Because I'm in frickin' Bangkok, that's why. Bangkok is a bit hotter than Taiwan, but it's less moist so the heat isn't as taxing... plus your towel actually gets dry over night. The reason I'm in Thailand is because I went here to get a new visa. The reason I went here to get a new visa is because I'm going to study Chinese in Taiwan, which means I can get a student visa, which means I can get a student ARC (permanent residence, kinda) thing after four months of Chinese studies once I get a new visa. Why you have to go abroad to get a new visa really never made sense to me, but I suppose it's good to get away from home (Sweden?) a bit too.
The reason I'm getting a student visa in the first place is because I got a new job (15h/week at 550 NT/hour, you do the math) and they don't want me to leave the country every other month which I would have to do if I had kept my visitor visa. So I didn't really plan to study Chinese, it's simply something I have to do to make things easier... and I suppose it's worth it, yes? I actually would like to learn Chinese... which I bloody well have to do if I want to get the student ARC since you cant get the ARC unless you write in Chinese WHY you want it. In Chinese. In Chinese. Luckily Noel can help me since he's fluent in Javascript as well as Klingon. And Chinese.
I will (hopefully) pick up my new visa in about two hours. I got this visa using a photoshopped (read: forged) bank statement and photographs that were too low-grade to get accepted.. but I whined and the clerk either got tired of or fell in with me so she gave up (I'm guessing the first one).
///
The actual trip to Bangkok didn't start of well. Even before I left my grazing grounds of Taipei the strap on my right flip-flop broke and I didn't have time to go back home and get another pair of shoes... so I have spent something like 20 hours limping around. Two people have asked me how I hurt my leg so far. Luckily I just picked up a new pair of sturdy flip-flops so the crippled look should soon fade. After breaking the strap, I dropped my laptop on the pavement and dented it. Luckily the damage was merely of aesthetic character. When I finally got to the airport, it turns out I overstayed my visa by one (ONE!) day and I had to pay a 1000 NT (200 SEK) fine and get an ugly stamp in my passport. Luckily this didn't seem to be a problem when applying for a new visa. So I payed the fine, checked in with my e-ticket (a print-out ticket and boarding pass). Apparently the Taiwanese airports aren't up to date and this confused them profoundly. After having my name called out in the speakers twice they finally accepted my ticket and I let out a sigh of relief.
And if all of this isn't enough there's currently an earthquake going on in Taipei. And I'm missing it! Damn it. I love experiencing the forces of nature firsthand.
I also managed to call my family from a phone in Bangkok and man did it feel awkward speaking Swedish again. There's one thing writing it to my friends on MSN every day... but I have barely spoke a word of it since I left and now the words felt corny and clumsy when they left my mouth.
Anyway... time to go.
(I just took this photo, they have a webcam thingie.)
edit:
They have pink taxis here. And drive on the wrong side of the road. And I am lost, but not much.
