Taipei Typhoons and Minimal Mandarin
Originally posted on November 8, 2016
For most of September, I was on a rollercoaster that seemed to only go down... like a Drop Zone that never ended.
We began a new semester at school, and, per usual, it was a clausal mess. In the midst of the transitional chaos, I also moved from a relatively spacious, but windowless, apartment to a smaller, more boxy, apartment with broken air-con (but a window).
Long story short, it was not my month, and, to say I was ready for a holiday would be a massive understatement.
I was counting down the days, minutes, and seconds until I could escape smoggy Seoul to explore Taiwan for the Chuseok holiday weekend. It wasn’t until the day before my trip that I discovered someone else would be visiting Taiwan, too… Super Typhoon Meranti – the strongest typhoon of the year... And I thought to myself, wellllp, go ahead and add that to the list of unfortunate events for the month.
The flight to Taipei, and into the typhoon, was the scariest and most turbulent flight of my life – (we literally tried to land three times and couldn’t because it was unsafe).
Flying hasn't been the best time for me lately, as, for some unknown reason, I've been having seizures and/or passing out in the air, and the second time we failed to descend, I started to REALLY not feel well. I was so glad the wheels finally touched the ground before I had to go on an oxygen tank.
After a turbulent (low key terrifying), flight, I finally made it to Songshan Airport, and, since I planned to do lots of exploring in and around Taipei, I pre-ordered a pocket-wifi device for the trip.
Online, the pickup location was listed as the twenty-four hour 711 right beside the airport.
Easy enough, right? I figured it would be a breeze. After picking up my backpack and heading to the info desk to ask how to get to the 711, I was informed that the 711 in the airport was closed, and the 711 address I had was, in fact, NOT beside the airport.
The lady at the info desk suggested I take a cab there, and so as to avoid toting my massive backpack around in a torrential downpour, I agreed. She grabbed a sticky note, wrote the addresses of the 711 and of my hostel in Mandarin, and then sent me on my way with a little wave and a, “Good luck.” I contribute my success to her note and well wishes alone.
The cabbie I chose outside the airport did not speak a word of English – and my Mandarin abilities didn't, and still don’t, extend beyond hello and thank you. I handed him the little note, and, after pondering it, he shot me a very confused look. I pointed to what I guessed was the 711’s address and held up a #1 on my fingers… then pointed to the second address and showed him the #2.
Still confused, he called over the other airport cabbies to figure out what in the world he was supposed to do with me. All the while, I sat there thinking, “What the hell have I gotten myself into?” I seriously wondered whether I would make it to my next destination, or survive the next four days on my minimal, (aka nonexistent), Mandarin abilities. After much deliberation with the other cab drivers, we were off into a very rainy Taipei.
Though we initially stopped at the wrong 711, by some miracle, we made it to the correct location within the half hour... and then I was dropped off at my hostel shortly after.
I can only imagine what a sight I must have been - drenched, lone female traveler carrying a backpack two-thirds her size... because, yes, once again, I overpacked.
If you have been to Asia, you know how much of a miracle it is that I managed to pick up the pocket wifi and make it to my hostel in such record time. There is literally a 711 on every single corner... so, shout out to you Songshan Airport Info Desk lady... and to the random English speaking person at the first, wrong, 711. You the real MVP’s.
I was pretty exhausted from the journey, and relieved to be in a bed, so after arriving at my hostel, I opted against having a beer at the cozy downstairs bar, and got an early night instead.
The next few days would be an absolute whirlwind of figuring out public transportation, failing at Chinese, and checking off almost all of the destinations on my Chuseok, Taiwan bucket list.
Heading to Taiwan? Well, I hope you have zero super typhoons and a super fun time!
Check out this post for some ideas on things to do!
