Sunday, March 30, 2008
funktion
On Friday night after work, several co-workers and I went to a lounge/club. It was happy hour so we got two drinks for the price of one. The snacks were bought elsewhere. If we did that in Vancouver we might have been shot.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Egg roll
At school we held several egg rolls in celebration of Easter. The kids used a spoon to roll (still wet with ink) hard boiled eggs over a grassy stretch. Each egg had to be spooned into and out of a hula hoop. After several people in their relay line had rolled an egg, it would inevitably (and hilariously) explode. Luckily, the teachers were on standby for such egg emergencies.
For some strange reason I was camera-less again.
For some strange reason I was camera-less again.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
To dye for
So, Easter. Right. There are two activities planned for the English students at our school: egg colouring and an egg roll. The egg painting took place yesterday, and the egg roll will be held tomorrow.
We tried dying the eggs in dyed water, however the colour wasn't taking well. Other options were considered, but we ended up just having the students use paint brushes to apply dye to the shells of the hard boiled eggs. I really thought four bottles of ink wouldn't be enough. How wrong I was...
We tried dying the eggs in dyed water, however the colour wasn't taking well. Other options were considered, but we ended up just having the students use paint brushes to apply dye to the shells of the hard boiled eggs. I really thought four bottles of ink wouldn't be enough. How wrong I was...
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Night market smells
Time to wash my hair. I can smell bamboo smoke, fried foods, and cheap goods in my hair.
Not much to relay about my weekend. I should have brought my camera for dinner tonight. There were some strange-looking soy products. Our food was cooked fresh before us, and I had a little spice added. Spice is a welcome change from the often unstimulating Buddhist food I regularly eat.
Not much to relay about my weekend. I should have brought my camera for dinner tonight. There were some strange-looking soy products. Our food was cooked fresh before us, and I had a little spice added. Spice is a welcome change from the often unstimulating Buddhist food I regularly eat.
Friday, March 21, 2008
No swimming (but just in case)
I've finally gotten around to using my Fisheye camera. It took me half an hour to load the film correctly. When I went to take the first picture I was waiting for a green light, however it never came. Guess the orange-red glow is the signal for takeoff.
Did I mention that it's not easy to find film in Taiwan? At least not in the areas I've looked it seems... Digital is ever popular. When I was in Japan I bought three rolls which will definitely suffice for my remaining time here.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Alishan trip, Taiwan: Day 2
Wake at 4:20 and walk to an Alishan railway station. We take the train to a sunrise viewing platform with a bunch of other people crazy enough to get up that early.
It's bloody cold out waiting for the sunrise.
Alishan is famous for its sunrise and sunset.
It wasn't anywhere near spectacular, however, that's probably because the clouds weren't cooperating.
Post-sunrise, we walked around the forest.
There are only two other trains in the world like the mountain-venturing Alishan Forest Railway. (The others are in Peru and India.) The train runs from Chiayi at an elevation of 30 metres to Alishan at a maximum of 2216 metres. In one section the track winds around a mountain three times to climb higher. In another section the train track zigzags to permit a climb or descent.
The railway passes through three types of forests: temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical. While riding the train it was odd to see pines on one side and bamboo on the other. There were many cherry and magnolia trees as well.
Happiness from Golden Pig:
Shoujhen (?) Temple:
Wasabi:
After our walk, we took the train back to our hotel area.
Lunch and several hours later we took a train to Fenchihu. The place has "Lake" in its name, however there is no lake there. The area looks like a dust pan, and so the name deceptively goes.
Old street:
We hiked on a few trails by town.
After a long upward climb with the promise of a shrine, we arrived at this. There's not much left to Fenchihu Shrine. It was built by the Japanese during the occupation.
It was unclear and took so long to get to the Divine Tree. We wondered if there really was a tree there at all, or if there would just be a spot marked where the tree used to be.
Bus to Chiayi. Train to Zhongli. Arrived late at night. Pooped.
It's bloody cold out waiting for the sunrise.
Alishan is famous for its sunrise and sunset.
It wasn't anywhere near spectacular, however, that's probably because the clouds weren't cooperating.
Post-sunrise, we walked around the forest.
There are only two other trains in the world like the mountain-venturing Alishan Forest Railway. (The others are in Peru and India.) The train runs from Chiayi at an elevation of 30 metres to Alishan at a maximum of 2216 metres. In one section the track winds around a mountain three times to climb higher. In another section the train track zigzags to permit a climb or descent.
