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    What a Tiring Week — Infection update and a new start!

    Australia Taiwan 2024 Travel Weight Loss Health blog
    So after three weeks, my raging infection is finally at an end! I feel totally drained and exhausted, and thankful the hospital was able to treat this penicillin-resistant disease successfully. For a while, I really thought I would end up in a hospital bed for the week.  Fortunately, however, they were able to treat me as an outpatient — administering IV antibiotics for a few days, followed by a two-week course of oral antibiotics!

    This has been the second time I have had this infection, and as a precaution my GP ordered a series of blood tests, to see what was going on. He was initially concerned about diabetes or an immunosuppressant condition, but after receiving the results, my anxious mind was put at ease. All the results came back clear, and I was given a clean bill of health.

    Of course, I am still slightly concerned about my apparent predisposition to contracting Staphylococcus Aureus, especially while travelling. However, my Doctor has reassured me, that it isn't anything to worry about. He explained that a combination of hot and humid weather in Southeast Asia and foreign bacteria have probably contributed to my recent spate of infections. It is also important to note, that when you are travelling, you tend to get run down — mainly through lack of sleep; this is another factor, in why my body has reacted in the way it has.

    It is nice to finally be free of this nasty staph infection and cellulitis that followed as a result, but it is certainly a warning sign to slow down. Not only are we both working full-time, but we are also travelling every five or six months, during our time off. This hectic schedule is really taking its toll. We have decided to travel around Australia for the next year and venture back to Asia in 2026 — obviously, if I don't get itchy feet first!
    With my infection over, it was time for a new start. Just a few days after being given the all-clear, I was beginning a new journey, opening a new store in Western Australia. 

    I have been working for the same company in Australia for the last two years, although I have moved across brands during that time. Initially selling bedding, I am now managing a designer clothing store, which was completely out of my comfort zone. Nevertheless, I have persevered, and have learned every aspect of the business. It is also a time for me to embrace change; I have worked in many retail environments during my years in the trade, and have adopted a flexible attitude to job opportunities. Retailing is a sphere I know very well; after 30 years working in shops, I should do — for that reason alone! I am comfortable working in any related sector I put my mind to. Adapting to changing circumstances is key to success; if you enjoy people, and have the ability to communicate successfully, you will do well, especially in Australia!

    The new store opened on Saturday, and it has been busy — very busy! Customers seem impressed by the new design and have supported us in huge numbers. I couldn't be happier, and I know my team feel the same. This is of course just the start of this new enterprise, and so far the signs are looking good. The feedback we have received during our first few days has been amazing, and I feel this is the start of a prosperous future for all of us in Midland. 

    After the awful infection I had just a few days ago, my mental well-being was low, but, thankfully, my week has improved, and my head is in a much better place, ending on a high note. I am looking forward to the future, and putting past negativity behind me. A new adventure is often all it takes to feel back in top form; being able to concentrate on something better, something new and untested, has lifted my spirits and given me hope for the future. After such a debilitating time, on my return from Taiwan, the jigsaw pieces seem to be falling into place, and I am finally feeling well once again!
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    Bite/Infection? — The aftermath of our holiday to Taiwan!

    Taiwan 2024 Travel Weight Loss Health blog
    After returning from Taiwan, I have been suffering from a severe infection, that I was told probably came from a bite, most likely a spider. Arriving home, I didn't think too much about the tiny spot on my elbow, but over the next few days, I became concerned about what the blemish was turning into.

    It was clear, that whatever was going on was not normal. This tiny spot had grown significantly; it was red, angry, inflamed, and clearly infected. Suitably alarmed, I went down to the Urgent Care Clinic in Midland, where after an assessment, I was prescribed a generic antibiotic, ointment, and other medical goodies, to try to resolve the situation. However, after six doses, I just knew something more serious was going on. After a visit from my Mother-in-Law and neighbour, both of whom appeared alarmed at the size of the infection, I made my way to the Emergency Department at St John of God Hospital, here in Midland.

    I waited just under an hour to get through to the assessment. Usually, it takes far longer, which underlines just how seriously they regarded my predicament. I was assessed quickly, by a wonderful team of Doctors and nurses, who, after referring to my previous hospital notes, prescribed me IV antibiotics, but not the usual penicillin ones. The last infection I had was resistant to standard antibiotics, so they assumed this one would be also.

