Taipei, Taiwan

Thursday, Nov. 12   Taipei, Taiwan was our favorite port so far.  With a population of 2.7 million and the entire country with 23 million all packed into the size of the state of Massachusetts, you'd think traffic would be a nightmare.  It was not, however, due to the fact that there are 10 million mopeds or scooters, and they are not allowed on the freeways.  Earthquakes are plentiful - our tour guide said the country averages one every hour, but the majority are quite mild.   We toured the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall, the Martyr's Shrine, the Pao-An Temple, Confucius Temple, the National Palace Museum, and had lunch at The Grand Hotel.   Taipei has not been affected by the world recession, due to being the world leader in the production of bicycles, computer chips, plastics, chemicals, and computer notebooks.  With all the manufacturing, we were surprised to find no smog.  The city is sophisticated, modern, and proud of its success, without forgetting its rich traditional past.