[Previous entry: "TAIPEI - MAIN HAZARD"] [Next entry: "FAT AIR"]

31/12/2006: "TAIPEI, (TAIWAN) - COMPARISONS WITH AUSTRALIA"

Taipei is on similar latitude to Bundaberg, Queensland – meaning tropical. It’s even warmer in the south at the second largest city Kaohsiung only 250 miles away which is the length of the entire island of Taiwan.

It rains a lot – which is good, yet water restrictions occur in summer just as in Australia.

Locals avoid suntans and use umbrella’s often as shades – a sensible idea we need to copy more frequently in Australia.

At an alley or lane (just off the main ChungShiao East Road) the lack of parking and feeling from shops and homes was comparable to Double Bay, (Sydney) in the summer. The day pictured was to be the warmest of the year at 37.9 celsius, which would be "not too bad" in some parts of Australia during the summer.

Closer to the main road (below) the bustle is more like Oxford Street, Paddington (Sydney) during our busiest day – this is daily in busy Taipei.

Cars don’t bother much with pedestrian crossings. Everyone plays chicken. Just crossing the street is the biggest single hazard presenting a guaranteed three or more near-misses daily. Beware.