For those of you who may have lived overseas, or who specifically lived in Taiwan back in the 70’s, there was a distinct smell when you got off of the plane.  First, it was the smell of rotting vegetation.  However, also part of the smell was the fact that there were open sewers that criss crossed the land.  They smelled as well.  One of the great projects in Taiwan was to cover over those open sewers and make the land more healthy.  They succeded.  The place was magnificant this visit, and the smell was primarily gone.  I really believe that Taiwan has moved from what 30 years ago I would have classified as a 3rd World Country, and they have become first world in each and every way.