I just got back into Shanghai last night. I’ve already decided to go back to Taipei as soon as I start making some dough. At the end of the day, Shanghai is still the more vibrant town and it’s my home, but Taipei, maybe because I have been there so infrequently, also reminds me of home. The food, the way people talk, the general vibe — these are all things that I grew up with when I was in the LA area as a kid. Going to banquets, watching what limited Chinese TV there was, listening to the Taiwan-Mandarin accents of my relatives and family friends. Every time I go back to Taipei the more it reminds me of those days, and the its pull on me gets ever so stronger.

For those who didn’t grow up in a Taiwanese-type household, Taipei is still a refreshing breath of fresh air. It’s an unerringly ugly city, with decades-old buildings that sit squat along the street. The Taipei 101 building towers over everything else. The city has no skyline because the only real skyscraper is the 101. That being said, everyone is civilized, friendly, and not a public spitter. The metro is clean and organized, the taxi drivers like to strike up conversation, and the waiters and waitresses are so polite that they apologize when they serve you things or make suggestions.

And the young people! The women at the nightclubs know how to make themselves look smoking, the guys are all stylish and handsome and confident. The last night I went to Barcode, a sleek lounge with fantastic drinks and tons of eye candy, and then we traipsed downstairs to Room 18, which I’ve heard of many times but never been. At 3 am, my friend drove us to get a midnight snack — Taiwan style breakfast that you just can’t get in Shanghai.

I don’t think I’ve said anything profound here, and it’s not like I’ve completely fallen for this ugly, friendly city with great food. It’s just that for the first time since I moved out here, I feel a connection to a place other than Shanghai. I never had it with HK, I never allowed myself to feel anything for San Francisco (since it might make me go back), and nowhere else in China even came close. Now I do, and I kinda feel like I’m cheating on Shanghai. Shanghai: I will find a way back to you, although this stupid detox/diet thing I’m on doesn’t help.