I took a taxi to try to get cell phones today and didn't realize how close to the hotel it was. It was practically across the street and easily within walking distance, but I still had to pay the minimum fare of $100 Taiwan dollars, about $3 US. The driver felt bad for me that it was so close, but the front desk person suggested I take the taxi to get there. Oh well. I'll just consider it part of the learning curve. Once I did get to the phone store, they told me that since I needed to get an actual phone number and not just a phone, I had to go to another location. So I took another taxi to the main phone place and asked them to write down the destination in Chinese to give to the driver, since most of them don't speak English. I got to the new telephone place, Chungwa Telecom, and they wanted passports, ARCs or work visas, and firstborn children.
I finally ended up with two phones, one for me and one for Christopher, paying $7460 in Taiwan dollars (which is referred to as NT dollars, meaning New Taiwan dollars) for the phones, plus NT $300 (times two) for prepaid minutes for each of our phones. We can go to any 7-11, which are all over the place here, and get more minutes. The 7-11s aren't a thing like the ones in the USA, in case you're wondering. My phone is kind of a pain to use, having to do the old fashioned texting, where you click each letter you need. One click on the 2 for an A, 2 clicks for a B, three clicks for a C. Such a pain, but it's better than the alternative of no phone. They also charge premium prices for cell phones when you're not doing the two-year contract. It still beats not having a phone.
For dinner, we walked to this bento box place across the street and thought the little boxes were so cute, all bundled up with rubber bands. Click on the photo if you want to get a larger view.
This young woman waited on us and was very friendly. It was funny, she made sure to point out that a Subway sandwich shop was up the street if we wanted that instead.
Lindsey ordered the prawns.
I ordered the sliced pork and the boys ordered the deep fried pork.
For less than $9 US dollars, we got four bento boxes and four bottles of water. Each of our boxes came with an egg that was somehow soaked or cooked in soy sauce, along with a square piece of tofu (it kind of looks like a brownie, but it's not, sadly), some rice, various green stuff that I'm not sure what all is, and some kind of sweet stuff, maybe a dried fruit. Who knows. Every day when we eat out, it's a mystery what we're eating. I'm eager to get into my own kitchen again, but am also trying to soak in the new flavors. It's not very easy at times. I was too chicken to taste the brown soy sauce egg, but I did eat a few bites of the tofu and it wasn't too bad. The box was fun to get and I'm sure I'll try another one soon.
I finally ended up with two phones, one for me and one for Christopher, paying $7460 in Taiwan dollars (which is referred to as NT dollars, meaning New Taiwan dollars) for the phones, plus NT $300 (times two) for prepaid minutes for each of our phones. We can go to any 7-11, which are all over the place here, and get more minutes. The 7-11s aren't a thing like the ones in the USA, in case you're wondering. My phone is kind of a pain to use, having to do the old fashioned texting, where you click each letter you need. One click on the 2 for an A, 2 clicks for a B, three clicks for a C. Such a pain, but it's better than the alternative of no phone. They also charge premium prices for cell phones when you're not doing the two-year contract. It still beats not having a phone.
For dinner, we walked to this bento box place across the street and thought the little boxes were so cute, all bundled up with rubber bands. Click on the photo if you want to get a larger view.
This young woman waited on us and was very friendly. It was funny, she made sure to point out that a Subway sandwich shop was up the street if we wanted that instead.
Lindsey ordered the prawns.
I ordered the sliced pork and the boys ordered the deep fried pork.
For less than $9 US dollars, we got four bento boxes and four bottles of water. Each of our boxes came with an egg that was somehow soaked or cooked in soy sauce, along with a square piece of tofu (it kind of looks like a brownie, but it's not, sadly), some rice, various green stuff that I'm not sure what all is, and some kind of sweet stuff, maybe a dried fruit. Who knows. Every day when we eat out, it's a mystery what we're eating. I'm eager to get into my own kitchen again, but am also trying to soak in the new flavors. It's not very easy at times. I was too chicken to taste the brown soy sauce egg, but I did eat a few bites of the tofu and it wasn't too bad. The box was fun to get and I'm sure I'll try another one soon.
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