The language hurdle struck me just I was exiting the airport. Finally there was an agent who understood English and he quoted a price for my taxi fare. It was well within the amount mentioned by my contact in Taiwan. That experience reinforced everytime I take a taxi – Taiwanese Taxi drivers are really honest, a far cry from my hometown Bangalore. They cheat ME, a localite speaking the local language.
As I got into the taxi – a gleaming black Merc, the impression exceeded my expecations. Taiwan is a land with forest cover more than any other country in terms of %. As we zipped through the freeway, I could feel how a small country, in political conflict with China, has been able to reach its glory by the dint and determination.
As I moved around the malls and market near the world’s tallest building Taipei 101, I realised, if you blur the faces on these people, you could mistake this place to be the downtown area of any other advanced city like say, New York . This is a place where the western advancement meets eastern warmth. People are extremely friendly, and inspite of their language limitation, they go out of the way to help you.
Language is indeed a hurdle! Most of the speak Mandarin and English exists in pockets and good English is rare. But when it comes to boards and signs, the authorities have taken conscious efforts to put up English signs next to the Chinese boards and directions, wherever they are, are very clear.