The railway passes through three types of forests: temperate, sub-tropical, and tropical. While riding the train it was odd to see pines on one side and bamboo on the other. There were many cherry and magnolia trees as well.
Happiness from Golden Pig:
Shoujhen (?) Temple:
Wasabi:
After our walk, we took the train back to our hotel area.
Lunch and several hours later we took a train to Fenchihu. The place has "Lake" in its name, however there is no lake there. The area looks like a dust pan, and so the name deceptively goes.
Old street:
We hiked on a few trails by town.
After a long upward climb with the promise of a shrine, we arrived at this. There's not much left to Fenchihu Shrine. It was built by the Japanese during the occupation.
It was unclear and took so long to get to the Divine Tree. We wondered if there really was a tree there at all, or if there would just be a spot marked where the tree used to be.
Bus to Chiayi. Train to Zhongli. Arrived late at night. Pooped.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Alishan trip, Taiwan: Day 1
Finally, an updated blog post.
So last weekend I went to Alishan for a few days. At 11:47 Friday night we took the train to Kaoshiung. Taiwan may be a small island, but going as far south as Kaoshiung took over five and a half hours. Though I tried, I found it near impossible to sleep. The lights are bright, the seats less than accommodating, and it was noisy at times.
The MRT rapid transit system in Kaoshiung was newly opened, and use is free for the time being. We took the MRT to Lianchih Lake and intended on visiting the cool Dragon and Tiger Pagoda, however it was closed for renovations. There was a Confucius Temple there as well, but it was closed because it was so early in the morning.
Walking back to the MRT, a lively market:
I saw new flowers all over the place. The temperature in the south is warmer.
MRT to World Games station (the World Games will be held in Kaoshiung in 2009). The building is still under construction, so we only took a peek from the station.
From another station we caught a cab to Chengcing Lake.
The Nine-Cornered Bridge:
Pavilion off Fu Guo Isle:
I took pictures from the second and top floors, however the top floor photos weren't on my camera when I uploaded my photos.
MRT to the Sugar Refinery station. All kinds of vendors in sight, a ceremony, people bustling about.
Here, ball frenzy as people line up in an orderly fashion to get a free baseball.
In the early afternoon we left Kaoshiung and took a train to Chiayi. A couple hours later we eventually were on a bus to Alishan. I say eventually because there were scheduling problems and we ended up accepting a van-ride offer by a local woman (busiest woman in the world, as I call her). We were delayed over an hour, but I liked the van because I was able to get a bit of sleep.
A whip lash, curvy road ride it was. At least, I noticed that much between nods. The road is narrow and people like to speed along the winding road like they're in dire need of a rest stop.
Way up high in the mountains of Taiwan, we checked into our hotel. Dinner, then rest. The plan was to check out the stars, however the weather was cloudified. Sleep is a good thing though.
So last weekend I went to Alishan for a few days. At 11:47 Friday night we took the train to Kaoshiung. Taiwan may be a small island, but going as far south as Kaoshiung took over five and a half hours. Though I tried, I found it near impossible to sleep. The lights are bright, the seats less than accommodating, and it was noisy at times.
The MRT rapid transit system in Kaoshiung was newly opened, and use is free for the time being. We took the MRT to Lianchih Lake and intended on visiting the cool Dragon and Tiger Pagoda, however it was closed for renovations. There was a Confucius Temple there as well, but it was closed because it was so early in the morning.
Walking back to the MRT, a lively market:
I saw new flowers all over the place. The temperature in the south is warmer.
MRT to World Games station (the World Games will be held in Kaoshiung in 2009). The building is still under construction, so we only took a peek from the station.
From another station we caught a cab to Chengcing Lake.
The Nine-Cornered Bridge:
Pavilion off Fu Guo Isle:
I took pictures from the second and top floors, however the top floor photos weren't on my camera when I uploaded my photos.
MRT to the Sugar Refinery station. All kinds of vendors in sight, a ceremony, people bustling about.
Here, ball frenzy as people line up in an orderly fashion to get a free baseball.
In the early afternoon we left Kaoshiung and took a train to Chiayi. A couple hours later we eventually were on a bus to Alishan. I say eventually because there were scheduling problems and we ended up accepting a van-ride offer by a local woman (busiest woman in the world, as I call her). We were delayed over an hour, but I liked the van because I was able to get a bit of sleep.
A whip lash, curvy road ride it was. At least, I noticed that much between nods. The road is narrow and people like to speed along the winding road like they're in dire need of a rest stop.
