tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19683793597404926952024-03-12T21:51:53.621-07:00dye.a.logs.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-43373830136176045172011-08-14T17:07:00.000-07:002011-08-14T17:12:10.527-07:00A question for not-ChristiansI don't believe that people can live, work, and strive without believing their lives are meaningful. What gives life meaning in the absence of a designer who has created life with purpose?s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-11795353025548150322011-06-25T07:56:00.000-07:002011-06-25T08:01:45.192-07:00It's a big day!I can't really write a post like the one below without also saying that I am so excited for today. Congratulations to Melissa and Jerry on their wedding day! I still remember when they started dating. It remains memorable to me as an example of a couple who really take their relationship, God's part in that relationship, and each other seriously. <br /><br />The two of them are so incredibly different, but their differences truly seem to come together in a beautiful way as a couple and I'm expecting many happily married memories to come.s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-34348489191114676932011-06-25T07:23:00.000-07:002011-06-25T07:56:40.413-07:00The missing storyA summer ago, I wrote that I could never go back and work in China and there would be a story to come to explain. Here it is, a bit late, but it relates to my current situation this summer as well.<br /><br />Waiting in line for the UK pavilion, I was full of anticipation. Even from the outside, it was already better than all the other pavilions at the expo; but it was also humid on the verge of raining, hot on the verge of suffocating, and the line was an estimated four hours long. <br /><br />A little while before getting into that line, it <span style="font-style:italic;">had </span>actually been raining. And at least for a brief while, it had been raining on me. It started at my scalp. I got this itch that literally made me want to tear my hair out. I was doing the best to not flail and grab at my scalp like a mad woman. I stuck to the usual running my hand through my hair every now and then for slight relief, but after half an hour, I couldn't take it. I ran and stuck my head in a sink and scrubbed away. To my delight, my scalp responded with a sigh of relief.<br /><br />So back in line at the UK pavilion, my entire body started to itch. I ignored it for a bit figuring it was the even spread of 8 or so mosquito bites I had received when someone had left our hostel room door open. But ever so gradually, the bites began to grow in a strange web like fashion and soon enough I was covered in hives. I didn't actually know what hives looked like, never having had them before. The friend I was with kept telling me I should go to the clinic, and I could probably get someone to let me back into line. We were about two hours into the line, and I was not so willing to leave if that meant those had been two hours wasted. Of course, I was not allowed to leave and come back, so I stuck it out in that line for another two hours. I wrote a wonderful review of the UK pavilion as a guest blogger for SHIFTboston, but the actual experience of being inside the pavilion was a torturous mix of 'I want to stay and really take this amazing space in!' and 'I need to leave immediately so I can go somewhere and tear all my skin off'. I still feel a little bad about rushing my expo companion off and away.<br /><br />So long story short, I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to acid rain, and China, I'm sure, is full of it. Terrible experience. Never want to do that again.<br /><br />Unfortunately, ever since then, it seems my skin has been more sensitive than it was before and it gets a lot worse in the summer. Not really sure what it is. Humidity? Air pollution? UV? Heat? It was difficult to sleep last night. Help.s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-59531116769078939792011-03-14T10:59:00.000-07:002011-03-14T11:15:05.321-07:00Ah, here I am<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/10/world-top-100-universities-reputation-rankings-reputation-times-higher-education">http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/mar/10/world-top-100-universities-reputation-rankings-reputation-times-higher-education</a><br /><br />Every once in a while I am newly surprised to find myself at what is considered the best university in the world. Everything is so normal, so everyday. There's still disappointment with the means of education, the famous names end up being people not unlike myself, and there are still the fears and struggles when it comes to employment. This place which many dream of is not always some sort of heaven as it is imagined. At the same time, this realization prompts me to a little perspective. In times of frustration and disappointment, it is still a privilege to be here, and an opportunity to take hold of that which is offered.s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-17383534455028682152011-01-13T19:45:00.000-08:002011-01-13T20:35:22.777-08:00The nature of comfortWent to my second bible study with my church since moving to the area a year and a half ago. I guess some things get off to a slow start. I could say it was from all the church searching/switching and also my attendance of the Intervarsity bible study on campus, but really it's priorities. Doubt is a strange circle. It's hard to prioritize something I do not trust. That then takes me away from the community that might enlighten me to the answers of my doubts. Of course my doubt also reminds me that I'm not exactly placing myself in places where I could be enlightened to other varying beliefs.<div><br /></div><div>We studied the first chapter of II Corinthians, a passage that reflects upon the suffering, comfort, and integrity of God in Christ. It seems to me that the nature of God's comfort in suffering comes from a knowledge of His character. Paul's comfort came from a knowledge of God's power (over death and over all). Others in our group were comforted by God's character of being ever present or faithful (a presence in times when one might otherwise feel alone). Paul asked the Corinthians to find security in God's integrity (when others might seem fickle). </div><div><br /></div><div>For myself, I always wonder if the comfort I have felt in times of need comes from a head knowledge of God's character as expressed in the bible, or if there is the actual presence of God reaching down and comforting me. It would be more convincing if in a time of need, I did not need to know the character of God in my mind and yet I still could feel His comfort. Instead it seems to take reminders from His Word or reminders from other believers to get me there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose I also know when this specific doubt began. You might think all Jehovah's Witnesses spreading their news on the streets should just be ignored; but after being trained in Christian evangelism, I really wondered what the Jehovah's Witness had to say, what they thought was so compelling about their own belief. So after being approached one incredibly rainy day, I stopped to talk, in the rain, getting soaked. That young man had plenty of his own stories to tell of Jehovah's Witnesses experiencing god's love, god's peace, god's joy, comfort in times of need. The stories were no different from those within Christianity... and no less enthusiastically related.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess one thing that struck me tonight is that Paul was a real person. Okay, that was obvious, but Saul was also a real person. Even if I sometimes doubt the validity of the bible, the people of the bible existed in history and there really was a Saul character who went around killing Christ followers, and somehow, in a miraculous moment, he became one and went around planting churches, being persecuted and being in danger of being killed. Who would do that unless the miracle actually happened and it really showed the existence of Yahweh God? I always -- perhaps stupidly -- ask God to reveal Himself to me -- if he really is there -- in a miracle that I cannot deny. Perhaps Saul's story (and others like it) is the closest i will ever get to knowing a miracle of God. Christians often cite the disciples willingness to die for Christ after his death and resurrection as evidence of a truth, since only truth would be worth dying for. That never caught with me; they were already for Christ to begin with and would have been fickle for changing their minds, but if Paul is a real character, then he really was reacting to truth. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course my doubt then reminds me of the miracles that people of other faiths also claim of their deities. I become more and more convinced that whatever one wants to believe, one can find the arguments and examples... I'm not sure I even know what I want to believe. I suppose that's why I continue to live within the field of doubt.