Mike's Adventures to Taipei, Taiwan: Part 2

Mike's Adventure to Taiwan

Part Two:

Yesterday, I left you wondering what Adan and I were talking about, besides the pigeon sisters. We talked and laughed, snickered, and giggled over the first ten interview questions that I ask of my host. Interviews are fun and I learn a lot about my new friends. It took us all afternoon to finish, we had our supper, played with Michico, and then went off to bed. Michico suggested that we go to sleep early because she had a big day planed for me. Adan doesn't like to go outside, so it was perfectly alright with him if I spent time being a fluffhead tourist.

And what a crazy tour Tuesday was. Because it was a weekday, Michico couldn't take me to this next spot. So Michico's Grandpa took me to the tallest building in the world in 2007. It's called Taipei 101. He said that it is the tallest in the world right now, but next year it will not be. I guess that means that somewhere in the world there will be one taller than this one. Whew, I'm dizzy just thinking about it. The whole time I was standing on top of the world, 508M high, I was thinking about Gretchen. She doesn't like to leave the apartment either, but I wished she did, because sharing this wonderful, awesome sight with her would have made it all the more special. Michico's grandpa went out of his way to see that I had a very nice time. I was very happy touring with Grandpa and enjoyed our time together gazing out over all of Taipei.

Pretty soon it started getting dark and all the street lights were turning on. Taipei was so beautiful at night. Grandpa pointed to a green circle way across the city. He said that was Miramar Wheel and it was our next stop. I thought that high tower was something, but you should have seen this great, gigantic, super huge, Ferris wheel. It was all lit up with green florescence lights and our carriage went round and round, while the lights all over Taipei glittered and sparkled in the night. When we got to the top, the wind got so strong that it made my carriage shake. It was breathtaking. I wished for Gretchen to see what I was seeing, but now that I think about it, it would have scared her to death. I was even scared there for a minute, but, wow, what a ride! It was so interesting, too, because when my Ferris wheel carriage got to the top, I could see the Taipei 101 building.

I cannot tell you how utterly and completely worn out this rag bag, meaning me, was when I got back to Adan's apartment. I curled up next to Adan and went right to sleep.

Talk about a whirlwind tour. It took me all day on Wednesday to get over the spectacular sights I'd seen while touring with Grandpa. That night, Michico took me to a really special place where cats and people to hang out together. It was called Minimal Café. I was a very relaxing place. Michico told me that this was her favorite cat's café. She said that there were lots of café's like this one, but she liked this one best. It had a very unique atmosphere. The lights were turned down low so that the cats would feel calm and comfortable. She said the dark interior design let people go inside and feel peaceful. It was like a store for cats and the café's owner took care of many street cats that hang around this café. She worked very hard trying to care for all the stray and abandoned cats. Each cat in the café had its own life style. Everyone on the café's staff worked very hard to help momma cats give birth to their kitties, and help the sick ones get well by having charity bazaars and stuff to raise money for the veterinary bills. The café owner's philosophy was that cats give people joy, so the staff worked very hard to keep the cats safe.

I was introduced to the main café cat, a very beautiful, gentle cat, giving tender love and care to all the café's customers. She was very nice to me and showed me how very warm the coffee machine was. She said it was the best heater for cats.

We left the Minimal Café and went through the night market near there. So many stores and most of them had shop cats. A boutique, a hair salon. Wow, the whole city seemed to love cats a lot. It was pretty exciting to see all those furry little bodies hanging out and preening themselves in the shop windows.

Thursday, Adan and I spent our time playing and hanging out in front of his windows, taunting the pigeon sisters, and then we finished the rest of my interview questions.

Friday was the icing on the cake. We went to the Night Market in ShihLin. It's a fascinating place. Gobs and gobs of people, shops and food…lots of food, everywhere! Michico held on to me really tight. She was afraid I'd get lost in the crowds. Besides all the food shops, I also got to see the Night Market's temple. But the food—I couldn't stop eating. Michico kept bringing me things like fried chicken. She had to stand in line for a long time just to get me a juicy piece. I also had something called Pepper Pasty…that was very famous, too and also had long lines. And something else called Water Fry-fun. Dumplings, I think. But it was very, very tasty.

On Saturday, it was time for me to leave. I was very sad to say good bye to my new, friends. I had such a wonderful time in Taiwan. I saw so many wondrous things. I found out that I really liked being up high and looking out over the universe. Arion and Michico took me to the airport and told the people at the boarding gate that I they had to take very special care of me and make sure I was comfortable. I gave Michico and Arion huge hugs. I'd given Adan a huge hug, too, before I left him at his apartment.

I have to say I had no trouble at all with the flight, once the plane left the runway. I had my own seat by the window, next to an old, white-haired gentleman carrying a large teddy bear with a huge pink bow around its neck, home to his granddaughter in Oregon. Of course, I asked him if he knew my beans and Gretchen. But he shook his head and told me no, that Oregon was a big state and there were a lot of people in it—he didn't know everybody. But he was kind, had a soft soothing voice, and didn't seem to mind talking to a fluffhead at all. While I rested my weary, wiry, black head on his knee, he told me the story of his life. I think. I woke up when the plane was landing. I needed to find some cables in a hurry and get home to Gretchen and her mom bean. I found a telephone station and teleported the rest of the way home.

Taiwan was a wonderful experience. Adan is a great cat and friend. Michico is a warm and charming hostess. Anyone planning on visiting them will have the time of their life.