    A member of the nursing team drew marks on my arm, determining the extent of the infection, and I was told I could go home and return tomorrow for more antibiotics. They decided to leave the pic line in, explaining that I may need more treatment going forward.

    Obviously, my main concern is just what is this infection? My anxious mind suggests it could be MRSA, and that was also a concern of the medical professionals. However, I am a long way from that diagnosis, and the hope is, it is something far more treatable!
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    From Taipei and Kaohsiung, we return home to Australia!

    Taiwan 2024 Travel blog
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    On Thursday, we left the Han-Hasien Hotel to return to Taipei on The Bullet Train. As I sat in the breakfast room, eating my eggs on toast, I had time to reflect on the five days we had spent in Kaohsiung. I remained happy and content with all we had achieved in this southern Taiwanese city; it is totally different from Taipei, and that is part of its charm. 

    Taipei is obviously geared towards international tourists and is a far easier place to get around, but Kaohsiung does have a distinctly more relaxed feel, and I did feel particularly at home here for that reason. In many respects, I was glad to be leaving Taiwan; yes, it had been a Monmouth holiday, but it had also been rather exhausting and testing at times.

    We took a taxi from the hotel to the high-speed railway station, rather than getting the MRT train. I think both of us just wanted an easy final day, and didn't mind paying the extra $400 TWD for the luxury of getting to our destination, without having to walk to our nearest underground station. 

    ​Sleep was few and far between on this holiday, and anything that was going to help us endure the next few days was welcome. Luckily, we weren't flying until Friday, which at least gave us a night in a hotel before our two flights back to Australia. Flying home, back to Perth, is not my favourite thing to do. The flight is long and usually turbulent, so as I arrived at the train station, my anxiety levels were already elevated, to say the least.
    We arrived early for the 12pm train from Zuoying to Taipei; thankfully, we had booked our tickets well in advance, so had reserved seats in the fifth carriage. While we waited, we took a last look at the famous bullet trains at the station. On the surface, they all look pretty normal, but these big beasts really do have a lot of power behind them. Travelling at 300 kmph, they are the quickest, most convenient way to get from one end of the island to the other, in just over two hours. I am in awe of these trains it has to be said, and once again I was looking forward to the journey back to the capital.
    There was no time to eat lunch before we left Kaohsiung, so we grabbed a 'Bento Box' from a kiosk at the station. Now these are famous across Taiwan, Korea, and Japan and are a cheap way to purchase nutritious food on the go, that you can eat on the train. They are full of healthy ingredients, piping hot, and packed with flavour; point-blank, they are bloody delicious. Costing just $11.00 AUD for the two of us, they are also amazingly good value; had I bought them on the train, it would have cost significantly more!

    The only real difficulty I had was eating with chopsticks, but as a Westerner, this is very much a work in progress. I am getting more used to using them, but eating large pieces of meat and small grains of rice, can be a challenge. The secret to using them is just to watch others, observe how they do it and follow their lead!
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    The journey from Zuoying to Taipei took two hours; there were eleven stations on the way, but it went so fast that you didn't even notice stopping. We did make one mistake, however. We got off the train at Taipei, when we should have alighted at Taoyuan Station, three stops before. This was the station closest to the airport and Novotel, where we were staying. By taking the train to Taipei, we added an extra hour to our journey, having to take the slower MRT from Taipei to the Airport Hotel. Having said that, The Novotel, had its own dedicated station, and it was relatively simple to get there, giving us more time to see Taipei!  

    When we arrived at The Novotel the rain had started to come down. It was also windy and stormy as we left the station and walked around the corner to the entrance. This was the first time we had seen any real rain in Taiwan; both of us were extremely lucky; most days we were there, temperatures were in the mid-thirties. It was really quite nice to end on a wet note, and just enjoy that fresh feel for a few hours, before we left for Perth in the morning.
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    ​'Jay Dean is swimming in the pool, and I am listening to Jennifer Rush on YouTube; the perfect end to one of the strangest holidays of my life.

