First of all, I apology for writing in English because I am staying at a friend's and using her computer. Yes, I have arrived in Taipei safely last night. This is after seventeen and half hours of flying. Boy, was I tired! (I had to fly by UA to Hong Kong from S.F. first and then transferred by Thai Airway)

While I was on the plane I felt confident with Ma's winning. Maybe this was because I happened to sit by two (strangers) supporters of Ma. The hot voting air flied around as soon as I was in the airport of H.K. I saw long lines of Chinese lining up by every company that flied to Taipei.

Quickly I took my luggages out of the parasol and changed into Ma's supporters' outfit. Some stared at me and some gave me a thumb up. The airport exit was full of people with signs. Some even shouted to us,"Welcome back to Taiwan to vote!" I smiled back to them with two fingers of V shape. I then spotted my sister Lucy who arrived from Los Angeles ten minutes before me. We were picked up by a driver friend whom we have never met before.

Taipei's night was quiet, clean yet so beautiful. As soon as we arrived to the driver's house, something shocked me. I found out one expensive purse was stolen from my luggage in the airport. No wonder I felt my small luggage was lighter when I picked it up. This Coach purse is worth 450 dollars and it's a gift for someone. Poor Barbara(me) is just a delivery woman. I don't know what to do now. Damn!

I then was disappointed by a bad TV news: Shieh was nominated by old sly President Lee and that Nobel winner Prof. Lee today, the last third day before the election. Oh, well, I guess it will be a neck to neck tight election. I sure am glad that Lucy and I have done our share by coming back home. Let's hope tomorrow I can turn my little frown into a big smile. Dear friends, I have not slept for twenty four hours. I am sure this must have something to do with my roller coaster mood.

Today's (Day 2 in Taipei) biggest agenda for us is to check out the voting site. I feel like that I was 18 again. Remember that we used to check the site for our college entrance examination?

Reporting live from Taipei,

Barbara