meat, an assortment of vegetables and mushrooms, fish balls, noodles, tofu and 4-5 bottles of soda each we hit the all you can eat ice cream, Hagen Daz, bar. I have noticed on my travels that asians are unaccustomed the to the act of scooping ice cream. In the time it takes me to make a my cone, first scoop throughly stuffed into the cone and second sitting on top, the native girls next to me managed to accomplish a single scoop apiece into their bowls. Such a shame. Needless to say we gained a few pounds and opted for the walk home instead of taking the MRT. (Small side note: if you havent tried their new flavor Cappuccino truffle you should)