Taiwan--Dream Come True

Over the last 10 months, I have fallen in love with this country. The people are admirable in their everyday activities through the smallest acts of kindness to work ethic and respect. I truly admire the Taiwanese and plan to incorporate some of their characteristics into my own life. I already have done so, but I'm working on some of the others.

The land is so peaceful and serene. Taiwan seems to gracefully 'jump out at you.' It's beauty daunts you, but doesn't hit you in a way like Mt. Everest would. You can look at it and be at peace instead of having the "WOW!!" factor. Of course, Taiwan is very beautiful, and some of it is of the "WOW!!" factor, but it's in a gentle sort of way.

The language is immensely difficult to learn. However, I have noticed a pattern in the way they write and speak. If you can catch on, then you are 'into the system.' That's the goal. It took me a long time of listening and speaking for myself, but I eventually caught on, which enabled me to understand a lot more than I thought.

But I have made a ton of wonderful friends, and we've been through a lot together. We've all shared each others hardships and happy times, stressed over things and then laughed at them. Thinking back, I remember every single thing that's happened. Sometimes I wish things hadn't happened, but then other things came about from them. My friends are incredible, and I am glad that I met every single one of them. They are all super special in their own way, and they've helped me understand them, their culture, and to grow. I owe them more than they know; I am so thankful for them.

If I could re-live everything again from day one, I would in a heartbeat.

Being in the last day, I remember the first day I came here. I was nervous and afraid. But that excitement of summer, meeting new people, living someplace new, exhilarates me to the maximum. That feeling will never go away. I cherish those memories. But now I feel like a local, which was the goal, and I feels like I am leaving home.

I don't know what will happen in the next few months, or years. But I hope I will be able to meet with my friends again, because I would be torn if I wasn't able to. They mean so much to me. Taiwan means so much to me. It was a dream of mine to come here, and in September that dream came true. But now the time has come to go, and it tears my heart apart, and it makes the tears come. I don't want it to end. But then, has it?

Our lives are adventures everyday, and everyday something new and wonderful happens. Although we might have 'boring' days, those 'boring' days lead up to something else, or have one little memory that will stay with us forever.

I want to come back. No, I will come back. To re-live those memories and to make even more.
Taiwan, thank you for everything. I can laugh and I can cry over so many things. That's what stays with me, those memories. Thank you.

I will miss Taiwan, no doubt. I will miss my friends, no doubt. I will miss those experiences, no doubt. So here I wave goodbye to a place that I love dearly. But it's not a farewell, but more of a "see you later." And indeed it is that.

Thank you Taiwan. I'll be back, you can count on it.

Daily Life in Taipei

My daily life in Taipei consists of many things: studying, getting morning waffles and coffee, talking with friends, going to class, taking a walk by the river, and eating Taipei's wondrous foods with friends. It is really fun everyday, as something new happens all the time! We get our pictures taken a lot. Foreigners are a new and surprising "commodity" here in Taiwan, and many Taiwanese will stop what they are doing, take out their camera (or just stare) and take a picture! Haha, we are celebrities!

Usually the weather in Taipei is raining and humid, which forces us to stay indoors most of the time. But on the days when it's warm and sunny, we take trips to the outer reaches of the city, to Danshui, Xindian, hiking, swimming, travelling, etc. The sun is the best thing in the world after weeks of endless rain. Haha.

The use of Chinese is significant and mandatory. Everywhere you go you'll have to use Chinese, in every restaurant, in every building, even at the street corner. Random Taiwanese will approach you to just talk, or even try out their English. Surprisingly, many people can speak English, or at least a little, and they will try their very best to help you or just start small talk. I find that the Taiwanese are very friendly, rarely will you ever find one that is mean or just rude. They go out of their way to help you and to make you feel welcome, which is admirable.

