If you go on surf trips, the most important thing is getting your boards there.  Every airlines has different rules so before you book a flight, you better check.  We booked our Taiwan flight on Peach Airlines and the surfboard rules are very strict.  You can only put 2 surfboards in a bag and if you try to sneak 3 in a bag, they won’t check it in.  Also, the maximum length is 220cm or 7’2″.  They won’t accept it even though it is an inch longer.    

Surfers will do anything to get their boards on the flight.  Kimura-san’s bag was 7’3″ so I got out the tape, folded down the nose, and taped it up.  It barely passed and we were lucky.  By the way, the surfboard fee is only 6300 yen or $40.  

Once you check in, all the stress is gone.  Just board the flight, close your eyes, and wake up when you land at your destination.  

I’ve been to Taiwan many of times.  Getting to the city, I’ve taken the bus, train, and taxi before.  It’s very troublesome when traveling with so many surfboards.  So this time I tried something different.  I booked a private driver.  It was worth it!  

Everything made it safely.  Gonna spend a couple days in the city eating everything I see.  Then head to the coast for a week of surf, surf, and surf.

This is the Mercedes Benz that picked us up.  It only cost $10 more than a normal taxi so I’d have to say that this is the best way to get from the airport to your hotel.  Safe travels everyone!

Long lines is good food!

My first dinner in Taiwan.  Bitter Mellon with pork soup, fried spare ribs, pigs feet, and sticky rice.  Total price $220TWD or $6.85USD.  So tasty and delicious!

Japanese culture is so beautiful.  This might look like a normal alley to some, but it’s art to me.  Everything about it makes me happy.

I came here 2 days ago and according to my iPhone, I took 11,494 steps.  Look at my average before that when I’m in Hawaii.  Haha.  I look like a lazy guy huh?   No, I don’t like to walk at all, but in Japan, walking is mandatory.  Maybe that’s why everybody is so healthy here.

Eating at Sukiya early for breakfast is a must for me.  It’s cheap, delicious, and the only place open at 5am.  All this cost under $5.  Since 1990 when I first started traveling to Japan, this is the cheapest it’s ever been.    

Rice with natto and raw egg is my favorite.  I can eat this for breakfast every morning.

This shows 11,494 steps I took but it doesn’t sow how many times I tripped.  I’m not use to wearing shoes so I trip a lot here.  It felt so clumsy so I ended up wearing my slippers.  Probably the only guy wearing slippers in the city.  I can walk better and it’s a lot safer.  I’d rather have cold feet than to fall.

I woke up at 2am this morning because of jet lag.  I checked the surf forecast again and there are 3 active cyclones right now.  One is a Category 4 typhoon heading straight to Taiwan.

It’s going to hit the East coast exactly where I’m going to drive to.  So I’m basically driving right into a Category 4 typhoon.  The waves are going to be huge, wild, and probably unsafe.  During every typhoon, there are windows of opportunity.  As a surfer, you must find them.  And when you can’t find them, you better hide in your hotel until the typhoon passes…