Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Monday, February 25, 2008
Lomography
I did it. As of yesterday, I'm the owner of a Fisheye 2. I don't have film yet, but I'm excited to try it out.
Several weeks ago I saw a variety of Lomo cameras for sale in two bookstores, and I couldn't erase those images from my mind. And, as a consumer, I consumed. I was thinking about getting a Holga, which means that I could have gotten a fisheye attachment. However, as fate would have it, there were no more Holgas available when I went back.
Several weeks ago I saw a variety of Lomo cameras for sale in two bookstores, and I couldn't erase those images from my mind. And, as a consumer, I consumed. I was thinking about getting a Holga, which means that I could have gotten a fisheye attachment. However, as fate would have it, there were no more Holgas available when I went back.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Taichung revisited
The train ride to Taichung was about two hours. I went to visit my friend Lynn from Canada. We worked at Blenz for ages and have plenty of memories about our time there.
When I arrived in Taichung, Lynn and her aunt picked me up. We visited a famous tea spot in Taiwan called Rose House. British decor and roses galore. It smells wonderful in there, and the food and drinks are so good.
After that we strolled some quaint street shops nearby. Then we visited the massive Tunghai University. Here's a popular sight, the Luce Memorial Chapel. It was created by the same architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid.
After that we got massages for an hour.
We went to a really good Italian restaurant for dinner. I always have room for milk tea, and so we then headed to a famous bubble tea place. It's very old and filled with BBT history.
Night lights:
Lynn and I went to a lounge with good drinks, chill music, and stylish decor. We tried using a hookah with strawberry flavour. Such fun.
I stayed at the hotel Lynn's family runs. Lynn and her family spoiled me. What a good weekend!
I left Taichung early the next morning because I wanted to take the train to Taipei and arrive at a decent hour. It's a three hour ride, which is considered crazy long by Taiwanese standards.
A few lantern displays in Taipei:
When I arrived in Taichung, Lynn and her aunt picked me up. We visited a famous tea spot in Taiwan called Rose House. British decor and roses galore. It smells wonderful in there, and the food and drinks are so good.
After that we strolled some quaint street shops nearby. Then we visited the massive Tunghai University. Here's a popular sight, the Luce Memorial Chapel. It was created by the same architect who designed the Louvre Pyramid.
After that we got massages for an hour.
We went to a really good Italian restaurant for dinner. I always have room for milk tea, and so we then headed to a famous bubble tea place. It's very old and filled with BBT history.
Night lights:
Lynn and I went to a lounge with good drinks, chill music, and stylish decor. We tried using a hookah with strawberry flavour. Such fun.
I stayed at the hotel Lynn's family runs. Lynn and her family spoiled me. What a good weekend!
I left Taichung early the next morning because I wanted to take the train to Taipei and arrive at a decent hour. It's a three hour ride, which is considered crazy long by Taiwanese standards.
A few lantern displays in Taipei:
Friday, February 22, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
A4
When I first noticed the standard size A4 paper in Taiwan I thought it looked tall and big. Now, standard size paper in North America looks short and small. I've bought several folders with pockets to keep my papers from Taiwan in (my printed blog, etc.). Let's see if the page protectors will help shield the papers from the dampness in the air.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Errands galore
Recently I've been sorting, planning, and organizing as though it were a hobby of mine. My trip to Japan approaches, and the public transportation maps are giving me a headache. I'm sure that advance research will be the key, so I'm attempting to do as much of that as possible.
"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley"
"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley"
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Could have
This could have been a cool picture had I not gotten in too close and caused the flower to appear blurry. Oh greatest of woes.
Here's a dragonfly instead.
Here's a dragonfly instead.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Taichung/Miaoli
Teachers Field trip. Bus to Taichung.
Bathroom break in Sanyi:
We arrive in Taichung and head out on double-seated bikes. The weather was so nice, and most of us were overdressed and despite jacket removal, were too hot. It was so nice to be too hot, and not too cold.
Biked by the Shihgang Dam:
There's an egret in there somewhere.
We ate lunch at a farm.
From there we bused to Miaoli for hot springs. I opted for strawberry picking instead. Several of us ventured to this strawberry farm.
We'd boarded the buses and were ready to set off, but we stopped at a shopping area in Dahu thoroughly devoted to the strawberry. Said berry products abound. I didn't try a strawberry egg tart, but went for the rum egg tart instead. I couldn't taste any rum though.
