Still Alive

Hello everyone,
                      Despite the fact that it has been over a week since our last post, we are still very much in the land of the living! The reasons for the delay have been a  combination (or lack of) I/net connections and being on the move. Our last days in Japan were very social, and our time in Taipei all too short. We are now on the island of Koh Samui on the east coast of Thailand, and it is the tropical paradise we had been told about. A bit overdeveloped, it is true, but we are here for a rest, and getting it. I (Keith) have been getting lots of massages (of the most virginal type), and feel very rejuvenated. We leave tomorrow for Phom Penh, in preparation for our Angkor Wat excursion (a four day affair). More of that ex post facto.
Taipei is almost surrealistic, with its bizarre combination of Asiatic and outre Western architecture welded on. It is less chaotic than we had been led to believe, largely because of a very modern Metro system - tho we took taxis. Koji has another penpal here, who was most hospitable and showed us the various quarters of the city. We avoided the Floral Exposition because of the crowds, the chill and the wind, but did see the Chiang Kai Shek Memorial. The latter is in the most extravagant mock herioc style, and seemed to have been designed by an asiatic Albert Speer. Apparently its days as a CKS Memorial are numbered, as CKS seems to be suffering from historical revisionism. What will happen to his personal memorabilia is anyone's guess, as the underwear he wore upon meeting with Eisenhower and other anti-communist dignatories of his era seems to be losing its historical lustre.
Of course, the main purpose of our visit here was the National Palace Museum - the repository of the Q'ing Dynasty treaures of the last Imperial Court. We were impressed beyond all description with the books, calligraphy, paintings, ceramics (particularly) jewellery and curios of precious stones. Needless to say, the collection spanned thousands of years, and is remarkably preserved and displayed. Worth our entire trip, tho we expect to be bowled over again and again as we progress further west.
I am writing this in an I/net cafe on the main drag of Chaweng - the centre of high life on Koh Samui - so can say a good deal less than I would care to. However, we have higher (perhaps absurdly foolish) hopes of the WiFi facilities in the Intercontinental in Phom Penh, so I hope to be able to report at greater length there after Angkor Wat.
For those who knew Kitty Heller, I have heard of her not unexpected death, and and am greatly affected by it. I wonder if you, Leon & Leila, could convey my sincere condolences to Paul & Edwina.
Until next time,
                       Keith & Koji