The food, on the other hand, is fantastic! Although there are some strange things: blood, brain, intestines, rectum, testicles, etc... I find it all delicious! Who knew that so many "strange" foods are actually really tasty! The Taiwanese have a way of making food like no one else. They take a lot of pride in their food. It's cheap, it's good, it brings happiness. That's what food should be! Shared with friends with plentiful conversation and laughter.

The comute to places is somewhat of a hassle, as everyone is going somewhere (and it seems) all at once. However, I like to walk everywhere within a reasonable distance. It helps me to learn the layout of the city and see how the locals live. I also take the MRT (Metro Railway Transit) which is basically a subway/monorail. It's really handy and not that expensive, but it's usually crowded. I stopped using the bus, however. I don't trust myself to know where the next stop is and to actually get off. The buses are really hectic, as everyone piles in and it really becomes a crowd. Haha.

But it's all good.

Kaohsiung and Tainan

Kaohsiung is the second largest city in Taiwan, and it is in the southern half. It is a bustling city full of surprises, cool sights, and more! I went there during my spring vacation for a couple of days and saw some really interesting things.

The first thing I experienced was a good long nap. Haha! But really, was Liouhe Night Market. The street was blocked off for hundreds of people to cram in there and buy their favorite late night snacks. This night market is different than others, as it is the most famous in Kaohsiung, but also that it stays open for 12 hours: 5pm to 5 am. Wow. I had stinky tofu for the first time there, and let me tell you... well, you can guess. Haha.

A few blocks away from Liouhe Night Market is the famous "Love River" (愛河) illuminated with purple and blue lights, the lights of the city, boats, and small restaurants on the sides. Local musicians would come out in the late hours and play soft music. Couples were sitting in benches on the river, listening to the music while enjoying a drink as well. It was really nice.

One hour north of Kaohsiung is a place called "Buddha Mountain" or Foguangshan. It is a large monastery in the Buddhist philosophy that has received much academic success, and therefore, many funds to support it. The place was quiet, perfect for meditation. Learning about buddhism is never the same than actually going to see it. It was amazing, with thousands of buddhas decorating the place, all surrounding one large one, ruling over Kaohsiung. Fantastic! I would love to go there once again. 

Not far from Kaohsiung is a place called Monkey Mountain, where wild living Macaques rule the mountain. They will come out of nowhere and watch you. Some will interact! The hiking trails lead high into the mountain, with many twists and turns. Some paths will take you up very difficult cliffs. One cliff was aptly named: "Tough guy mountain." You can probably think of why it was called that. Took a while to get up... But the view from the very top was spectacular! Although, getting lost was an often past time of mine, I enjoyed it very very much. Haha. 

Tainan is a very famous city northwest of Kaohsiung, deemed the oldest city in Taiwan. It is filled with many historical places and landmarks. Everywhere you go, something was either built during the Dutch occupation, the Japanese, or the Spanish, etc. But all of the thanks goes to the first mayor of Tainan, who saw the importance of keeping the historical sights in good order, trying to save them from deterioration and destruction. Thanks to the mayor, Tainan is what it is day, making it a great historical experience and tourist attraction. 

Tainan has many historical artifacts that are symbolistic of uniting cultures. What I'm talking about is the Chikan towers. Although the towers have great historical significance, there was one piece that really stood out to me. It is a collection of turtle steles that have inscriptions of the story of Chikan towers, however, in several different languages. I think that that aspect of the steles brings together a uniqueness of culture in Taiwan, and that unity is still active today. Tainan is a city that needs several days to fully explore. I can't wait to go back and see all of it! 

Kenting Peninsula

I went down south to the Kenting Peninsula twice, once during Spring Break for a couple of days, and another time for a geology trip in late May - early June. Kenting is a wonderful tropical area of Taiwan, surrounded by vast forests, rivers, incredible geological formations, mountains, all surrounded by the ocean. It is much hotter than in Taipei, usually with lots of sun and humidity. It's the ideal place for vacations away from Taipei.