After Dahu, we drove back to Zhongli.
Bathroom break in Sanyi:
We arrive in Taichung and head out on double-seated bikes. The weather was so nice, and most of us were overdressed and despite jacket removal, were too hot. It was so nice to be too hot, and not too cold.
Biked by the Shihgang Dam:
There's an egret in there somewhere.
We ate lunch at a farm.
From there we bused to Miaoli for hot springs. I opted for strawberry picking instead. Several of us ventured to this strawberry farm.
We'd boarded the buses and were ready to set off, but we stopped at a shopping area in Dahu thoroughly devoted to the strawberry. Said berry products abound. I didn't try a strawberry egg tart, but went for the rum egg tart instead. I couldn't taste any rum though.
After Dahu, we drove back to Zhongli.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Taoyuan
Last week I went to Taoyuan. We just stayed near the train station and went shopping.
The Lantern Festival approaches.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Why don't you have blue eyes?
So I was asked by a few students today. I think they'd be surprised if they journeyed to the west.
Monday, February 11, 2008
[Miaoli] Tongluo
I went to a friend's relatives house for the afternoon. Lunch included rice and vegetables grown here:
A creepy-looking swallow nest inside a shrine:
Firecracker remains are a common sight these days.
Then we visited this shrine. It was much busier than this photo makes it look. There was tea, noodles, and candy offered in part of the NY celebrations.
Tree branch, or Guanyin?
A creepy-looking swallow nest inside a shrine:
Firecracker remains are a common sight these days.
Then we visited this shrine. It was much busier than this photo makes it look. There was tea, noodles, and candy offered in part of the NY celebrations.
Tree branch, or Guanyin?
Day 5: Beijing
No digital photos from my last day.
I checked out, and proceeded to take a cab to the Temple of Heaven Park. I went during appropriate hours this time. Nice day for a visit to a sacrificial altar, wouldn't you say?
Visited the main buildings and then left. Took a cab to the airport shuttle station, and then (you guessed it) caught the shuttle to the airport. The ride was very quick which meant that I was even earlier than the early early I had intended on being.
I hung around the airport for several hours before hopping on a plane to Macau. I sat at the very back of the plane and had the row of seats to myself. During my layover in Macau I tried to exchange my RMB to NT, but the teller had run out. As I've been told, there's only one place in Taiwan where I can exchange my money. I guess I'll just wait till I go to Japan.
Fly from Macau --------> to Taiwan. It was night, and I'd missed the last bus to Zhongli by several hours. I ended up taking a cab back to the Zhong. The driver didn't really know where I lived and so, as soon as I was within walking distance of the train station I had him drop me off.
A good trip to an interesting city. I got to practice my Mandarin more than usual. I mean, we're talking extremely basic Mandarin, but it was a lot of fun. A few times I slipped a French word in by accident.
I checked out, and proceeded to take a cab to the Temple of Heaven Park. I went during appropriate hours this time. Nice day for a visit to a sacrificial altar, wouldn't you say?
Visited the main buildings and then left. Took a cab to the airport shuttle station, and then (you guessed it) caught the shuttle to the airport. The ride was very quick which meant that I was even earlier than the early early I had intended on being.
I hung around the airport for several hours before hopping on a plane to Macau. I sat at the very back of the plane and had the row of seats to myself. During my layover in Macau I tried to exchange my RMB to NT, but the teller had run out. As I've been told, there's only one place in Taiwan where I can exchange my money. I guess I'll just wait till I go to Japan.
Fly from Macau --------> to Taiwan. It was night, and I'd missed the last bus to Zhongli by several hours. I ended up taking a cab back to the Zhong. The driver didn't really know where I lived and so, as soon as I was within walking distance of the train station I had him drop me off.
A good trip to an interesting city. I got to practice my Mandarin more than usual. I mean, we're talking extremely basic Mandarin, but it was a lot of fun. A few times I slipped a French word in by accident.
Day 4: Beijing
Might actually be crazy for getting up so early. Walked to Beihai Park. By the time I got there the park was open, but the white bagoda on Jade Islet wasn't. I waited until it was open and hiked to the top.
The park is beautiful, even on a cold morning. I didn't have enough time to explore the whole park, however.
In Beijing I felt like a vampire because I was planning my outings around daylight hours. (Except, I was more like the opposite of a vampire, since I was avoiding hours without light). Must! have! light! for photo-taking!
Many of my pictures didn't turn out as well as I'd wanted. Maybe the pollution was a contributing factor.