Way up high in the mountains of Taiwan, we checked into our hotel. Dinner, then rest. The plan was to check out the stars, however the weather was cloudified. Sleep is a good thing though.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Crafty
This open air bar is at the edge of one of Zhongli's night markets. Cool decor, but I've yet to see a single customer in the joint. Then again, when I drop by the area its usually a Sunday night. Guess nobody wants to get plastered when they have to work the next day.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Thailand
I'm going to Thailand in early April. I bought my ticket last week, but wanted confirmation from Carl that my timing was convenient. So, more planning to do. I'm flying to Bangkok, but need to get to Chiang Mai.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Day 4: Japan
My flight was in the early afternoon, but I needed to get to the airport in Osaka. Needless to say, there wasn't time to see anything else today.
Shin-Yokohama to Shin-Osaka. Mt. Fuji!
Double the Shinkansen.
Another train, then I arrived at Kansai Airport. The flight back took an hour longer than flying to Japan did.
And that's my time in Japan in a publicized nutshell.
Shin-Yokohama to Shin-Osaka. Mt. Fuji!
Double the Shinkansen.
Another train, then I arrived at Kansai Airport. The flight back took an hour longer than flying to Japan did.
And that's my time in Japan in a publicized nutshell.
Day 3: Japan
My last real day of two limited full days in Japan. An early start. I make my way to the Tsukiji Fish Market. There are other markets in the vicinity as well, but the fish market is the star of the show.
Some shops before the fish market:
The place is huge, and signs in English are limited. There's an auction in the morning, but I couldn't find it in time.
It's a place where a lot of business is done. The walkways are wet, narrow, and crowded. People are carting styrofoam crates around, and they'll run you over if you're not being careful.
Outside I saw this traumatized critter at the side of the street. It was completely out in the open and didn't move as I got close. Something must have really shocked it the way it was shaking.
Post fish market, I went to Ginza - where rich people live. This is a huge shopping street with expensive stores.
An eyeglasses washing station on the street:
In the afternoon I met Cheerio and we went to electronics district Akihabara.
They have Manga cafes that have free drinks when you buy Manga. The staff are garbed in Manga gear, too. This store is five floors of Manga heaven:
Punk pop rock street band:
Next, the Imperial Palace. There's not much to see because the Palace itself is closed off to the public except for two days a year. It's more like strolling through a park. You can see buildings within the wall, the moat, and this bridge, but that's it.
Then we went to Shinjuku's Metropolitan Governement Building. Tokyo at night looks like a circuit board.
We stopped to eat tempura for dinner, then we went to red light district Kabukicho.
There are a lot of ladies clubs in the area as well.
Love Hotel. Stay for a "rest" or the "night."
The guy in front is from a ladies club, and the people in wigs, makeup, and yellow coats are promoters for gay club Bearded Woman.
Rice wrap head made an appearance in other photos.
Back to Chihiro's place. We stopped at a grocery store and tried tofu ice cream. Sounds odd, but it's really good.
Some shops before the fish market:
The place is huge, and signs in English are limited. There's an auction in the morning, but I couldn't find it in time.
It's a place where a lot of business is done. The walkways are wet, narrow, and crowded. People are carting styrofoam crates around, and they'll run you over if you're not being careful.
Outside I saw this traumatized critter at the side of the street. It was completely out in the open and didn't move as I got close. Something must have really shocked it the way it was shaking.
Post fish market, I went to Ginza - where rich people live. This is a huge shopping street with expensive stores.
An eyeglasses washing station on the street:
In the afternoon I met Cheerio and we went to electronics district Akihabara.
They have Manga cafes that have free drinks when you buy Manga. The staff are garbed in Manga gear, too. This store is five floors of Manga heaven:
Punk pop rock street band:
Next, the Imperial Palace. There's not much to see because the Palace itself is closed off to the public except for two days a year. It's more like strolling through a park. You can see buildings within the wall, the moat, and this bridge, but that's it.
Then we went to Shinjuku's Metropolitan Governement Building. Tokyo at night looks like a circuit board.
We stopped to eat tempura for dinner, then we went to red light district Kabukicho.
There are a lot of ladies clubs in the area as well.
Love Hotel. Stay for a "rest" or the "night."
The guy in front is from a ladies club, and the people in wigs, makeup, and yellow coats are promoters for gay club Bearded Woman.
Rice wrap head made an appearance in other photos.
Back to Chihiro's place. We stopped at a grocery store and tried tofu ice cream. Sounds odd, but it's really good.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