I stayed in a place called Hengchun, which is not far from the very southern tip of Taiwan. Hengchun is a small town that has some historical artifacts and quiet streets. Next door, basically, to Hengchun is the town of Kenting, where a bustling night market, restaurants, beach houses, and the rest are located. On the border of Kenting is the Kenting National Park, which holds a large mountain looming high into the sky.

Kenting is also home to the Taiwan National Marine Biology Museum and Aquarium, which has a whale shark exhibit, beluga whale shows, and many other fascinating marine life. It was quite the interesting visit! The lobby had giant sea creatures suspended from its ceiling, almost close enough to touch.

The Kenting Peninsula is also home to many geological wonders, such as Chuhuo Scenic Area. Chuhuo (出火), literally "coming out fire" is a leak in a natural gas reserve, which when heated by the sun, ignites immediately. It spews forth a constant flame, which locals come and roast their potatoes next to. The area was quite hot, even away from the flame. But that was a good thing, as usually the rain extinguishes the fire until the area can warm up again.

Other areas such as Jialeshui, Wanlitong, Eluanbi, and Maobitou are all very famous spots on the Kenting Peninsula. Many of these places I also visited during the geology trip I participated on. The trip was a required part of a geology course, in which we surveyed the outlying areas for strange geological formations, learned how Taiwan was created, its indigenous creatures, and how Taiwan has continued to grow for thousands of years.

The trip was a fantastic experience as I learned so much about Taiwan. It allowed me to gain understanding of how islands are made, and how and why Taiwan experiences so many earthquakes! Really interesting! It also gave me a chance to meet so many amazing people. Every night we met for cards or just talking and had a great time. We would go out into Hengchun, get food, and enjoy each others' company. On the last night everyone who came on the trip all participated in a large BBQ and danced/performed! It was a real treat. Even during our lectures on the trip, we all had fun making jokes and seeing the scenery/doing fieldwork. Lots of fun!

Below are pictures of a view scenic spots: the first is Jialeshui, which is an outcrop of coral reefs being uplifted by the tectonic plates ramming together underneath the water. The second is Maobitou, which is a large shelf of coral reefs, similar to Jialeshui, but have been above water for a much longer time, also showing the erosion and ware to the reefs from external devices. Kenting is a fantastic place, very worth visiting again and again.... and again!

Hiking Taiwan

The Four Beasts is a local hiking trail by the infamous Taipei 101. It is a small series of mountains that stretch on the city's outskirts and then travel around New Taipei City and eventually down the central part of Taiwan. Each "beast" is named accordingly: elephant, tiger, lion, and leopard. There are also other peaks (that I know of): 9-5 Peak and Mt. Thumb. All are connected by a series of intricate hiking trails that wind through the mountains. It's very cool to see all of the plant life and animals!

The hike to Elephant Mountain starts right from the road. You first take a hike up a long flight of steps, which is a bit challenging if you haven't hiked in a while. It probably took me about 15 minutes to scale the steps, but I was very tired and sweaty by the end! But once I reached the top of the mountain, there are a few large boulders decorated with the carvings of people's names or quotes, and a few benches. You can certainly climb the boulders for a fantastic view of the city!

During this specific hike, I wandered further into the densely jungle-covered mountains and came upon a series of temples. It was very quiet, giving the mountains almost a sense of spiritual power. Statues and shrines decorated the mountain sides. As the afternoon waned on, the monks in the temples began their daily chanting, which echoed throughout the entire mountain side. It was one of the most incredible things I've encountered. It was like the mountains themselves were singing. If I could stay in those mountains for days, I definitely would. 