</div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-35975463119707051222011-01-02T14:07:00.002-08:002011-01-02T14:35:24.346-08:00First Night, Boston<div>Funny how the crappy quality of my cell phone camera gives everything a dreamy (crappy) quality. I'm glad I made my way back to Boston for New Years. Nothing goes on at home in Pennsylvania for the New Year other than a dark house and sleep, so it was good to be out.<div><br /></div><div>First Night, for those who don't know, is Boston's friendly way of bringing in the New Year, with performances and activities all through New Years Eve. The $15 cost of the button to get into all the events was well worth it even just for the American Repertory Theatre performance of the Blue Rose, my afternoon venture. One of the options was Boston Ballet's Nutcracker! (which... I did not see because I did not want to wake up to go get the tickets in the morning.)</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Waiting for ART ticket office to open:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6GBIS06I/AAAAAAAACAk/IKzs2QYvjUg/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6GBIS06I/AAAAAAAACAk/IKzs2QYvjUg/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716921464574882" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6GBIS06I/AAAAAAAACAk/IKzs2QYvjUg/s1600/1.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6FyoWKII/AAAAAAAACAc/ceLmHr0zpoA/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6FyoWKII/AAAAAAAACAc/ceLmHr0zpoA/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716917572479106" /></a><br /></div><div>One of the many ice sculptures. They didn't all survive so well in the 40 degree weather:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6FSHZ3UI/AAAAAAAACAU/y_l4pl11x9w/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD6FSHZ3UI/AAAAAAAACAU/y_l4pl11x9w/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716908844375362" /></a><br /></div><div>Bridge to the left, water to the right. Wintry night walk near the MFA. Walked all the way to the harbor:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52xP22jI/AAAAAAAACAM/d3lOG1466e8/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 94px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52xP22jI/AAAAAAAACAM/d3lOG1466e8/s320/5.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716659503290930" /></a><br /></div><div>Pond in the Common was frozen over:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52p0ZGtI/AAAAAAAACAE/CHfDwtc27Bo/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52p0ZGtI/AAAAAAAACAE/CHfDwtc27Bo/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716657509046994" /></a><br /></div><div>5.4.3.2.1.. .. ... ... ... (we counted too early):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52fBwe_I/AAAAAAAAB_8/FFXWaRQRxtA/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52fBwe_I/AAAAAAAAB_8/FFXWaRQRxtA/s320/7.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716654612315122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52MLlKvI/AAAAAAAAB_0/k3XpZQtagQs/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD52MLlKvI/AAAAAAAAB_0/k3XpZQtagQs/s320/8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716649553242866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD514If1hI/AAAAAAAAB_s/kgXQ955wPdg/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TSD514If1hI/AAAAAAAAB_s/kgXQ955wPdg/s320/9.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557716644171601426" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">Perfect view, and we didn't even have to get there early! The reflection in the water was certainly a nice touch. These are views from a surprisingly uncrowded Christopher Columbus Park.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-59319325910207249302010-12-28T20:14:00.000-08:002010-12-28T20:21:22.378-08:00Caring for your introvert<a href="http://m.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/2696/">http://m.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2003/03/caring-for-your-introvert/2696/</a><div><br /></div><div>This made me smile and laugh. Other than the comically exaggerated statements about introverts being more intelligent and refined, I wholeheartedly agree. </div><div><br /></div><div>I'm still trying to learn how to deal with introversion in a society which values extroversion and mistakes introversion for shyness.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've written my own thoughts on it before, but I guess the topic will never grow old.</div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-59668072034894775232010-12-26T21:24:00.000-08:002010-12-26T21:28:49.763-08:00is forgetting a valid solution when there is lack of resolution?s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-14079805183863359672010-12-24T06:38:00.000-08:002010-12-24T06:51:27.032-08:00Sometimes when I see throngs of cars on the road, I think about the hundreds (thousands?) of people they contain. Then I think of each of their lives being as complex and complicated as my own, each person wrapped up in their own cosmos unaware of all the others except as other cars on the drive. <div><br /></div><div>It makes them feel big, then small; and then the statement that the God of the universe knows everything everyone's going through seems even more impossible.</div><div><br /></div><div>Nothing is impossible with God, except contradiction, it's an impossible something.</div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-61128353099269696772010-12-22T21:46:00.001-08:002010-12-22T21:59:03.934-08:00Another non-updateI've been reading Ulysses. It's a book I've wanted to read for a while, and I've been enjoying it greatly. Somehow, i was unacquainted with the typical response to the book. It seems everyone that finds out I'm reading it wishes me luck. This surprised me at first considering how enjoyable it is. Every time someone wishes me luck, I feel like I'm somehow reading it incorrectly. The writing is dense, but at least for me, it isn't headache dense. It's full of interest. I suppose I haven't been reading for full comprehension, but since when do you fully understand a piece of music on your first play/listen through?<div><br /></div><div>I guess I should wait till I get at least halfway through to make further comment since the sentences are supposed to start looking more and more baffling. </div><div><br /></div><div>---</div><div><br /></div><div>It's hard to wrap my mind around the fact that Christmas is two days away. </div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-91774748265320021902010-11-12T18:38:00.000-08:002010-11-12T18:52:52.302-08:00What would you say is the difference between the <i>practice </i>of Christians coming together around the idea of the church 'body' as a body of diverse parts (people) specifically gifted by God to work together as a unity and being at its best when working together AND secular society which also values things like group work and bringing people of diverse fields or backgrounds together saying that it produces better understandings and results?<div><br /></div><div>When someone in the church gains insight or help from the gifts of someone else in the church it is attributed to God's gifting of the body. If the same thing happened outside the church it could be attributed to the value of diversity. </div><div><br /></div><div>What are spiritual gifts in this context, when things often considered spiritual gifts (by the holy spirit) within the church also seem to be present and helpful outside of it? Does the typical concept of spiritual gifting (that of 'discover your spiritual gift' questionnaires) need to be narrowed?</div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-80282489147176681352010-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:002010-10-26T22:16:21.516-07:00connais pasIt's been a long time since I've known (<i>connaitre</i> as opposed to <i>savoir*)</i> God's presence in my life. <div><br /></div><div>Sometimes I wonder whether I've put up a wall or broken through the illusion. The symptoms are too similar.</div><div><br /></div><div>I suppose this is the point where most people just go with whichever they want, but I'm interested in what is true. Can I ask? Why do you believe?</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course there's nobody to respond. It's just something I always wonder when I look at people who seem so sure. I used to be sure, but when I ask my former self the question, there doesn't seem to be a good answer.</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">*connaitre </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">being more of an experiential knowing, like that of knowing a person personally rather than knowing Shakespeare from one's studies. I find that I know of God and all the things in my life that could be manifestations of his presence. I even thank Him for these things when I remember. But it has been increasingly difficult to know Him as a presence in my life. </span></div><div><br /></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-85443758614875328102010-09-07T08:19:00.000-07:002010-09-07T08:20:39.552-07:00[19]<div>As promised, a blog I wrote on the expo! </div><div><br /></div><a href="http://shiftboston.blogspot.com/2010/09/192-countries-represented-at-shanghai.html">http://shiftboston.blogspot.com/2010/09/192-countries-represented-at-shanghai.html</a><div><br /></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-6846795282838942742010-08-27T12:33:00.000-07:002010-08-27T13:54:12.805-07:00Yilan [18]<div>This summer, my travels around Taiwan were pretty limited. Normally I would visit relatives all over, but this time I never made it down south.