Caught the bus to the Summer Palace. For over an hour bus ride the fare was 2RMB.
The Summer Palace is also huge. I was fast-walking much of the time and still didn't have enough time to cover the grounds. There are endless halls, bridges, stairs, water displays, trails, shops, etc. to explore. Another place where photos do little justice.
Stage:
The Long Corridor:
The lake was frozen and many people went out for a waddle.
Marble Boat:
How sad that I ran out of memory space on my camera :( I was already trying to be careful not to go too crazy and take too many photos. I ended up buying a few disposable cameras. Currently, I anxiously await the day that the photo shops open and I may develop my film. The day I got back to Taiwan I bought more memory for my camera.
At night (and in the morning) I watched part of a ceremony the military was performing. From there I walked around the neighbourhood of my hostel and found a popular snacking street.
The park is beautiful, even on a cold morning. I didn't have enough time to explore the whole park, however.
In Beijing I felt like a vampire because I was planning my outings around daylight hours. (Except, I was more like the opposite of a vampire, since I was avoiding hours without light). Must! have! light! for photo-taking!
Many of my pictures didn't turn out as well as I'd wanted. Maybe the pollution was a contributing factor.
Caught the bus to the Summer Palace. For over an hour bus ride the fare was 2RMB.
The Summer Palace is also huge. I was fast-walking much of the time and still didn't have enough time to cover the grounds. There are endless halls, bridges, stairs, water displays, trails, shops, etc. to explore. Another place where photos do little justice.
Stage:
The Long Corridor:
The lake was frozen and many people went out for a waddle.
Marble Boat:
How sad that I ran out of memory space on my camera :( I was already trying to be careful not to go too crazy and take too many photos. I ended up buying a few disposable cameras. Currently, I anxiously await the day that the photo shops open and I may develop my film. The day I got back to Taiwan I bought more memory for my camera.
At night (and in the morning) I watched part of a ceremony the military was performing. From there I walked around the neighbourhood of my hostel and found a popular snacking street.
Day 3: Beijing
Began the day early with a stroll through the Forbidden City. SO cold. My fingers were like fish sticks (without breading). Some areas were off limits due to ongoing construction.
The Gate of Heavenly Peace:
Lots of police and military present.
Meridian Gate:
Golden Stream:
It's a huge place. The halls and gates seemed endless.
From there I caught the subway to the Ming City Wall Ruins Park.
At the end of the park there's a watchtower. From the tower you can see the incredible width of the crumbling wall, as well as other sights around the city.
The Red Gate Gallery has a home atop the tower.
Subway back to the Forbidden City/Tiananmen Square/my hostel area. Tiananmen Square exploration. Another massive space.
Zheng Yangmen Gate:
Qianmen Archery Tower:
Three more semi-successful ventures:
1) I found (the well-camouflaged) Beijing Underground City. Unfortunately, when I went in, a staff member showed me a note written in English explaining that the site was closed for renovations over the holiday.
2) Took the subway to see an Ancient Observatory. Closed.
3) Went to the Temple of Heaven Park. It was getting late, but, according to my guide book I would have just enough time to see the park. It turns out that the park was open, but the attractions inside were not. I decided to walk around the park for awhile, but that I most definitely needed to come back another day.
Hutong sampling:
A lot of walking today.
The Gate of Heavenly Peace:
Lots of police and military present.
Meridian Gate:
Golden Stream:
It's a huge place. The halls and gates seemed endless.
From there I caught the subway to the Ming City Wall Ruins Park.
At the end of the park there's a watchtower. From the tower you can see the incredible width of the crumbling wall, as well as other sights around the city.
The Red Gate Gallery has a home atop the tower.
Subway back to the Forbidden City/Tiananmen Square/my hostel area. Tiananmen Square exploration. Another massive space.
Zheng Yangmen Gate:
Qianmen Archery Tower:
Three more semi-successful ventures:1) I found (the well-camouflaged) Beijing Underground City. Unfortunately, when I went in, a staff member showed me a note written in English explaining that the site was closed for renovations over the holiday.
2) Took the subway to see an Ancient Observatory. Closed.
3) Went to the Temple of Heaven Park. It was getting late, but, according to my guide book I would have just enough time to see the park. It turns out that the park was open, but the attractions inside were not. I decided to walk around the park for awhile, but that I most definitely needed to come back another day.
Hutong sampling:
A lot of walking today.
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