Here we go!

Monster bride right outside our Taipei hotel, wasn't expecting that on our first day.

Righty, righty, right.  Welly, welly, well, it's about time to start this whole thing off.  First off, hello to you all who took so much time to catch up with Johanna & I, and wished us so well over the phone, in person and online.  We couldn't have found the resolve to pull this off-or at least not end up a blithering, twitching, cart pusher on a foreign street-without your support.  We are in your debt and happy to repay in a place to visit.  As this is the first post, this will probably be the longest I write, so feel free to skim and check out the photos, cause that's what it's all about anyway.
The trip was harrowing in body, but not too many jigs in the itinerary.  From Boston to Taipei it took an actual 30 hours and 47 minutes (three flights, Boston, New York, Tokyo, Taipei), world time about 41 hours.  The big leap, NY to Tokyo was a 14 hour flight.

Not sure what to make of this in the Tokyo airport.  

Solace

Note to all who have not traveled so far before, definitely DEFINITELY get up and walk around a couple of times and massage your feet.
Our great hosts, and owners/instructors at Johanna's ESL (English as a Second Language) school, Green English School, took care of us right from arrival-thank the almighty sleep deity.  Richard and Sylvia (most people in Taiwan, and for now seems most of Asia have English second names, cause we westerners mangle their actual names) had a car pick us up, drive us to a hotel and even called us to make sure we were ok.  After getting the room, we went to a night market-they are all over Taiwan, ate some fried MSG laden veggies, drank some hard alcohol and went to bed.

The dumplings were great, the fried veg were REALLY salty, learned to say no MSG this night

The jet lag has fuzzed my brain for the past five days.  It has been hard getting sleep, and I've had an odd sensation of pressure on my brain most days.  Definitely difficult to stay focused when we really need it.  We've traveled on the high speed rail to our new hometown of Chiayi (say Jah-yee).  I still brutalize this pronunciation, constantly find locals repeating the pronunciation of words after I have tried to say them and image will continue to make the Taiwanese laugh-which happens often-each time I open my mouth.  Oh well, it's worth a laugh and I do end up with good food, most of the time.  We've moved three times in the town and will do so again this Friday.  Can't wait to get a kitchen and my own bed.  Everything is economized as far as space and size-picture small squares of tp as the norm for tissues, napkins, tp and pillows-just kidding, napkins are made of stronger paper.  When they say two room, don't forget you need a bathroom in an apartment. 
So for now, we are still rolling on our feet, Johanna loves her job, people here are extremely kind and there's no telling what you will get in a pastry-for you Nate Groth last night's profriterolls had corn, squid and greens, with a sweet sauce and wasabi.  As they say here, see you.  Jeremy

The last New England Sunrise

31 hours later

Yes I can be a dork, it was the Karoke Bar in the hotel, happy happy singing that got me

Chiayi from our second hotel window

Of course she is, coffee laden with sugar

Shinto Temple in the main park

Freakishly huge snails, presently I don't think these are eaten, but I'm probably wrong

Everyone knows the Chinese names for animals, but only odd descriptions in English.  All I got so far is chicken, hmmmm.  The bird is about a bittern size and lives in the park.

Big spread, oh so good bass in a chili, scallion soy-sweet broth, and so many other good things.  If you like food like me, some will be here every time.