I’M IN SOUTH AFRICA!

So far its a country rich in culture but poor in infrastructure. No broadband Internet, no safe, reliable public transportation. I just came back from tea and samosas at “Uncle’s” house. Uncle is the official driver for the CFHI program that I am here with. He identifies himself as Malay but does not speak Malay nor has ever been to Malaysia. His wife is half Indian and has relatives in India but also identifies herself as Malay because Indian’s had no rights under Apartheid. Under Apartheid, Malays were considered Coloured people and could qualify for a broader range of housing options (although obviously not as broad as whites).

Their name is Mammath and they live in a formerly coloured township in the Capetown Flats. These little neighborhoods are litterally sectioned off from one another by uncrossable highways which under Apartheid acted as physical and psychological barriers between people.

My family, the Arnolds, are also Malay and Muslim and still send their kids to Malay schools where the children are all from Malay households and learn Arabic. They speak a mix of Afrikaans (Dutch/English colonial language) and English at home and eat wonderful Malay food(curries, chicken biriyani, etc) which Mrs Arnold, the grandma and matriarch of the family cooks.

Its just interesting to me to see, meet and experience the lives of the people here and note the differences and the legacy of SA’s history here. Better pick up a history book soon.

Anyway, after a few small bumps in the road (like getting bed bugs the first night, not being able to communicate with the outside world the first two days), I am starting to enjoy myself and feel more comfortable.

Going to South Africa today

On my way to the airport . . . gotta pack . . . gotta return bro’s car . . .

Fun places in China

I just found this card in my pocket and want to jot down the info before I lose it.

Note to self: Next time I am in Shanghai, I should definitely look up Cindy and Soto (friends of my brother’s friend Dave). They’ve got a nice restaurant there called Mekong river Restaurant in three locations Metro city 02164268256 Bund Hotel 63603677 Shanghai Times Square 63918028

Must go back to Taikang Rd alley 210 to check out the hip new clothing and art stores, get a cup of coffee and feel the China art scene

Leaving Taipei today

So much for relaxing. Three full days of being in the hospital watching surgeries and seeing patients, going to the National Palace museum, shopping for ceramics at the old town in Yingge, seeing friends, family dinners, clubbing, drinking and shopping. I also got to see some good Taiwanese friends who have moved back to Taipei recently, Charles and Kathy who have a new three year old and Steve who is finishing up a PhD in Chemistry at Qinghua. Unfortunately they all tell me that I am getting fat. I figure I’m just making some extra reserves for the cold weather at Dartmouth. Haha

Keigo left this morning for Japan. I think he had a good time which is great. I also leave Taipei today for San Francisco. Four days and then I’m off to Africa.

Great Eats in Taipei

OLDIES BUT GOODIES
1) Din Tai Fung (Yung Kang Jie) – Go on 9-10am on Saturdays and Sundays for their famous “Tang Bao” Soup Dumplings. Some of the best dumplings you’ve ever had wrapped in a very thin dumpling skin, each filled with soup. The tang bao are gently placed in a broth based soup where they osmotically soak up more goodness before you finally finish them off.

2) No Name Beef Noodles (Heng Yang Rd/Tao Yuan Jie) – This place has no sign, no name, no menu, only the best Taiwanese beef noodles you’ve ever had. Just go there and ask for “hong shao niu rou mien” and you get a steaming bowl of hand pulled noodles in a spicy hot beef soup with generous pieces of beef and tendon cooked tender.

3) Fei Qian Wu (Zhong Shan Bei Rd Sec 1 181 Alley No. 13-2, closed Mondays) – If you like Unagi rice, this place is as good as any in Japan. Traditional Japanese style restaurant with wooden benches, fast service and excellent unagi rice. Great place for a quick dinner with friends or family.

4) Sheng Ji Dan Dan Noodles (Chang Chun road near the intersection with Dun Hua, go up Chang Chun on the Hong Kuo building side) – My favorite lunch place in Taipei. Tender dan dan noodles with a creamy spicy peanut sauce, a bowl of hong yiu chao shou (wontons in spicy red oil) and an Apple Sidra soda really hit the spot!

THE NEW STUFF
1) SuHang (Jin Nan Rd Sec 1 No. 2-1 2nd Fl, phone 0223963186) – One of the best Shanghainese style places I’ve been to. Excellent roast pork in steamed buns, shanghainese dumplings, rice with greens. Ask for the dou shu dish (I hear its their best).

Pictures from home!

The lights of Taipei’s Xinyi district from Taipei 101 (the tallest building in Taipei – for now . . .)

One of my favorite pieces at the National Palace musum. Its a piece of Jade whose natural colors were shaped by the artist into a very convincing piece of pork . . . mmmmmm

Keigo, invading someone’s privacy in Yingge?

My family at my grandparents’ house. I hope to see them again soon.

Taiwanese Medicine – a manufacturing approach to health care

Its amazing how well run this place is. Computerized IT systems that allow the doctor to see a patient’s charts, previous diagnoses and office visit notes, imaging and meds all from a smart computer terminal that recognizes and authenticates (via a smart card reader) the user. This as well as the efficiency with which these HMO doctors see their patients results in an average consult time of 10-20 minutes per patient. In some cases, the patients we saw today were in and out in less than 5.

Contrast this with UCSF where the pain management doctor I shadowed sometimes took 30-50 minutes with each patient and you start to see how the bills can add up.

I would be interested to see how a third party public health group rates the care at Chang Gung Hospital in Taiwan. Without much experience to go by, I would say that from what I have seen so far, it is accessible (all Taiwanese are able to go to any hospital), efficient without sacrificing quality, and cost effective for the patient. Maybe the manufacturing mentality that has served Taiwan so well in making semiconductors CAN indeed be applied to health care?

I’m finally in Taipei!

Whew! No matter what I say about being a global citizen, not having a home, etc, there’s nothing better after a long trip than to be in familiar surroundings.

My parents picked me up at the airport yesterday after 24hrs of flying and layovers. A hot bowl of wonton soup, fresh Taiwan pineapples and a hot shower later, I felt completely relaxed.

Its good to be home . . .

Shanghai: The Next Bubble

In Shanghai, I saw several things that really amazed me.

From the swanky bars, restaurants, cafes, and boutiques of Xingtiandi to the inconspicuous alleyways of Taikang Lu, “incubating” the next generation of fashion designers and artists, I saw places there that rival the swankiest of neighborhoods in Manhattan or Harajuku in Tokyo. The prices were high even by western standards yet many of the local Shanghainese shopped, sipped and strolled frivolously as I imagine their counterparts do in Beverly Hills or on Fifth Avenue in NYC.

As if that were not enough, the next day, our broker took us to see some of the finest new villas and apartment complexes in Pudong. We passed Spanish style villas complete with two car garages, private gardens and furry, short-legged pets; gated high rise buildings with sweeping views of the Bund; elite boarding style secondary schools and luxurious parks. All around us, we felt the buzz of excitement, wealth is being created in Shanghai, and WE CAN’T AFFORD TO MISS IT!

More pics from China

My family and our adopted kids!

The bridge in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon near Huangshan

Saya and Jiang Zemin, the former president of China, can you see the resemblance?

Those were BIG mushrooms!