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yilan, although only half an hour outside of Taipei, was probably one of my larger trips. A couple of my coworkers took me there to look at some architect by a well known Taiwanese architect, whose name I have written down but cannot read... </div><div><br /></div><div>This first building is a gallery building that is still under construction. The concept was to give the essence of driftwood floating in and under the surface of the water. The park behind was designed by the same firm as well:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgfI1PxmNI/AAAAAAAAB80/Nl2QQ1ZUCCo/s1600/DSCN0006e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgfI1PxmNI/AAAAAAAAB80/Nl2QQ1ZUCCo/s400/DSCN0006e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510188380680460498" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgfIQ7XLkI/AAAAAAAAB8s/H23YjGH5m3w/s1600/DSCN0007e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgfIQ7XLkI/AAAAAAAAB8s/H23YjGH5m3w/s400/DSCN0007e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510188370931166786" /></a>slides:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeSceEs2I/AAAAAAAAB8k/PHGh5yaV9ow/s1600/DSCN0010e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeSceEs2I/AAAAAAAAB8k/PHGh5yaV9ow/s400/DSCN0010e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510187446316610402" /></a><br /><div>The second building was some sort of small commemorative museum. It wasn't open, but look at that 'folded' concrete, something that maybe too many architects get excited about. I like it too. The roof of the room the left folds down and becomes a bench which doubles as a shade for the windows below:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeR6biBGI/AAAAAAAAB8c/KNow54zvl-E/s1600/DSCN0013(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeR6biBGI/AAAAAAAAB8c/KNow54zvl-E/s400/DSCN0013(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510187437179143266" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeRZSAn9I/AAAAAAAAB8U/QRtpV2IDJPk/s1600/DSCN0016(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeRZSAn9I/AAAAAAAAB8U/QRtpV2IDJPk/s400/DSCN0016(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510187428280836050" /></a><br /></div><div>This was the architect taking the typology of local buildings and stacking them on top of each other to form a community center sort of space:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeQ3hiLqI/AAAAAAAAB8M/P3pj1wscEz0/s1600/DSCN0020(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeQ3hiLqI/AAAAAAAAB8M/P3pj1wscEz0/s400/DSCN0020(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510187419219144354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeQbn-R6I/AAAAAAAAB8E/QW-0_WVvZTc/s1600/DSCN0025(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgeQbn-R6I/AAAAAAAAB8E/QW-0_WVvZTc/s400/DSCN0025(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510187411729958818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbYAL5UHI/AAAAAAAAB78/nLluZ3oeCTQ/s1600/DSCN0029(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbYAL5UHI/AAAAAAAAB78/nLluZ3oeCTQ/s400/DSCN0029(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510184243268505714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbXosf7AI/AAAAAAAAB70/I9k1IR3SZ_4/s1600/DSCN0030(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbXosf7AI/AAAAAAAAB70/I9k1IR3SZ_4/s400/DSCN0030(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510184236962802690" /></a><br /></div><div>The second floor directly connected to a bridge going off away from the building. The material of the path didn't change so you never got a sense that you were leaving the building until you were already further away. There were a lot of little nooks to sit and look out over the landscape:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbW59zcgI/AAAAAAAAB7s/mrZvbfaZ_OA/s1600/DSCN0031(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbW59zcgI/AAAAAAAAB7s/mrZvbfaZ_OA/s400/DSCN0031(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510184224418918914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbWslbmKI/AAAAAAAAB7k/ALfyRxU0mwM/s1600/DSCN0032(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbWslbmKI/AAAAAAAAB7k/ALfyRxU0mwM/s400/DSCN0032(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510184220827031714" /></a><br /></div><div>The bridge used to be only for cars, but the architects added a pedestrian walkway off to the side and slightly under the existing bridge. It used the structure of the existing bridge. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbV66Pl9I/AAAAAAAAB7c/3ta7L28Er5Y/s1600/DSCN0035(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgbV66Pl9I/AAAAAAAAB7c/3ta7L28Er5Y/s400/DSCN0035(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510184207492552658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZ0qP6R7I/AAAAAAAAB7U/Lu3w6aBj13Q/s1600/DSCN0037(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZ0qP6R7I/AAAAAAAAB7U/Lu3w6aBj13Q/s400/DSCN0037(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510182536572716978" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZzmm4F8I/AAAAAAAAB7M/vnZQNn1LopY/s1600/DSCN0045(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZzmm4F8I/AAAAAAAAB7M/vnZQNn1LopY/s400/DSCN0045(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510182518415431618" /></a><br /></div><div>For being by a roadway, the pedestrian bridge was peaceful. Probably because it was lower in level. So much nicer than sidewalks on bridges right next to the cars that I am used to.:</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZzEzt03I/AAAAAAAAB7E/Z0IhNrmLhrQ/s1600/DSCN0047(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZzEzt03I/AAAAAAAAB7E/Z0IhNrmLhrQ/s400/DSCN0047(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510182509342479218" /></a><br /></div><div>Rowing machines looking over the river:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZyfYzl4I/AAAAAAAAB68/9wGNoBf3z_o/s1600/DSCN0050(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZyfYzl4I/AAAAAAAAB68/9wGNoBf3z_o/s400/DSCN0050(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510182499297499010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZx0bB3oI/AAAAAAAAB60/_2-qhTG39FU/s1600/DSCN0057(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgZx0bB3oI/AAAAAAAAB60/_2-qhTG39FU/s400/DSCN0057(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510182487764098690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYCT2LVlI/AAAAAAAAB6s/mFQHyqcfJgk/s1600/DSCN0060(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 279px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYCT2LVlI/AAAAAAAAB6s/mFQHyqcfJgk/s400/DSCN0060(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510180572054115922" /></a><br /></div><div>Realizing that quirked out form is hard to read. i don't get it.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYB4y8aoI/AAAAAAAAB6k/usYeo4URXRY/s1600/DSCN0066(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYB4y8aoI/AAAAAAAAB6k/usYeo4URXRY/s400/DSCN0066(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510180564792797826" /></a><br /></div><div>Last was a trip to another much larger museum. The concept was of a rock sitting in the water. The water around is manmade, but the ocean was right across the street:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYBbteZHI/AAAAAAAAB6c/E8zPA95kxUo/s1600/DSCN0068(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 327px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYBbteZHI/AAAAAAAAB6c/E8zPA95kxUo/s400/DSCN0068(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510180556985230450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYBIia5VI/AAAAAAAAB6U/ii_HT2EDN_g/s1600/DSCN0071(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 