And so I tried to sleep. Had to build up some energy because I'm not sleeping tonight. Just like Seoul, I didn't want to spend even more money on a hotel. useless to me because my flight out is early in the morning. I'd have to leave the hotel at 5am. what's the point if I'm just gonna stay up late anyways exploring the city? So I tried to sleep in a little secluded area surrounded by bushes and such. but it didn't really work. the combination of humidity, people talking, insects flying around. I couldn't relax enough for slumber. Plus there was this dog that kept coming and sniffing around. Dunno who's dog it was though.

Anyhow, after lying down for an hour or so, it was time for me to put on my rollerblades and trek. My first stop would be Taipei Main Station because aparently theres alot of camera shops there. I need a new tripod and memory card so I blazed all the way down in really good time on smoother than I thought roads.

The night air at this point is really nice, humidity has gone down and a slight breeze. I made it to the shopping centers quickly. Either I didn't realize how close it was or how fast I was going. Either way I started window browsing. The shopping area was pretty big and in the center was the main Taipei Tower which is very very tall. very tall. Alot of stuff being sold in little small shops put together as one big shopping mall. Mostly selling camera equipment and computer parts. I bought a cool tripod for really cheap (notice how my night shots are blurry?) and an extra memory card, not the same brand I wanted but still good enough I thought. Then when the stores closed, I was off touring again. This time to a market pretty far off. I had all night so no big hurry.

The Huashi Night Market was great! Alot more gritty than what I've seen before. selling alot more food and such. Everything alot more raw, people more casual and the streets aren't as clean. I found the only thing I wanted from this country and that was a new mandarin shirt. I also got a bunch more stuff for yuka, jewllery mostly. Then ran out of money thus ending my shopping. haha. There was alot of food at this market but I wasn't so hungry (lack of sleep means lack of apetite). I'd show you all the pictures BUT my new memory doesn't work. That's the worst. I have over 50 pictures I'll never be able to get. So lesson learned, don't buy no name brand made in taiwan something something for your important stuff.

I rollerbladed around for the rest of the night which was alot of fun. I eventually went back to the CKS park to see if I can sleep a little more. but oh man that weird, completely different in the middle of hte night. when I went back, I was wondering "why aren't there any bumbs just sleeping everywhere? this is a perfect place for that sort of thing". It's kept secure by a police office that patrols it every now and then. So anyhow I was trying to find a place to crash again (had my blades off) and I heard a dog barking at me. "what the?" I wondered... where is his owner? then another dog starts barking. ah, maybe they're barking at each other. but where are the owners I wondered again. of course I can't see anything 'cause it's totally dark except for a vending machine. Now at least 5 dogs are barking. I'm starting to get a little scared then all of a sudden a medium sized dog bolts from beyond the vending machine and races towards me barking like I'm the devil. oh man.. that's not cool, I'm not officially scared. so I casually turn around and slowly walk away. but the dog is doing circles around me and barking really loud. of course the police bike isn't around. eventually he left me alone. I never displayed any quick movements or hostility so maybe that's what saved me I dunno. but it was scarry for sure!! I left the park completely and sat on at a bus stop to chill out for bit and rest (no buses coming at 2:30am I'm sure). Then I see dogs walking around everywhere! so aparently Taipei has wild dogs walking around the city. so anyone traveling there be careful! yikes!

I eventually made it to the big park. I was a little scared at first but all my fears were gone once I got there. Alot of people were at the park. it's really really wide, would probably take a couple hours to walk every trail. really beautiful too. Couples sitting on the benches or just friends sitting and talking. really nice atmosphere. So I found a bench and lay down for a bit. I have tons of pictures of this park but my card doesn't work :(

then at about 3:30 everyone had left and I was pretty much the only one there. Then at 4am a new crowd came. the early early morning old folks going for exercise. nice. kinda like when I was on top of seoul mountain. I did my own exercises and breathing techniques to energize myself for the way back. at 4:30 I was off to the bus stop that would take me to the airport

Taipei was a great place to go and it was really nice to be in a more chinese environment. In many ways it remind me of Seoul. subway system, good food and the shopping. I'd definately want to visit again but next time go south of Taipei and see all the beauty of mother nature. I saw from the pictures that Taiwan has a really really beautiful landscape. but I just didn't have enough time to do that.

Thanks again to Donna and her friends for meeting me and putting up with me. It was great this time around having somebody I know already in the county to help me try things I would have never tried if I was by myself. Big thanks and big cheers, very helpful!