Day 11

We are one third of the way through our trip and the visits are just getting better.

The day started with a visit to the office of the manager of the Neihu Research Park. Not quite our Silicone Valley, but this technology hub is an integral part of the Taipei Central City - with 3000 plus firms. The park is a major part of Taipei's expanded vision for the future.

After a lunch of beef noodles and a little shopping, we visited City Hall and the Department of Social Services. This division of the government is responsible for areas that include seniors, low income families, and other segments needing assistance. Going forward they feel that families will have greater needs because of the weak economy. The meeting was followed by a visit to the Discovery Center, which shows historic information on the city of Taipei and the vision for it's future.

Massage break - AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!! The Taiwanese include massage in their routines, and consider it necessary for health. The government assists in the training of blind persons to perform massages.

Our final call was on the Taipei Child Welfare Center, an NGO that provides a home for children whose parents aren't capable of providing one for various reasons. We toured the facilities, handed out books & pencils, and chatted with the residents. A highlight for the kids was having their pictures taken with JP.