random observations about taiwan

1. dogs: hordes of abandoned dogs wander all over the streets. they're mostly black and pointy eared.
2. trash cans: there's like 1 trash can per square mile. I don't wanna litter, but I kinda have to... A couple trash cans per store entrance can take care of the garbage problem, right?
3. Roman sandals: seems to be the latest woman's fashion trend. those shoes that Roman legionnaires used to wear.
4. Lady Gaga: she's pretty huge
5. multicultural: there's like 4 groups: hakka, hokkien, chinese, and aboriginals (and pockets of westerners here and there). pretty surprising for an island that's like 1/10th the size of california. realized this only recently.
6. American movies: nobody laughs at the cultural gags, like getting stoned or whatever. It was weird for me. but a character can fall on his face, and that's funny for everybody.
7. Japanese influence: heavy japanese influence here, which makes sense (history, proximity). like the ladies dressed as dolls that greet you at the elevator, thanking you for your time, and bowing until the doors close..

I ate a cricket at an aboriginal restaurant. It was frightening.