242px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYBIia5VI/AAAAAAAAB6U/ii_HT2EDN_g/s400/DSCN0071(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510180551838590290" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYAvqACZI/AAAAAAAAB6M/pSYVhtwz0v0/s1600/DSCN0072(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgYAvqACZI/AAAAAAAAB6M/pSYVhtwz0v0/s400/DSCN0072(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510180545159498130" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWqUR9VVI/AAAAAAAAB6E/mxO4DSk-wto/s1600/DSCN0073(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWqUR9VVI/AAAAAAAAB6E/mxO4DSk-wto/s400/DSCN0073(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510179060342150482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWp5Q61mI/AAAAAAAAB58/ufzDDa0oQQc/s1600/DSCN0075(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWp5Q61mI/AAAAAAAAB58/ufzDDa0oQQc/s400/DSCN0075(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510179053090035298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWpQumugI/AAAAAAAAB50/FAUbD1OZmmk/s1600/DSCN0081e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWpQumugI/AAAAAAAAB50/FAUbD1OZmmk/s400/DSCN0081e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510179042208692738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWo74myOI/AAAAAAAAB5s/XlQaKmZ1kuQ/s1600/DSCN0090(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWo74myOI/AAAAAAAAB5s/XlQaKmZ1kuQ/s400/DSCN0090(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510179036613495010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWoROsO0I/AAAAAAAAB5k/haKjTI-Ui3g/s1600/DSCN0091(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THgWoROsO0I/AAAAAAAAB5k/haKjTI-Ui3g/s400/DSCN0091(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510179025163402050" /></a><br /></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-77603594895703132242010-08-27T09:44:00.000-07:002010-08-27T12:33:17.534-07:00White Man Toothpaste, aka, The Last Days [17]<div>Back in Taipei, it was hard to believe the summer was already coming to an end. It was a good couple weeks. For one, after coming back from Shanghai it felt blissfully cool in Taipei. At that point, I knew America was gonna feel cold. </div><div><br /></div><div>This was a picture from a cousin's birthday at Ponderosa, no comment on the restaurant choice; he wanted steak. Ponderosa in Taipei is a fancy nice restaurant, and as with all fancy nice western food in Taiwan, it was disappointing. I'm wondering, do you get good Western food when you travel in tour groups? I'm guessing that's what most of the dining outside of Taiwan has been for my aunt's family. If you can't tell, our fingers are the candles for the imaginary cake. Nice:</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftCX_g0tI/AAAAAAAAB28/VCi4XzZKYCA/s1600/DSCF4677e.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftCX_g0tI/AAAAAAAAB28/VCi4XzZKYCA/s400/DSCF4677e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510133294167020242" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I took one last trip back to Baisun to visit my grandparents. As usual, life on the mountain was dominated by talking about food. By the first day, My grandmother had already planned out the menu for the entire time I would be there. Stuff was constantly being added to the menu. Life seems so simple in the country. Life is about family, friends, a nice breeze, a bit of rain, health and good food. With all the complexities of city life, higher education, and contemporary life in general, it's often hard for me to appreciate their simple life. Although they keep up with the news through the television, it was still hard for me to explain things to them that seemed basic to the way i live. I'm sure their lives have been busier in the past, but the slow pace of taking an hour to buy a bus ticket was frustrating and refreshing. It was inefficient by the way I live, (not that i had anywhere to go), but for my grandparents, buying a ticket was definitely less about efficiency and more about their friendship with the ticket office owners. Same goes for grocery shopping etc... </div><div><br /></div><div>I was introduced to a new fruit/nut... not sure what. I love that produce shopping in Taiwan lets you taste test. In Taipei, I saw store owners chopping cabbages in half for customers to inspect the insides before buying.:</div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxBY7UuzI/AAAAAAAAB4c/NvDrFQ4SFng/s1600/DSCN9964e.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxBY7UuzI/AAAAAAAAB4c/NvDrFQ4SFng/s400/DSCN9964e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510137675284527922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px; " /></a>At the indoor supermarket near my grandparents' I saw white man toothpaste for the first time. It was next to the black man's toothpaste. What's the deal? </div><div><br /></div><div>Temple nestled between other buildings. I used to be surprised when walking along a street looking into storefronts and all of the sudden finding myself looking into a temple at a giant Buddha rather than another storefront. I guess this is what it looks like from across the street:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxA5mWkBI/AAAAAAAAB4U/z79UYBXdYYw/s1600/DSCN9963(2)e.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxA5mWkBI/AAAAAAAAB4U/z79UYBXdYYw/s400/DSCN9963(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510137666875068434" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The last Saturday was phenomenal. A trip to Yilan, which will be my next post, and then dinner at a delicious Japanese restaurant and dessert at the Melange, a supposedly very well known dessert and drinks place. I wasn't too impressed by the overcooked waffles, but they say the dryness helps them to soak in the flavors of the toppings... I guess that's what you would call a Taiwanese take on Western food. Otherwise, it was good company and a good time.:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8e1sEXOI/AAAAAAAAB5c/0Wfs0-mjnB4/s1600/DSCN0099(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8e1sEXOI/AAAAAAAAB5c/0Wfs0-mjnB4/s400/DSCN0099(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510150275849280738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8DzmFRSI/AAAAAAAAB5U/IqkTxpVroz8/s1600/DSCN0094(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8DzmFRSI/AAAAAAAAB5U/IqkTxpVroz8/s400/DSCN0094(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510149811430835490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8DeSv5kI/AAAAAAAAB5M/rDWfXpljeQI/s1600/DSCN0093(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8DeSv5kI/AAAAAAAAB5M/rDWfXpljeQI/s400/DSCN0093(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510149805712598594" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">This is a photo during the daytime of a building in the same area (between Zhongshan and Minquan MRT stations. I liked walking around this area. There were a lot of boutiques and artist studio stores. Bamboo is a common material, but it still looks exotic to me.:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxB4RSlcI/AAAAAAAAB4k/-iorMB33c3g/s400/DSCN9968e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510137683698161090" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Speaking of bamboo, a bamboo grove in Daan Forest Park. I liked the way the bamboo creaked in the wind. Daan Park is Taipei's sad equivalent to Central Park, with a fabulous playground. If I was still small enough, that playground could have been a mini paradise:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxCox_veI/AAAAAAAAB4s/UhZg76AuuuU/s1600/DSCN9976e.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxCox_veI/AAAAAAAAB4s/UhZg76AuuuU/s400/DSCN9976e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510137696720240098" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); "><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8CKBThGI/AAAAAAAAB40/9TdWJ3LslRs/s1600/DSCN9981e.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8CKBThGI/AAAAAAAAB40/9TdWJ3LslRs/s400/DSCN9981e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510149783090857058" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 303px; height: 400px; " /></a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><div><div style="text-align: left;">Random nature shot around the corner from my Aunt's condo:</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8C4dSAsI/AAAAAAAAB5E/1Dattzsg37Q/s1600/DSCN0003(2)e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8C4dSAsI/AAAAAAAAB5E/1Dattzsg37Q/s400/DSCN0003(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510149795556229826" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">And finally, a few shots from the firm where I worked. I know you've been wondering if it's all been a lie, but it's true. I was in fact interning and not just travelling around Taipei. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Birthday:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8C4dSAsI/AAAAAAAAB5E/1Dattzsg37Q/s1600/DSCN0003(2)e.jpg"></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxAfemglI/AAAAAAAAB4M/O323dPc4vdI/s1600/DSCN9946(2)e.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THfxAfemglI/AAAAAAAAB4M/O323dPc4vdI/s400/DSCN9946(2)e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510137659863237202" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /></div><div>The serious half of the office:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftEeLMIPI/AAAAAAAAB3c/ygB7tMdjMbw/s1600/DSCN9943e.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftEeLMIPI/AAAAAAAAB3c/ygB7tMdjMbw/s400/DSCN9943e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510133330186346738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></a><br /></div><div>Send-off lunch. They acquiesced to my requests not to eat spaghetti again. I think this was a Japanese restaurant instead.:<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftDklkCoI/AAAAAAAAB3U/pZV3kwJKbE0/s1600/DSCN9939e.