Zai jien

I'm sitting at my place after finishing the last of my work and teaching. Last night I rushed to finish all errands, while I spent the morning walking around in the hot humid heat to get to the post office and grocery store. Naturally, they are in the opposite direction.

This has been a year of so many highs and lows. I have so many good memories from my time here. A few photos too.

What a weird feeling it is to pack up, leave, and say goodbye. I'm still cramming some unexpected gifts into my baggage.

In less than an hour I'll head out to the airport for my late night flight. I guess this is the close of my Taiwan story.


In September I may be starting a new story, and possibly even creating a blog. Time will tell.

Pizza & movie day

Since we are finished exams we held a pizza-making, movie-watching day.

The ingredients:
-bread
-cheese
-carrots, soy beans, and corn
-pineapple
-ketchup



Ready to go into the toaster over. Their time has come.


I 'watched' Alvin and the Chipmunks three times without going insane.

Today is my last full day at work. The last month goes by so quickly. Tomorrow I will be there most of the day, but I won't teach my last class entirely. I'm glad my flight was changed to a later time so that I can do extra things before I leave.

The unexpected lunch

So I had to file my taxes again, but this time in advance for my earnings during 2008 because I won't be here next year. We got to the office, but for various reasons we weren't able to finish before the staff took their lunch break. The tough decision was made and we went to Libra for lunch (I've had drinks there before).


At the tax office, my taxes were filed. I scoped out the Free Materials of Aliens. They are in Chinese, though.



Back at school at the end of the day, one student was by my desk and looking through my things. He saw a clear folder I have that is covered in 7-11 and other stickers. That's "so infantile" he said. Absolutely hilarious! He was a student in my summer camp class, and over the past year he has grown and changed a lot. He's a teenager alright. He's so cool. (I'm getting old.)

Typhoon Fengshen

Typhoon Fengshen survives - for the time being.

Crispy munchy air

Goodbye party

It never crossed my mind to hold a goodbye party for me, but I got one. After work we drove to Longtan to see the night view. We sat outdoors and drank, lit sparklers, and played zang gui (dirty ghost a.k.a. tag).




At midnight we went for KTV. Earlier I was told that we'd go to a KTV place from 12-5 am and I couldn't tell if she was joking. She wasn't.


Buffet:



In the end we didn't stay till 5 am because we were all tired. We left a little past 3 am. It was either 3 or 5, but I favoured 3.

I sang less than I wanted, but enjoyed the songs I did sing.

I was surprised when I was given a tea pot and charm by one of the staff. How nice and truly unexpected. Packing is now more interesting.

Jackie Chan and the enterovirus

Two things recently present in Taiwan:

Jackie Chan


the enterovirus

At school toys were cleaned, posters promoting hand-washing made.

That's so lizard

I followed (or chased, from its p.o.v.) the lizard and it ran up the wall. You'll need to look verrrry closely.

Snack

Foray into the world of betelnut

My friend helped me get some betelnut from a vendor. The woman kindly gave me them free of charge. She has been selling betelnut for 23 years.




It's juicy, fibrous, tart ... not good, but not bad either. I was expecting my mouth to be covered in red after chewing it, but apparently it only stains your teeth and mouth after you've made it a habit.

Mars

Train to Taipei, bus to Yeliou.

Baoan Temple by the sea:





Mars on Earth:


Not only is there water on Mars, but lifeforms as well.


Nasty quick-moving insects were crawling all over the rocks and pathways. Luckily they ran away when people approached.


So, this is actualy at the Yeliou Geopark.



Bean Curd Rock:



Over 200 million years of erosion is a neat thing.

How do they always know?

When I order tea I'm often given a purple straw. No telepathic message is sent. They just know.

Insectia

Jumpping

Every time I write 'jump' on the board and talk about adding -ing, one of the students in my class puts on a serious face and assuredly tells me that there are two p's. Each time I tell him that it's not the case, but I know that he won't be convinced.

Triangular

Red bean zongzi.

Hualien and Taroko Gorge

Early on Saturday morning a van full of children and adults set out on a journey to the east. Four hours later and frequent bathroom stops later they arrived at:


They looked around the visitor centre, and read up on the Gorge and surrounding area.


Taroko Gorge and its massive towering cliffs were created when the Philippine Oceanic Plate and Eurasian Continental Plate collided. They continue to do so today at a rate of 0.5 cm a year. In the process, high pressure and temperature caused some of the rock to change into marble.


They set out on their first trail. Shakadang Trail, to be exact. "This could be good," said one.





While playing in the water, they spotted a Formosan Macaque on a line. You'll have to look very closely to see it.


The trail was long and the travelers grew weary. Stomachs growled. Once more they piled into the van and drove to the visitor centre. They ate lunch and then headed out.

Each gazed in awe upon the tunnels, twists, turns, and rocks of the Su Hua highway.


Like rodents, they passed through the Tunnel of Nine Turns.




The hikers set out on the next trail: Baiyang Trail. Waterfalls and dark tunnels with no artificial lighting.




At the end of the trail they reached the Water Curtain Cave. It is "forbidden" to enter the cave, which has spring water gushing from the roof and a stream running through it. The trail at the end of the cave-tunnel was closed off.


The participants got very wet. One fell into the stream. Another even cut her toe and bled into the stream.


On the walk back to the van, it began to rain. Time was passing too quickly, and the hikers didn't have enough of it for more than a handful of glances at Tiansiang. Maybe it wasn't their destiny to go there.


A brief viewing of the Eternal Spring Shrine led one hopeful to the gloomy realization that the trail to access it was closed for repair. Passed deadline! No wrists were slit.

The shrine commemorates the 212 military personnel who died during construction of the highway. There are waterfalls, a cave, two towers, and a suspension bridge - all, mostly, unseen.


Then there was the unavoidable drive to Hualien - where else would they find a hotel to sleep in? Five-star isn't an option.

The travelers checked into their Japanese style hotel, ate dinner, then went to Hulien's slowly buzzing night market.


Games, food, gambling - each at their fingertips.


Separately, they came back to the hotel and slept their minds and bodies to rest.

Day two. No casualties. Two known injuries (minor).

Seeing that the weekend marked the celebration of Dragon Boat Festival, the group went to a lake to watch a race.


In the blistering heat they watched drummers drumming,

lions dance,



and even a toad with a grasshopper on its head.

Glad to leave the unforgiving heat, they went on the road again. They stopped by Chihsingtan scenic area. To the left, misty stormy skies.


To the right, clear conscious blue skies.



The island you imagined when you read that novel.


Drive, they drove on. More bathroom stops and a coffee stop.


They arrived in Keelung for the sole intention of enjoying themselves at the night market.


Wrapped runners, as common as ever.



Late on Sunday night, the groups of people were dropped off at their homes. They went on to lead their lives.