A color swatch anomaly: Yellow disguised as white

never stationary and is always moving. Traffic signage is tourist-friendly and strategically located. Free wi-fi is almost everywhere with speeds I have never experienced.

What I truly appreciate is the friendly character of its residents. You can ask any English-speaking civilian for direction and they will oblige to stop and take time to answer your questions—a rarity in Hong Kong or Japan. Taxi drivers are Uber-like, courteous, appropriately dressed and will always give the exact change. The time to shop is towards the afternoon where almost all side streets become night markets.

I have to mention the gastronomic delights they offer. Food is definitely cheaper than HongKong and Tokyo and their locations are easily accessible. I was lucky to be able to join a Fil-Chinese group from Manila who really went out of their way to assist us first-timers. A jolly and educated businessmen that will always worry about our comfort and needs.

This very friendly group took us to dining places where the best Taiwanese cuisine are located. The seafood market offered fresh (and I mean fresh) ocean produce cooked exquisitely the Taiwanese way. Also notable is that place Lao Pai Chang where one can sample majestically cooked pork knuckles. The long line is enough to convince you that the place is popular even with locals. The city, especially the Ximending area, is rich in culture and history. You can easily feel the pride of the Taiwanese in turning this former province of China to a strong democratic republic and the hard work imprinted to make this tiny island an economic giant.

Their tallest structure, Taipeh 101, is a befitting symbol of their tenacity and innovating spirit. Again, I believe it is always the people that makes the destiny of nations. They also speak Mandarin like mainland China but that is where the similarity ends. Good work, good deeds and good faith to all.