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftDklkCoI/AAAAAAAAB3U/pZV3kwJKbE0/s400/DSCN9939e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510133314727709314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 329px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftDQuhhuI/AAAAAAAAB3M/YyGQD5VyjwQ/s1600/DSCN9937e.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftDQuhhuI/AAAAAAAAB3M/YyGQD5VyjwQ/s400/DSCN9937e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510133309396584162" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was always strange to me how the heart of the building where the firm is located connected directly to the outside. In the end, does that save energy or waste a/c? In my education, people get so excited about 'fuzzy spaces' between interior and exterior, but after being in Taiwan, it's really just a norm:</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftDQuhhuI/AAAAAAAAB3M/YyGQD5VyjwQ/s1600/DSCN9937e.jpg"></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8Chkgm1I/AAAAAAAAB48/P_48vJOFdEM/s1600/DSCN9992e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THf8Chkgm1I/AAAAAAAAB48/P_48vJOFdEM/s400/DSCN9992e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510149789412531026" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div>At the very end, gift shopping. Got a few small things at one of these stores. These shops don't sell any of their own products. Instead, they rent out cubes to other people to sell whatever they want. Makes for a pretty interesting array of stuff:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/THftCkyuCWI/AAAAAAAAB3E/1H0o1KvBiig/s400/DSCN0218e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510133297603021154" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></span></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-37380502291337658122010-08-17T21:26:00.000-07:002010-08-25T12:34:56.641-07:00Shanghai V (Life)[16]<div>It's been a long time since I've hostelled. In a lot of ways it's true that hostelling is "not as nice" as a typical hotel. It's noisy, there's less privacy, and you don't get a maid or a TV or whatever. But I remembered a couple things about hostels that I've really missed. To start, Often they carry more of the flavor of the country they are in. A Marriott might be comfortable, but a Marriott is a Marriott whether in the US or China. I would hope that most people don't travel just to experience what they already know. Although.. I guess coming home at night to something familiar can be good after a tiring day. How would one design an upscale hotel with the flavor of the country it is in? </div><div><br /></div><div>I also enjoyed meeting the other people staying at the hostel. Quite a few were travelling on 'around the world' plane tickets, going around to different countries for a whole year. Out of all the people I met, I suppose I was probably the most boring. Only in Shanghai for a week and not really travelling otherwise. Regardless, it was nice to hear advice on places to go and things to see. We even picked up an extra companion from Japan for our trip to Suzhou.</div><div><br /></div><div>Front door:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGto89pgDOI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Pir7qpSSLBM/s1600/H.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGto89pgDOI/AAAAAAAAB2c/Pir7qpSSLBM/s400/H.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506610365940632802" /></a><br /><div>Next door:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthhHPdnmI/AAAAAAAAB2U/eM15l6-d3w4/s1600/H2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthhHPdnmI/AAAAAAAAB2U/eM15l6-d3w4/s400/H2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506602190898044514" /></a><br /></div><div>Inner Courtyard. The hostel was a traditional Chinese residential complex converted into hostel. Quite unique.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthgulZkPI/AAAAAAAAB2M/nflHYn0orOc/s1600/H3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthgulZkPI/AAAAAAAAB2M/nflHYn0orOc/s400/H3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506602184279167218" /></a><br /></div><div>Creepy hallway made less creepy by lighted statues. Didn't quite get the ambiance here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthgJC14qI/AAAAAAAAB2E/l734tw6CNvk/s1600/H4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthgJC14qI/AAAAAAAAB2E/l734tw6CNvk/s400/H4.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506602174202110626" /></a><br /></div><div>This is where the rooms were:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthfQYkx7I/AAAAAAAAB18/RyKHhe38Bo4/s1600/H5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthfQYkx7I/AAAAAAAAB18/RyKHhe38Bo4/s400/H5.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506602158992443314" /></a><br /></div><div>We mostly ate breakfast at one of the stands down the street.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthe6YO8KI/AAAAAAAAB10/Pa-BSr76GAw/s1600/O.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGthe6YO8KI/AAAAAAAAB10/Pa-BSr76GAw/s400/O.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506602153085431970" /></a><br /></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-18088097682369298932010-08-17T21:12:00.001-07:002010-08-25T12:34:35.282-07:00Shanghai IV [15]<div>Circular Overpass, Pudong. I have lost much of my love for joiners after discovering photoshop's auto joiner command. I still (stubbornly?) put my joiners together manually with love.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGteO4Qe4NI/AAAAAAAAB1s/FQjpGSnSYPU/s1600/PJoiner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGteO4Qe4NI/AAAAAAAAB1s/FQjpGSnSYPU/s400/PJoiner.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506598579103260882" /></a>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-5201520418277638702010-08-13T00:34:00.000-07:002010-08-25T12:34:05.262-07:00Shanghai III [14]<div style="text-align: left;">People keep asking me where else I went other than Shanghai as if I could see the expo and do a decent amount of travelling outside of the city in less than 8 days. Although I was initially unimpressed by a city that on the surface looks like any other international city, Shanghai itself offered plenty to see and do.</div><div><br /></div><div><div>At first when seeing this photo large on my computer screen I wanted to photoshop it into brighter clearer skies, but the muggy feeling looking at this photo is exactly how it was. That day at the Bund, it took me a little while to remember that it was pollution and not just fog that was making everything into a blurry haze. In a future post there will be a traumatic story about why I am now thankful that I did not choose to work under the polluted skies of Shanghai.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5mfE0r4I/AAAAAAAAB1A/2_gRYrLWXN4/s1600/B1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504799084125663106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5mfE0r4I/AAAAAAAAB1A/2_gRYrLWXN4/s400/B1.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>The Bund is typical and yet atypical. A strip of land on the edge of water where pedestrians can walk and enjoy a city view is not uncommon, but the view is something else. One the opposite side of the river is Pudong, a land of huge shiny skyscrapers and new buildings still rapidly going up. Across the street, Neoclassical European architecture, each building unique. </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5mMRcF0I/AAAAAAAAB04/53RGbl0SPa4/s1600/B2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504799079078303554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5mMRcF0I/AAAAAAAAB04/53RGbl0SPa4/s400/B2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5liir3SI/AAAAAAAAB0w/zABEbnJsvLE/s1600/B3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504799067876351266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT5liir3SI/AAAAAAAAB0w/zABEbnJsvLE/s400/B3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT4-J9a6LI/AAAAAAAAB0o/pIcRuoFWhE0/s1600/B4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504798391262701746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT4-J9a6LI/AAAAAAAAB0o/pIcRuoFWhE0/s400/B4.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>On our walk around the Bund, we saw a ferry for 2 yuan. Neither of us being able to read chinese, we weren't too sure of where it was going, but we figured it wouldn't hurt. We joked about accidentally ending up in Japan (for two yuan). Unfortunately it was a short trip; we crossed the river and landed in Pudong.</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT49vl-PlI/AAAAAAAAB0g/PSGatUtmR5Q/s1600/P.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504798384185032274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT49vl-PlI/AAAAAAAAB0g/PSGatUtmR5Q/s400/P.