After two weeks in Massachusetts we've headed back to Taiwan. We didn't take our trip to Japan but we're thinking about reprising it in June. We'll see.

Our flights from Boston to San Francisco to Taipei were fine but not ones I'd like to repeat. The next tickets we book will be based on carrier first, price second. All of this international traveling has changed my expectations for basic travel so that when I end up on an American based carrier I'm disappointed.

We took Japan Airlines from Taiwan to the United States and had comfortable seats, good food, and an excellent entertainment system. Because we changed our return plans we didn't take JAL back, but instead ended up on United. The seats were smaller and none of the amenities like a foot rest for my short legs. The food was awful, the flight attendants a bit surly. For the first flight to San Francisco we had to pay to see a movie. On a six hour flight they gave us only water, fed us nothing and expected $5 to see a movie. Outrageous.

On the other hand, our luggage wasn't lost, the flights left on time and we arrived in Taipei early. But being happy with those kinds of basic expectations is like rewarding a child for not hitting the baby. I paid the airline to get me and my luggage to a final destination, right? I shouldn't feel like I have to praise them for doing that. Anyway...

We're staying at our friend Simona's apartment for a few days before taking the train back to Kaohsiung. We had a lovely dinner at a neighborhood dumpling place last night and slept for ten hours. It's pouring rain this morning, something that happens frequently in Taipei in the winter and rarely in Kaohsiung, but we'll make due. Simona's mom is planning on taking us around the city and into the mountains for the next couple of days and she's not intimidated by the rain. Tea plantations, here we come.