I'm here

Well after a total of 22 hours (20 hours of flights and a 2 hour layover in LAX) I'm here and just finishing my first day in the office. It is a full 12 hours difference so I left CLE at 9:00 PM and 22 hours later I get to Taiwan at 7:00 am. Just enough time to go to the hotel and shower/eat before getting picked up at 9:00 to go to the factory. The nice thing was the new EVA airlines plane for the 15 hour flight from LA. I was in deluxe class with individual touch screen LCDs in each seat. On demand video with a choice of around 7 American movies to pick from. Many foreign films as well as sitcoms. The system allows you to pause rewind and fast forward with on screen touch control. It also has video games, music, and other options. Nothing makes 15 hours seem short but it does make it almost bearable.

Well 2 more days of work, maybe 3 if we come in on Saturday, and then it is off for 3 days of nature and hiking to the top of Yushan Mountain. I'm pretty excited and I think I have everything I need. Pack, super light sleeping bag good for 40 degrees, power bars, trial mix, craisins, tuna fish, water, titanium spork, shoes, cloths, headlamp, hat, gloves, etc. It will be 75-80 degrees when we start the hike and around 40 at the top so I've got the layers worked out.

I'm really missing the family and feel bad that my wife has to deal with all of the crazy schedules with the kids plus work while I'm here in Taiwan. Part of it is work but I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the climb. I guess I will owe her big time when I get back for not complaining and allowing me to take part in what I believe is one of those once in a lifetime opportunities.

Oh and I have my camera and cell phone. Plenty of pictures and I'll be calling home and sending a picture from the 13,000 feet. Now I just have to figure out how to make one of those cool video's like Maria.