The Unexpected

Kaitlin and I woke up this morning to discover that our perfect day and balmy night had melted into a gusty, overcast morning in the mid 60s. Bummer.

We quickly abandoned our snorkeling-and-swimming plans, and after a somewhat slim breakfast buffet (the effects of coming down late, I suppose), we rented a scooter and drove off to the Southernmost tip of Taiwan, as the wind and occasional rain drops recalled for me my last trip to Kenting. Fortunately, though, it was not nearly so bad.

Nonetheless, after our little hike we jumped at the sight of a roadside Starbucks, and went in to sit out the worst of it, finding a little enclave of apparently French Westerners there, too, and inadvertently missing a window of clear skies while we sipped. Afterwards we made a short stop at South Bay beach, then gave up utterly and went back to the hotel to check out and return our scooter.

About a half hour, several helpful clerks and several obnoxious hawkers later, we were on our bus back to Kaohsiung, our trip having been cut significantly shorter than was originally planned. Once back, we continued in our unsuccessful quest for a Kaohsiung Starbucks mugs for Kaitlin (seriously, Starbucks? Why stock only Taichung at the Kaohsiung HSR station?), then went home for a chill evening and a dinner of dumplings and milk tea.

And just like that, Kaitlin's last day in Kaohsiung was over. Tomorrow morning she boards a flight home, and I return to my routines.I'll miss her. And hopefully she'll remember the trip not only for the bad unexpected moments, but the good as well!