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Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2004 - 3:12 p.m. Merchandise..... Taiwan Costs..... Photos..... Q&A
Yeah! Finally got my scooter towed. Dont know why I am so delighted about it, but I am. It happened Sunday when I went down to Kaoshuing for an eye doc appt (more on that later). I parked near the Far Eastern Department store. I should have known by how quickly I got the space that it was not a legit one. But I was really tired from K. corrupting me again the night before (no more Long Island Iced Teas for you chica!) I was originally going to stay down in Kaoshung for a movie or some Thai food, but then some Typhoon weather hit and my cold medication made me really sleepy. So I came back early. Thats when I saw it, or more like, didnt see it. I walked by the area where my scooter was at least 5 times before realizing it was gone. People move scooters around their general parking area all the time to make room for more. Even the security guards at the Mitsukoshi Department Store do this. So I thought that my scooter was just not in the exact area I left it. Then I saw it. The yellow chalk marks on the ground. When scooters are towed here, the police write their license plate numbers and the towing contact info on the ground where the scooter was. And sure enough, there was my license number. The license tags are in English alphabet and arabic numbers (1,2,3,etc). At this point I could barely keep my eyes open from the cold meds, so I stumbled home and went to sleep. I planned on getting the scooter the next day. How? I have no idea, there was no way I was calling the number in yellow chalk next to my license plate number, but I just didnt have the energy to think about it then.I had heard about scooter retrival being about 700-800 nt, so loglically enough I brought 3000 nt with me on the way to the scene of the towing. haha. This is a VERY cash society, and if for some reason it was an expensive tow and I didnt have the money with me there would be an ATM run. No way.
My scooter, the green one in front. (No, that is NOT an oil spill!) So the plan was to go to the chalk area, find a taxi and point. It was really hot out, and I still wasnt feeling up to par, so I started looking for a taxi as soon as I left my apt. It took about 15 min walking to find one, and at that point I was only a few blocks from the desired area. I got in the taxi, pointed straight ahead and said yes when he asked if I wanted to go to the train station (my scooter was parked just meters from there). Just before we hit the station I pointed right. Somehow we got to the right area (with my non-existent Chinese this was a bloody miracle!). I started to do my vroom-vroom charades and saying "My scooter, bye bye." He started to get the pic, so I drilled it home by pointing to the chalk marks. I could see the light go off in his head. Cool, it worked! I felt really good when he got out and looked at the chalk marks to make sure he knew where to take me, yeah! It didnt take long to get there. The taxi ride was 110 nt(less than $4US), and the cost to get my scooter out from the towing people was 300 nt (about $9). Cheap! I am told by friends that there may be a second fine coming in the mail. So be it. I think I figured out why I was so excited to get towed. There are so many times here when we crazy foreigners are treated as trained monkey on a pedestal. Even today when I was riding my scooter for a few blocks without my helmet and rode past numerous cops who clearly saw my infraction, they dont pull me over. Rarely if ever at least. This towing was one of the few times where I have treated as a normal person. I know. I wasnt near the scooter when it happened, but I dont care. This is a nice feeling and I am not giving it up. I dont being treated special, I wanna be a normal shmoo. I know there are people who seek out situations where they are treated like kings and queens, I am just not one of them. Time up on this computer, so more about my flaps, lube and jockey strap cup eye details later. Hmmmmm.
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