I’m sure you’re surprised by the title, I am so glad to be able now to share my experience. Anyway, start with the beginning. Left Taipei today to go on an East Coast experience. The map (at this time, because it might change) is:

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=215406526423984620545.0004aab1fea69436b434d&ie=UTF8&ll=23.990801,121.60346&spn=1.414008,0.454759&t=h&vpsrc=6&output=embed&w=500&h=500]

In Taipei Train Station I also ate lunch, bought a small package (1.50 euro), containing some rice, chicken, soy meat and cabbage. In Romania, same thing would be double the price.

The train crossed half the island and arrived, after 2 hours, in Hualien. First thing I did was to head to the hostel.

I checked in and left most of my baggage. I had to move fast, I had only 3 hours of light left and a lot to do.

So I went to a scooter rental shop.
“Hello, I would like to rent a scooter.”
“Yes, have license?”
“Yes, but just for cars”
“Drive scooter before?”
“No”
“No rent, dangerous”
“But I have a bike”
“Motorbike?”
“Um.. pedal bike”
“No, nobody rent scooter to you, dangerous”

So I went on the street and found another scooter rental shop.
“I want to rent a scooter, but I’ve never driven one before”
“No, no, but go there” (she pointed to another shop, across the street – probably it’s the competition and she wants to see their scooters crashed).

So I go across the street and what the girl there says is “No problem”. She gives me a scooter, a helmet, shows how to open the trunk, how to start the engine, how to signal and use the lights. She also marks on the contract the places where the scooter is scratched – pretty much everywhere – and then she leaves me. I look at the scooter.. puzzled, then go back in and ask where the throttle is.

Well, since I am writing this, you can imagine I was OK. Didn’t have time to visit what I wanted to, but I went around the city for one hour without crashing into anything.

In the evening I’ve stayed with Iva (another SayTaiwan guest that I’ve met in the plain and again here in the hostel – small Taiwan) and Brendan (English teacher in Taiwan and also an artist).