Siliconchef by Brian Richardson
Sunday, April 21, 2002. 5:34PM.
Gate 22, Terminal 1, Tokyo/Narita International Airport.
In six minutes I board my plane for Taipei. My time in Japan is almost at an end. Of course, I’ll probably be back here in a few months, so it’s not a permanent farewell. This is the same terminal I flew out of last month.
I managed to end my trip with only a few yen left in my pocket. This is a good thing, considering how nasty it is to change coins when heading into another country. Nobody likes to take those little aluminum yen coins, so they build up like some sort of financial barnicle in my pockets. I have just over $100 in unconverted currency. I have a feeling I may need more for China, but I hate carrying lots of money anywhere. Beijing has a reputation for being prone to tourist scams and theft. I’ll see if I can avoid changing any of my pocket currency in Taipei; I should be able to find a Cirrus-friendly ATM somewhere near the office.
In most cases, this is the day I’m flying home. But this business trip spans three countries. I won’t be bound for home until next Saturday. For now I remain on the road, ready to make the leap from one country to the next. At least the jet lag won’t be so bad.
