If you're running behind on your Christmas shopping it'll be alright if you live in Taipei.  Walking around the 101 building you'd never know it was Christmas day.  There were plenty of people walking around.  I wouldn't say people were really getting their shop on but they were definitely out and about.  In general I'd say it's similar to what I noticed when I was in Shanghai.  It just goes to show that Christmas isn't really that big a deal over here.

 

And with so much shopping space around I'm surprised I've only seen one Starbucks around.  Seriously, I want a Chai Tea right now but I can't find a Starbucks.  How ironic.

 

The sky bridges they have connecting everything is really convenient for shoppers.  If I weren't so lazy yesterday I would've just used them to get around and avoided the rain all together.  Eh, actually probably not.  There's a whole bunch of high end shops here but I don't think I roll that high.

 

And OMG, what's up with the line to watch a movie (at least I that's what I'm assuming the line is for).  Is there a really good movie that I don't know about or am I that spoiled that I don't remember how fun it is to go watch a movie on the big screen?  That was a rhetorical question...  Anyhow after closer examination the line wasn't really that long as the ticket counters were right around the corner.

 

I've walked like three blocks on the sky bridges and I think it's quite impressive really.  I better clarify that.  It's impressive how well thought out the bridges are.  It's impressive I'm still trotting my ass around and I haven't acquired some meaningless bullshit.  It's even more impressive that I haven't run into a freaking Starbucks.  I know I saw one earlier but I can't remember where the hell I saw it at.  How annoying!

 

As I'm walking around I find myself increasingly aware of how much tech crap I have on me at the moment.  First there's this stupid Pantech phone.  Can't find the calculator on it.  can't figure out how to create a new doc using Word (because you probably can't).  And by the way, what a pain to type on!  Then there's the ole trusty iPod.  Perhaps I would be saying "old trusty Zune" if they had what I wanted in stock.  Lastly there's the Canon SD750 camera.  I haven't really made up my mind on the camera yet but it seems pretty good.

It is Christmas after all so I'll end this note a little less whiny.  Christmas is the time of year that should be spent with loved ones.  I'm not religious or anything but it's still a good excuse to use to get together with people that you really care about.  This is the second time in as many years that I've managed to find myself in unchartered territory  But just because I’m not spending time near my family doesn’t mean that they’re not on my mind or in my heart.  I spent this Christmas reflecting on the things I have and the things I wish for.  Right now I’m feeling fortunate that the wishes I have are fairly trivial and that everything I really need, I already have.