From inside Typhoon Fung-Wong

It's been coming for the past few days. It was just a question of when it would hit. We've been watching its progress.

The supermarkets were packed yesterday with people stocking up for the lock down. Billboards have been rolled up and tied down; the warships brought in and the sandbags are out.

I got a text last night from my boss saying the city was going to be in emergency mode on July 28.

Sweet.

I love typhoon days; especially as I'm paid a salary.

We closed all the doors and windows and went to bed. Waking up this morning, the sounds of the wind and rain were whipping against our bedroom window that overlooks the harbour. Looking out we can't even see the other side of the docks.

Looking out the windows now, the streets are deserted. The storm has taken the country hostage and anyone who breaks the curfew is liable to get a flying piece of debris in the head. I'm sure the 7-Eleven will be open though.

It's surprising we have internet, as it comes via the cable TV cable, that runs out the bedroom window, flops around the outside of the house then heads up to the roof where it does a lap of the perimeter of the building, gets turned into a clothes line before disappearing down the back.

Many cables seem to run like this in Taiwan, which is surprising considering the country's overall typhoon-preparedness. All the buildings are made from concrete and covered in ceramic tile. Although the aesthetic is hideous, as well as boiling hot in summer and freezing in winter, they are pretty earthquake and typhoon resistant.

Having said that, you can feel the house move in the force of the storm.

Luckily we are on the fifth floor (less lucky to have no lift) and are immune from the flooding and landslides that affect other areas of the country. Well when the roof leaks, as it surely will later today, we may get some flooding in the kitchen.

What to do? You can't complain at a free day at home. Could catch up on the washing and attend to those dishes piling up in the sink but I think we might settle in for a video marathon with a couple of pipes of my favourite tobacco.

With winds of 200 km/hr outside, it might be best to stay indoors.