    Taiwan is unique, full of amazing characters, and above all, it was one of the most perplexing trips I have ever been on. This wonderful country is unlike anything I have ever experienced before. The culture is so different to any other east Asian country, that I have ever visited, and has left me rather baffled at times.

    This is not a criticism of this small island, but rather a need to discover more about the people, customs, and society that makes up the dynamics of this place.

    I would love to return to Taiwan in the future, but I fear this will be one of the last times we will see it in its current, free, democratic, all-embracing state. Change is coming, you can hear the march to war everywhere you go here, and that is deeply concerning and sad.

    I have had an unforgettable experience in Taipei and Kaohsiung and hope we can continue our travels in six months' time, if circumstances allow. If only all nations could live in peace, all of you could experience the joy, Jay and I have, over the last few weeks.

    However, for now, it looks likely, the draw bridge will be pulled firmly up, as all of us pray for conciliation and harmony across the globe! I remain philosophical about the future, but also realistic about the year ahead. Wherever you are, stay good, kind and empathetic towards everyone, whoever they are. The World deserves so much better!'

    Je vis dans l'espoir!
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    The Novotel at Taoyuan Airport is a five-star luxury hotel, with superb facilities. Despite only being there for one night, it was wonderful to sleep in a soft comfy bed, eat the best food we had had all holiday, and just have one last day of pampering, before the arduous flight back home. 

    To our detriment, we have made mistakes in the past, booking inferior hotels for our final night and hated every minute of it. Paying more money was a wise move; everything was seamless, from our arrival to departure in the morning. 

    This was also one of the few places we were able to get authentic Taiwanese food. Everywhere else we had gone, either had Chinese or Western cuisine, which was, in truth, a little bit of a letdown. The good food was extremely welcome before the journey we had to take in the morning; I can highly recommend this place if you are in Taiwan, but there was a slight downside, although it didn't really affect me!
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    I had booked a room overlooking the airport, as a final treat on our last evening. I thoroughly enjoyed looking out at the planes outside. Personally, I couldn't hear anything from them at night while sleeping. I have slept with earplugs for years because of Darrell's snoring, so I couldn't hear any background noise while I tried to sleep. Darrell, however, found it rather difficult, complaining that he was woken up at 3am, by the sound of planes taking off.

    This wasn't something I would have usually done, but for a few hundred dollars extra, it was a nice touch. Maybe I'll think twice before doing it again, but then Darrell was particularly annoyed at having to wake up early anyway, so I don't think it would have mattered where we slept. If you are a light sleeper or don't wear earplugs, maybe book a different room... If anything else, it will be cheaper anyway!
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    We left the hotel by free shuttle bus at 6.30 am and made our way to terminal 1 for our 10 am flight. We checked in relatively quickly; everything was straight forward and surprisingly there were no queues. Darrell was in a foul mood in the morning, probably because he had no sleep and wasn't looking forward to 21 hours of travelling. As for me, well, I slept like a log, so was feeling rather chipper and ready for the day ahead.

    Darrell and I did a lot of shopping at the airport, in Taipei and Hong Kong. Despite budgeting for the holiday, I returned with over $2000. I thought I would have spent substantially more, but no... My budgeting skills are second to none these days and I take care of finances fantastically well. After years of spend, spend, spend, today I save, and I do it perfectly!

    The flight from Taipei to Hong Kong took just over an hour. It was a little bumpy on the way over, but nothing too bad. Flying with Cathay Pacific, although expensive, was a good idea. Even in economy class, we were well looked after. The food, entertainment, and cabin crew were amazing.

    With plenty to do and buy in Hong Kong, during our three-hour transit, I was more than happy to just relax before we flew to Perth. 

    The flight to Perth was horrendous, the most turbulent I have ever been on. I did something I don't usually do and drank a few glasses of wine. Do you know what, it worked; I actually had a fairly enjoyable flight. Sometimes you just have to do what you have to do!

    When one of the lovely cabin crew came around with the meals, she managed to have a chat with me and explained that we had just flown through a typhoon. The captain had told her the first few hours were going to be bad. Thankfully we weren't told beforehand, or I would have been a nervous wreck.

    The crew, food, and service were fantastic on this flight, and I am so glad I chose it over one of the cheaper airlines. I managed to watch a lot of episodes of 'Derry Girls' which is my new favourite TV show and thankfully we landed in one piece.

