So we are living in a suburb of Taipei, called Shin Juang. It is about 15 minutes to the nearest MRT Station. But thank goodness that we have a scooter, right? or maybe not. Taiwan has the most scooters per capita. There are aprox 10 million scooters here. It seems everyone and their dog has a scooter. Yes, people ride with their dogs on the scooter. And as it turns out their entire families, Mom, Dad, Brother, Sister and Fido. 4 people and a dog is the record that we have seen on a scooter so far but I am always looking for a family of 5. There are different ways that a family can ride on a scooter together.
1. Mom drives, Big sister sits behind Mom and holds on for dear life, Little Brother stands, yes stands in front of Mom and holds onto the mirrors and hopes Mom takes it easy on the corners.
2. Dad drives, Mom sits behind him and baby is sandwiched in between the two of them. Don't forget the 3 bags of Groceries that are balancing at Dad's feet. Oh and Baby doesn't have a helmut on, I guess they don't make them that small.
3. Mom is driving, sister 1 sits behind Mom holding on and Sister 2 sits behind her trusting that Sister 1 is holding on tight enough for the both of them.
4. Grandpa is driving home from the local hardware store, a little home renovation. Wood and all the supplies he needs are strapped all over the scooter. The wood he needs is sticking straight up into the air and everything else is in a box balanced on the back of the scooter tied with some rope. Oh and he is on the phone to Grandma.
It is for sure a trip driving here in Taipei. All types of people drive scooters, business types in suits with their briefcase at their feet, grandma on her way to the market, families, young teenages going fast with girlfriend on the back wearing a short skirt.
The scooter is to Taipei as the taxi is to New York, as the tuk-tuk is to Bangkok.
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