However, my favorite peak (Mt. Thumb) was a little difficult to get to. I had to travel far into the back of the mountain chain, turned off the beaten path onto a series of small stones that led up the mountain side in a zig-zag fashion. As I got higher and higher, the view became all the more spectacular. Eventually though, I came upon a sheer uprising that required the use of ropes to climb the side. That was what I was looking for! The ropes were slippery though, so I kept sliding down (it was storming that day). But after about 15 minutes I made it up the side and continued on to a small park. From there I took a turn to climb higher which turned into a bare rock face. From there was Mt. Thumb, where all of Taipei could be seen! (The below picture is on a good day) Just being up there, alone, with the wind blowing and the sun shining... it was spectacular. One of my favorite spots in all of Taipei, just to sit and think...

In Northern Taiwan is a national park called Yangmingshan, which incorporates several hiking trails twisting throughout the park. Within the park is a mountain called Seven-Star Mountain, which attracts hikers from all around to climb! Although I wasn't able to climb it (getting lost), I was able to hike through the rest of the park. There were plenty of waterfalls, shrines, and interesting pavilions built to protect the hikers from the rain. In the central part of the park is a large exhibit of flowers, in which is made a huge spectacle every year called the "Yangmingshan Flower Festival." Below is what it looked like! There were hundreds of trees, bushes, and plants everywhere in full bloom, giving an array of color everywhere! Since it was cloudy that day I went, the colors really brightened up the day. :) 

Also in Northern Taiwan is a famous geological park called Yeliu (Yehliu). It is famous because of the odd rock formations that were made by the change in sea level, which made unique pieces that seem to stand on thin pillars. It was really amazing, attracting hundreds of tourists! However, if you could sneak past everyone, there was a path that led up to a small mountain which then looped around to the other side. On the other side there were only a few people, either fishing or enjoying the ocean view. But because of the unique geological formations, I decided to climb up the side of the small mountain and climb around. It was really fun! It provided a really nice view of the ocean crashing up onto the shore. Especially on that sunny day, only the horizon was the limit of what I could see. The smell of sea water, the cool ocean breezes, the quiet of the mountain. What a place!

The last spot is called Zhinan Temple (Chih Nan Temple), which resides high in Monkey Mountain in Muzha, New Taipei City. It is a Taoist temple that is on the hidden side of the mountain that faces West. Barely anyone is up there, so the serene solitude and beauty of the mountain is wonderful. I decided to hike up the mountain, which took a lot longer than I thought. But it was well worth it. The jungle was the same as the Four Beasts, but huge golden orb weave spiders filled the trees. They were nearly as big as my hand (!) dangling from above. Haha, I was on alert the entire time. But once I reached the temple, I knew that it was well worth the time. 

These three spots were some of my favorites. They allowed me to just think, and to be with nature. After being in bustling Taipei for long days during the week, it was good to get away and see Taiwan for what it naturally is. 

Lantern Festival (燈會 denghui)

The Chinese New Year goes on for two weeks, and each of the days has a different corresponding activity that the people do. On the last day, celebrating the new year once more, there is a lantern festival. It show cases the schools' and groups' lanterns around the city. They are all handmade, and quite the magnificent works of art! Some are traditional lanterns, some are contemporary types of the typical lantern, and some are just fun. I saw the basic spherical lantern with designs on the outside, tubular lanterns made by local artists, and even "transformers" made into lanterns. Thousands of people showed up, from near and far. And thus, you can probably tell the about the crowds. It was packed and I was being pushed around in all directions!

I went to the Taipei Lantern Festival one evening to see what all the business was about. It was jam packed! I could barely get 100 meters without have an ounce of trouble. Haha! But the lanterns were impressive! A good amount of them were made by elementary and middle school students. Why couldn't we make these lanterns when were their ages? They were huge, and super artistic! Such detail and difficulty... I was amazed. 

There were even shows going on: puppet shows (puppeteering is a popular art here in Taiwan, it is both fun and traditional!). There was also an acrobatic show by the Taipei Opera House, which was really cool. 