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>This is the same building you see three pictures up in the background of the monument, The Shanghai World Financial Center. (The skyscraper with a hole in it). I found the interior to be glossy and nice, yet unexciting. Although, if we had been more lavish in our spending, I suppose the upper floors may have offered a little more. Yea yea okay, I can't say I really saw the building. If you have photos of interest on the interior, I would love to see them:</div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT49MFQdoI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/ZEzaBnjSoAQ/s1600/P2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504798374652573314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT49MFQdoI/AAAAAAAAB0Y/ZEzaBnjSoAQ/s400/P2.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I believe this was on the way to the French Concession, a pleasant walk and a happy ending at TianZiFang. TianZiFang was more Venice-like than Suzhou (Venice of the East). Narrow-winding streets filled with small shops and traditional style buildings. This comparison, however, also makes me realize one way in which tight residential neighborhoods in the traditional chinese style differ from other countries I have been. One is less likely to stumble upon the sudden opening of the tight corridors into a public plaza. Plazas that exist often seem to be more of an afterthought or part of a larger urban planning than something that came with the growing of the neighborhood. Gathering spaces are more likely to take the form of courtyards within properties than as an extension of the public street. Of course, from the limited amount I have seen, I may be wrong. I suppose, as with Paraisopolis, the streets themselves often provide adequate space for public events.:</div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT48LODTrI/AAAAAAAAB0I/eQtnieh4hfQ/s1600/O2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504798357241155250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT48LODTrI/AAAAAAAAB0I/eQtnieh4hfQ/s400/O2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>At this point I must apologize for my camera's complete inability to take decent pictures in anything less than the light of day. I do not have pictures of <a href="http://besttouristinchina.info/tian-zi-fang-where-is-the-creative-industry-in-shanghai-china.html">Tianzifang </a>or the rest of the French Concession as we arrived there at dark. I also do not have photos of many of the interiors of buildings, including the expo. I see myself making a post just on interiors and night scenes in the future if I am able to round up photos from friends who were with me on my journeys. In the meantime, if you would like to start up a fund to procure a new camera, I would not be opposed. </div><div><br /></div><div>Below, a building seen on an afternoon reunited with a friend I had not seen in over four years. It's strange how traveling to Asia means I see more friends from times past than staying in the US. </div><div><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT3-kMGeJI/AAAAAAAAB0A/W_DAo4WSi0Q/s1600/O3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504797298791970962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT3-kMGeJI/AAAAAAAAB0A/W_DAo4WSi0Q/s400/O3.JPG" border="0" /></a>The destination was the Shanghai 1933 Slaughterhouse, now converted into a shopping center. Of course, i couldn't read the words on the destination other than the number 1933, so rather than knowing what we were looking for, we sort of headed off to the area I was pointed to on a map and hoped to see something spectacular. The bad news is I saw the big red 1933 sign on the modern looking building (which was closed) and assumed our trip had been in vain. It was also already getting to about 4:00pm, the time I was supposed to meet a friend all the way on the other side of town. The building next door, which piqued my interest, is the actual slaughterhouse. The <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/priscillasze/3944137822/in/photostream/">interior </a>is well worth a visit.<br /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT3-L1NCvI/AAAAAAAABz4/fmuS0QZ2xbo/s400/O4.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504797292253481714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" border="0" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT39lOhijI/AAAAAAAABzw/OyvOirB9Wvo/s1600/O5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504797281890699826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT39lOhijI/AAAAAAAABzw/OyvOirB9Wvo/s400/O5.JPG" border="0" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div>Call me crazy, but something about the way all the opened windows changed the texture of this facade was intriguing.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT38iQcriI/AAAAAAAABzg/NZ4kEYVvj20/s1600/O7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504797263913594402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT38iQcriI/AAAAAAAABzg/NZ4kEYVvj20/s400/O7.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>Back at People's Square, the Tomorrow's Square Marriot Hotel is easy to find. A friend I hadn't seen since undergrad stayed here and we were able to meet up for dinner and a night view of the Bund. If you want a free view of the city, the lounges and bars on the upper floors have much to offer.<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT24vOzwlI/AAAAAAAABzY/P_RCtwUyW0E/s1600/O8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504796099165274706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 264px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT24vOzwlI/AAAAAAAABzY/P_RCtwUyW0E/s400/O8.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div>uuuh....gly? but eyecatching nonetheless.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT24GS2LqI/AAAAAAAABzQ/RZa8Rdxbf8Q/s1600/O9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504796088176357026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT24GS2LqI/AAAAAAAABzQ/RZa8Rdxbf8Q/s400/O9.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT23tTQDxI/AAAAAAAABzI/TqgoKxtywNQ/s1600/O10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504796081467166482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT23tTQDxI/AAAAAAAABzI/TqgoKxtywNQ/s400/O10.JPG" border="0" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">After a disappointing trek to Xintiandi -- another housing area redeveloped into shopping, except it just looks like shopping trying to be redeveloped housing and failing -- we walked north and happened upon the museum. It was a good day for a museum as I had an aspiring cold. Pretty cool building and an excellent collection. If the school year does not pounce on me when I return to the US there will be sketches from this visit as well as other places visited:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsrfXZFCI/AAAAAAAAB20/12mEoQxgpRE/s1600/M.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsrfXZFCI/AAAAAAAAB20/12mEoQxgpRE/s400/M.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506614463800349730" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsq9C7FTI/AAAAAAAAB2s/NSZ92fRnuW8/s1600/M2.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsq9C7FTI/AAAAAAAAB2s/NSZ92fRnuW8/s400/M2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506614454587692338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsqd8nntI/AAAAAAAAB2k/m2KSLNBZqAQ/s1600/M3.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGtsqd8nntI/AAAAAAAAB2k/m2KSLNBZqAQ/s400/M3.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5506614446239751890" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At the very end of my trip, Pudong Airport. It was nice to see something structurally different for once. The space frame airport trend is becoming tiring.</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT22vRzNLI/AAAAAAAABy4/N8EDUiba44o/s1600/O12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504796064818082994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT22vRzNLI/AAAAAAAABy4/N8EDUiba44o/s400/O12.JPG" border="0" /></a><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-19654228680693371922010-08-12T23:15:00.000-07:002010-08-13T00:34:15.094-07:00Shanghai II (Qibao) [13]A lesser known canal town on the western edge of Shanghai;<br /><br />Selling Crickets:<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT04TRG-wI/AAAAAAAAByw/bHfJz0ZngAw/s1600/Q2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504793892635474690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT04TRG-wI/AAAAAAAAByw/bHfJz0ZngAw/s400/Q2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT034xZ_gI/AAAAAAAAByo/JERLOkuhYp8/s1600/Q3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504793885523181058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT034xZ_gI/AAAAAAAAByo/JERLOkuhYp8/s400/Q3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT03daEEjI/AAAAAAAAByg/VuuQnFdaFIo/s1600/Q5.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504793878177518130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT03daEEjI/AAAAAAAAByg/VuuQnFdaFIo/s400/Q5.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT02_vmmcI/AAAAAAAAByY/-PLhNrox7vE/s1600/Q6.