    I had my usual problems with Border Force in Perth but was allowed to pass through after they investigated my residency status, as they always do, and we were home by just after midnight.

    This was a truly unforgettable holiday, and I am glad I have managed to see Taiwan before the inevitable happens. Taiwanese people are friendly, willing to help and so polite. I will remember the time I spent in Taipei and Kaohsiung for all the wrong reasons, however, - the trials and tribulations of trying to find something to eat, the excruciating humidity (Which I love), the amazing transport system, the endearing Taiwanese culture and the beautiful places of cultural and historical interest. This was a unique holiday in a place many Westerners have never visited, and I am so happy to have dipped my toes into a country that has left an indelible mark on my life.
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    Last Day in Kaohsiung!

    Taiwan 2024 Travel blog
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    Today is our last day in Kaohsiung; we had nothing planned for a change, and just wanted to take it easy, after the exhausting nature of this holiday. Once again we were up bright and early, even earlier than we are in Australia, just wanting to fit in as much as we could. 

    Breakfast was actually rather nice this morning; the buffet had more western choices than usual, including baked beans and sausages. You do have to be careful here though, if you leave your breakfast plate unattended for more than a few minutes, it is swiped by one of the overzealous waiting staff. They are all terribly efficient of course, this is Taiwan after all, but they need to give you more time to finish your food, before taking the plate away. 

    Prompt plate clearing, does actually seem to be a thing here in Taiwan. Wherever we have eaten, as soon as your plate is clear, it is taken away quickly, before you have hardly had time to digest your meal. This may well be one of the reasons why I haven't felt as relaxed in Taiwan, as I would have liked. I believe that there is such a high turn over of customers in eating establishments, that staff are just trained to get you moved on, as quick as possible. 

    ​We did try to get some lunch today, but as usual, it just didn't happen. Strangely, it does appear, that most restaurants only open between 11.30am and 1 or 2 pm. This really does seem odd, and isn't something I have seen anywhere else. As a European, I like to eat a meal slowly, soak in the atmosphere, and maybe take a few hours to savour the food, with a glass or two of wine. This really doesn't seem to happen in Taiwan; maybe people just do eat faster and leave quicker, due to their rather hectic lifestyles? If you know, please let me know!

    Darrell and I were out at 8.15am this morning, walking to our local underground station, popping into Starbucks on the way. I have noticed that the roads and the underground system is particularly quiet at this time of day, in complete contrast to Australia or the UK. This was rather confusing at first. Does Kaohsiung or Taipei not have a rush hour? Well, today, I found out why, at least in Kaohsiung; the shops don't actually open until 11am, closing at 10pm. Finally, the penny dropped. We were literally waking up, six hours before the shops even open… who'd have thought it!

    In the end, we grabbed a quick bite to eat in McDonald's, to my horror, but it was either that, or eat nothing at all. This has been the one aspect of life in Taiwan I have found hard. Searching for a decent place to eat, where you can relax, eating at a normal time of day, has almost been an impossible task. It is one of the reasons why we preferred to eat at the hotel each evening. Here we could dine when we wanted, and not rushed to leave as quickly as possible!

    Taiwan has been a learning curve for us; I would love to return in twenty years and see just how much it has changed. Tourism is important for all Asian countries, and I'm sure as Taiwan opens up, more and more to western tourism, some of the more outdated practices will be changed. Café's and restaurants need to be open all day, to cater for people, if they can't, then tourists and visitors will vote with their feet.

    ​I suppose my blog today does seem rather critical of Taiwan, and in a way it is. However, I believe this country will be a tourism hub of the future — just not yet. I am a traveller at heart, and do enjoy experiencing new cultures, but I have to end this entry by saying, that Taiwan has probably been the most difficult country to navigate yet, even more so than South Korea — challenging is an understatement, however, I wouldn't change our time here for the World!

    Taiwan is unique, friendly, and welcoming and its people are generous, helpful and extremely respectful, why wouldn't you want to come?  A holiday is about making memories, and we have made plenty of those to take with us on our travels. If you have doubts about coming to Taiwan, then don't — come, enjoy, and soak up this amazing country, but just don't expect it to be easy!
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