However, I didn't stay in Taipei, I went back to Lukang to visit my host family once again to see the Taiwan Lantern Festival. Here there was many more people, more than I had ever seen. But the sights were truly not to miss. It was very similar to the festival in Taipei, that with lanterns being showcased from students, artists, and different groups. But in the middle of the festival grounds was a huge lantern made to be a dragon. When it was lit, there were lights, lasers, fog, and music going everywhere! People cheered and shot off fireworks; the entire place had this aura of pure joy. It was super cool. 

Plus, there was a bunch of food to go around, and we got to try some new things. But I was being picked out by some locals to get their pictures taken with me! What can I say, I'm famous! Haha. 

The next day we went back to the grounds and toured around in the daylight. Disneyland Tokyo came to the festival and held a huge parade with dancers, bands, and even some characters! That was a real treat, because they didn't just do the spectacles you see in Disneyworld, but traditional dances from Japan and Taiwan. Everywhere there were groups putting on different dances and music (some where even on stilts!). 

I can say, the Taiwanese definitely know how to party and celebrate. The Chinese New Year is the most important festival to them. It's like our Christmas, and it's extraordinary, indeed. But with the new year coming to a close, it starts the year with great memories and good wishes for the upcoming days ahead. 

Chinese New Year

The Chinese New Year is a huge spectacle in Taiwan and in many Asian countries. It is a celebration of the renewal of the lunar calendar, which on this year fell in late January. For an entire week people close down shop and spend time with their families, occasionally going to an event. But there's massive amount of eating and drinking. And let me tell you, I was stuffed!

For the New Year I went down to Lukang in Changhua County, which is about 3 hours south of Taipei by bus. The trip down there was alright, but I had to unexpectedly change buses. The driver pulled to the side and turned off the bus. Thinking I was there I just got off. He stopped me and said: "Where are you going to?" (In Chinese of course) And I answered him. At my response he kind of freaked out, grabbed my arm and my luggage, and quickly dragged me across the highway which we were on, and told to make a break for it to the nearest bus station. It was crazy! I ran.... and ran... thank God that the bus driver saw me and waited for me. Phew! Haha!

But once I arrived in Lukang, I was met by my wonderful host family. It turned out that the TA in one of my classes was in my host family. So I already knew him! That really helped actually, because when I meet new people I am very shy, but since I knew him, I felt like I could ease into being the normal me easier. Of course, I was still shy, but the family was definitely open and hospitable.

Right when I arrived, "Mom" (haha) had dinner all ready! But before I could see it, we had to go to the third floor of the house and honor the ancestors. It is a traditional belief to let the ancestors "eat" and bless the food first before you eat it. In that sense, spirit money, which is specially designed pieces of paper, is burned in a furnace. Spirit money is a way of sending good tidings to the spirit world. Nick (my TA) told me it was so they could have fun in the spirit world. Haha, I don't know if that's true or not. But anyways, he got the point across.

Then we went down to eat, and it was a massive set of delicious foods, most of them I had never seen before! There was shrimp with rice noodles, chilled pork, prawns, seafood hot pot, greens (namely qingcai), cabbage, and various other delicious dishes. Two specific dishes that I remember were three seafood dishes. At first Nick gave me a prawn and put it in my bowl. I looked at him and said: "What do I do with this?" They all laughed and taught me how to eat it. I was quite impressed with myself, and I ate it too! Then they gave me a toothpick with a piece of pear and a brown-reddish chuck of something on it. When I asked what it was, they told me it was compressed and dried fish eggs. The saltiness from the eggs goes well with the sweetness of the pear. That was actually pretty hard to eat, as I am not keen on seafood, especially fish eggs. Haha, but it went down. And lastly they opened up a plastic container of dried mini shrimp. I looked up at "Dad" (haha) and he just popped it in his mouth, head, legs, and all. I was shocked! But it did it, with plenty of Taiwan Beer to wash it down! Haha!