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504793870214797762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGT02_vmmcI/AAAAAAAAByY/-PLhNrox7vE/s400/Q6.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwx9ZuwuI/AAAAAAAAByQ/4SihvY_mBMY/s1600/Q7.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504789385640329954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwx9ZuwuI/AAAAAAAAByQ/4SihvY_mBMY/s400/Q7.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwxd17rzI/AAAAAAAAByI/W8hpMXhZwtM/s1600/Q8.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504789377168682802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwxd17rzI/AAAAAAAAByI/W8hpMXhZwtM/s400/Q8.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwxNZKVKI/AAAAAAAAByA/7eMXj_tr-A0/s1600/Q9.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504789372753040546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwxNZKVKI/AAAAAAAAByA/7eMXj_tr-A0/s400/Q9.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwwvlkuAI/AAAAAAAABx4/wsnIB5kufAE/s1600/Q10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504789364752037890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwwvlkuAI/AAAAAAAABx4/wsnIB5kufAE/s400/Q10.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwwLcFWBI/AAAAAAAABxw/WwzR-rqBNlI/s1600/Q11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504789355048556562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTwwLcFWBI/AAAAAAAABxw/WwzR-rqBNlI/s400/Q11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvE6QHQ-I/AAAAAAAABxo/bydW3W4yETs/s1600/Q12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504787512188945378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvE6QHQ-I/AAAAAAAABxo/bydW3W4yETs/s400/Q12.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvEWVRKTI/AAAAAAAABxg/JoCXoUxwOjc/s1600/Q13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504787502546889010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvEWVRKTI/AAAAAAAABxg/JoCXoUxwOjc/s400/Q13.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvDxQE2aI/AAAAAAAABxY/C9-mrSSgInE/s1600/Q14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504787492592998818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvDxQE2aI/AAAAAAAABxY/C9-mrSSgInE/s400/Q14.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>mmmmm. babies:<br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvDX4AzaI/AAAAAAAABxQ/qFxttwXT4do/s1600/Q15.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504787485781183906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvDX4AzaI/AAAAAAAABxQ/qFxttwXT4do/s400/Q15.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvCxD2w_I/AAAAAAAABxI/Xju9uS1Vd2c/s1600/Q16.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504787475361874930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTvCxD2w_I/AAAAAAAABxI/Xju9uS1Vd2c/s400/Q16.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-86319344065510183442010-08-12T20:49:00.000-07:002010-08-12T23:06:37.310-07:00Shanghai I (Suzhou) [12]8 days of leisure is a frightening amount to blog about. This post will just be a start. For those of you waiting on news of the expo, you will just have to wait. I will begin by writing about my other experiences as I am waiting on photos from friends and will most likely be guest blogging on a different site in September.<br /><br />The second to last day of our trip was spent in Suzhou. The tickets were only 40 RMB and on the fast train, the trip took half an hour. Unfamiliar with the territory, however, we were sent off to the Hongqiao Shanghai train station to take our trip there. On our search for the departure gates we walked all the way down this long hallway and back again, pretty much the distance between two subway stops. Things in China are big.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEOn8E8EI/AAAAAAAABwY/r754g0YL1Vg/s1600/S01.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504740400071766082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEOn8E8EI/AAAAAAAABwY/r754g0YL1Vg/s400/S01.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Suzhou is a place known for its beauty: it's canals, gardens, and older architecture. Instead of immediately finding the tourist destinations, we spent a while just walking around hoping to come upon something. Here are a few of the sites:<br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTENzo5d0I/AAAAAAAABwQ/p5ko_I6APfE/s1600/S02.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504740386032678722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTENzo5d0I/AAAAAAAABwQ/p5ko_I6APfE/s400/S02.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />This building was actually pretty nice. The space underneath the building was a water pool and there was a "porch" area within the concrete lattice walls before entering the building proper.<br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEM1dXM3I/AAAAAAAABwI/py3GfBJPG3M/s1600/S03.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504740369341297522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEM1dXM3I/AAAAAAAABwI/py3GfBJPG3M/s400/S03.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEMIqczOI/AAAAAAAABwA/CJgnhx6NZVc/s1600/S04.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504740357316594914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 287px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTEMIqczOI/AAAAAAAABwA/CJgnhx6NZVc/s400/S04.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDgXGZqqI/AAAAAAAABv4/znmie-QZ_wA/s1600/S05.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504739605277682338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDgXGZqqI/AAAAAAAABv4/znmie-QZ_wA/s400/S05.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDfYpQEpI/AAAAAAAABvw/R_N1t_eVV0Q/s1600/S06.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504739588512420498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDfYpQEpI/AAAAAAAABvw/R_N1t_eVV0Q/s400/S06.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDe4-q-9I/AAAAAAAABvo/Mh2ubvZ8k4w/s1600/S07.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504739580012329938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 298px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDe4-q-9I/AAAAAAAABvo/Mh2ubvZ8k4w/s400/S07.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Humble Administrator's Garden:</div><div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDeJy_vXI/AAAAAAAABvg/wttjeyXu3ys/s1600/S08.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504739567346892146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDeJy_vXI/AAAAAAAABvg/wttjeyXu3ys/s400/S08.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDdvJ293I/AAAAAAAABvY/N2WSfCUOxP8/s1600/S09.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504739560195028850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTDdvJ293I/AAAAAAAABvY/N2WSfCUOxP8/s400/S09.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCiISbMJI/AAAAAAAABvQ/KzvDZQsKZZE/s1600/S10.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504738536149692562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCiISbMJI/AAAAAAAABvQ/KzvDZQsKZZE/s400/S10.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTChigtjLI/AAAAAAAABvI/CFSC0I-XRdU/s1600/S11.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504738526009068722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTChigtjLI/AAAAAAAABvI/CFSC0I-XRdU/s400/S11.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTChOfWznI/AAAAAAAABvA/5I2PuY1ekPo/s1600/S12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504738520634674802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTChOfWznI/AAAAAAAABvA/5I2PuY1ekPo/s400/S12.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div><div> </div><div>More walking. After seeing the picture perfect Suzhou in postcards and brochures, we were sort of expecting the whole city to be some sort of picture perfect spot. Needless to say, we found ourselves strangely frustrated at being unable to find the postcard paradise. But there were still interesting spots to see:</div><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCgYLQA_I/AAAAAAAABu4/HJ3QCmyB_r0/s1600/S13.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504738506054829042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCgYLQA_I/AAAAAAAABu4/HJ3QCmyB_r0/s400/S13.JPG" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCfx5DD2I/AAAAAAAABuw/xqHQgQy7T0M/s1600/S14.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504738495777935202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTCfx5DD2I/AAAAAAAABuw/xqHQgQy7T0M/s400/S14.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>Anybody know why there is so much temporary housing around? <div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBo0yVByI/AAAAAAAABuo/BBdJzbMZOr4/s1600/S15.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504737551662253858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBo0yVByI/AAAAAAAABuo/BBdJzbMZOr4/s400/S15.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div> </div><div>Still not sure what to make of these types of buildings. They struck me as awkward when I first came to Taiwan (this one's relatively tame compared to the other images in my mind), but now I've become accustomed to their style. Hopefully that is not a bad thing.