Drinking and eating are very important parts of Chinese New Year. It brings people together to enjoy food and each others' company, and it is a blessing in the bounty that we share. So, I had plenty of stuff to drink. When I didn't want anymore beer (because I couldn't handle anymore), they brought out the hard Kaoliang liquor! And when I couldn't handle anymore of that, they brought me over to their next door neighbors (relatives) and brought out the whiskey! Man, I was done by the end of the night. But it was a good night, filled with laughter, singing, and lots of new friends.

The next days we went around the town, touring through the markets, temples, and shops, and seeing the different sights. We took tons of pictures and had really funs moments. They tried to get me to try some new soup in the market. It was brown and think with tons of noodles in it. I asked what it was: "Oh, that's a soup with the things in the ground, that birds eat." EARTHWORMS?! Oh my gosh... I didn't want to eat that at all. But, they had already ordered me a bowl before I could say anything. Thank God though, it was just noodles. No worms. PHEW! Haha! Those guys.... :P

We also went up to the mountain and saw the giant statue of Buddha. It is an 80+ foot statue of the Buddha sitting on a giant lotus flower. The statue itself is on the tallest mountain in the area, so it can be seen from all around. Supposedly the area is haunted because the statue is built on a graveyard, and thus the people put Buddha there to comfort the dead and to help those in this world. I think that's pretty reasonable.

To end the week, we ate more and more, drank lots and lots, and visited many more people, singing songs and enjoying each others' company (with mahjong and KTV). Haha. It was a fantastic weekend and a memory I will never ever forget. I regard them as my second family, as they treated me like a son. It is truly astonishing how the Taiwanese are so welcoming and friendly. They welcomed a complete stranger into their house, and right from the start, accepted me into their family and loved me. What a wonderful family!

Holidays in Taiwan

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day, three holidays which are big in the West, but small in the East. In fact, they have really only been receiving popularity in the past couple of decades. Of course, these are more Christian and American holidays (save New Years), but, as you might say "our holidays" are slowing making way into the Eastern world.
As Thanksgiving was coming, I was not for one to skip out on one of the few times of the year that I could pig out more than usual. So I searched and searched for Thanksgiving celebrations in Taiwan: either a parade, an event, or even just a place to have dinner. Nothing. Well, nothing more than the occasional bar putting on a "Western Thanksgiving Evening." Now, being away from America I was kind of speculative of a full-out Western Thanksgiving. But I really wanted to give it a shot, as I couldn't miss out on an important holiday for me!
So I grabbed some friends and we went out to a bar called "The Tavern," which was more of a sports bar: with tv's all around, nice booths, and plenty of beer and alcohol you could have for all your sports. But when we arrived the place wasn't that full, but at the far end of the room was a huge buffet of food. I rushed over and saw turkey, potatoes, stuffing, ham, desserts, and even some Chinese dishes to fill in the gaps! YES!

Now Christmas was a different matter. Christmas is celebrated over here due to the Christian tradition, but it is not filled with the Baby Jesus theme. Instead it is everything BUT that. I mean, sure, you can find places with Jesus in them (churches), but otherwise the tradition of gift giving, gathering for food, and decorating are all in big themes. For instance, Taipei 101's shopping mall and surrounding grounds were decorated with lights, Christmas trees, and even a "Christmas Lover's Lane" which had little shops. Pretty cool! Christmas music was in the air, and a certain joy was everywhere. I definitely felt Christmas here, but with no snow and asian cuisine :)

(This is a photo of the "Leg Christmas Tree" near Taipei 101. A little twist on the traditional tree)

New Year's Eve was a different prospect though. Although it wasn't the thing where everyone gathered around and watched football or whatnot, but everyone gathered to the Taipei 101 area to enjoy concerts by various Taiwanese pop stars, shows, and great food. There were tons and tons of people, filling every possible intersection and road where you could clearly see the 101. The 101, however, was decked out with tons of fireworks that went up in a show of massive proportions. It was spectacular! Below is a video of how it worked out.