</div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBoZjNBpI/AAAAAAAABug/-1oX6u3yOvo/s1600/S16.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504737544351057554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBoZjNBpI/AAAAAAAABug/-1oX6u3yOvo/s400/S16.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBnyBkSHI/AAAAAAAABuY/uTMDt0N5NgQ/s1600/S17.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504737533740992626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBnyBkSHI/AAAAAAAABuY/uTMDt0N5NgQ/s400/S17.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>I enjoy the way people make use of the street. In the US, everyone seems to stay within boundaries of home, yard, or park. Here the street is truly public space. We also saw a family eating dinner on the sidewalk:</div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBnUzHlCI/AAAAAAAABuQ/iSDplHq1wIM/s1600/S18.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504737525895762978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBnUzHlCI/AAAAAAAABuQ/iSDplHq1wIM/s400/S18.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBmxbukLI/AAAAAAAABuI/CApmmSFqYs4/s1600/S19.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504737516402413746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TGTBmxbukLI/AAAAAAAABuI/CApmmSFqYs4/s400/S19.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>The most exciting and stressful moment of the day was departure. After seeing the up and going part of the city (which i have no photos of... because it was sort of typical tourist nice) we decided to walk north and see what we could see on the way to the train station. Upon reaching the road to the back of the station we were accosted by various people on mopeds telling us the station had moved and they would take us to the new station. At first the sentiment was that they were trying to rip us off, until we realized they were telling the truth. Needless to say, for 5 rmb, Lian got her first ride on the back of a moped after commenting about how dangerous it looked a few hours earlier. We arrived at the gate a few minutes before departure.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-83058919169673928592010-07-24T01:08:00.000-07:002010-07-24T02:36:16.991-07:00[11] Missing small cuties<div>My aunt sent the poodle away last weekend. It's strange not having him greet me when I come home and sit with me while I eat breakfast. Not that they're anywhere the same, but it makes me wish Trang, my roomate's adorable two year old, around. It's nice to come home to someone small and adorable who's unabashedly happy to see you. </div><div><br /></div><div>7/18/2010 Public Spaces</div><div><br /></div><div>Sun yat-sen Memorial Hall:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjsG4_lBI/AAAAAAAABtY/SLyqQiqq0q4/s1600/DSCN0125e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjsG4_lBI/AAAAAAAABtY/SLyqQiqq0q4/s400/DSCN0125e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497386273318343698" /></a><br /><div>I've had a lot of trouble keeping Taiwan's history straight. It's so complicated! Of course, I say this as someone terrible with names, dates, and places. Sun Yat-sen is an interesting figure in history as he is both respected in Taiwan and Mainland China.</div><div><br /></div><div>There were over a hundred dancers and people doing partial arts on the 'porch' around the building. The park out front was completely empty. The sun here is rather hot. Everytime I've had to do some landscaping in my projects I look at all the places without shade and wonder if anybody will use them. I guess I've never been around for Taiwan's winter. </div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjaOxw_0I/AAAAAAAABtQ/Qv4M14LpTzA/s1600/DSCN0127.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjaOxw_0I/AAAAAAAABtQ/Qv4M14LpTzA/s400/DSCN0127.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385966197866306" /></a><br /></div><div>Display of historic objects:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjZk1H1GI/AAAAAAAABtI/sXsYeeGuMz0/s1600/DSCN0131.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjZk1H1GI/AAAAAAAABtI/sXsYeeGuMz0/s400/DSCN0131.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385954937656418" /></a><br /></div><div>This wall snaked back and forth through the room displaying important documents and figures:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjZKyQJuI/AAAAAAAABtA/jJcS8LvUBcY/s1600/DSCN0144.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjZKyQJuI/AAAAAAAABtA/jJcS8LvUBcY/s400/DSCN0144.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385947946297058" /></a><br /></div><div>Performance by honorary soldiers:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjY9hsUiI/AAAAAAAABs4/jdnxxUwf_Qs/s1600/DSCN0150.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjY9hsUiI/AAAAAAAABs4/jdnxxUwf_Qs/s400/DSCN0150.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385944387179042" /></a><br /></div><div>The Living Mall was pretty boring as a mall, but it's one of the stranger buildings in this city.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjYsGusHI/AAAAAAAABsw/IahkYl4Oh_k/s1600/DSCN0151e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqjYsGusHI/AAAAAAAABsw/IahkYl4Oh_k/s400/DSCN0151e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385939710685298" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I don't think I'd ever see item two on this sign in the US, or at least not anywhere I've lived. It's hard to answer questions some people ask about the US and which make it into one homogeneous place. They ask me about climate and I think of Pennsylvanian weather versus Maine, California, Texas, Michigan, Florida, or... Alaska. So what's the American winter like? I remember someone in Ghana reminding us not to talk about Africa as if it were one same thing. It's hard not to with places you are not familiar. </div><div><br /></div><div>Sign outside the mall:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqilUXthCI/AAAAAAAABso/c3bJKqDVvFQ/s1600/DSCN0155.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqilUXthCI/AAAAAAAABso/c3bJKqDVvFQ/s400/DSCN0155.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385057166132258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqik7-TmTI/AAAAAAAABsg/T73Lrjh5y1I/s1600/DSCN0162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqik7-TmTI/AAAAAAAABsg/T73Lrjh5y1I/s400/DSCN0162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385050617125170" /></a><br /></div><div>Cracked out building. From far away I wondered what the pattern on the building was.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqikXnPMFI/AAAAAAAABsY/emzS2VZFFQM/s1600/DSCN0163.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqikXnPMFI/AAAAAAAABsY/emzS2VZFFQM/s400/DSCN0163.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385040856690770" /></a><br /></div><div>One of many unending escalators. Zhongxiao Fuxing Metro on my way to Maokong.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqikDm7I2I/AAAAAAAABsQ/hjPuEMHWCi8/s1600/DSCN0168.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqikDm7I2I/AAAAAAAABsQ/hjPuEMHWCi8/s400/DSCN0168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385035486667618" /></a><br /></div><div>This was probably my most introverted moment of the whole trip. I took the subway to the Maokong Gondola (Cable Car) to go to the tea plantations out in the mountains and drank tea by myself for a couple hours while journaling. It was pleasant.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqijs9k_8I/AAAAAAAABsI/lCoVVEbIe4w/s1600/DSCN0188.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqijs9k_8I/AAAAAAAABsI/lCoVVEbIe4w/s400/DSCN0188.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497385029407670210" /></a><br /></div><div>I thought this would make for a nice artsy picture, but I guess, in the end, it's just a dead leaf.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgplE1NLI/AAAAAAAABsA/i2JWOP2BtGI/s1600/DSCN0190e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 230px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgplE1NLI/AAAAAAAABsA/i2JWOP2BtGI/s400/DSCN0190e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497382931346568370" /></a><br /></div><div>They taught me the proper three step way to make tea. Always wondered what those tiny terracotta teapots were good for other than decoration. </div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the tray. Apparently drinking tea the right way requires spilling a lot of tea out. Four years ago, I went to some really wealthy friend of my grandmother's resort. I remember drinking tea in her tea room. There was a stone table made for the catching of "spilled tea and in memory it seems like just as much tea was spilled out as drank. I asked the owner of this teahouse about it. His explanation had to do with keeping the outside of the terra-cotta or stone teaware warm and also watching the evaporating liquid as a natural timer.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgpMtVJ3I/AAAAAAAABr4/o4ZCVdRWkJE/s1600/DSCN0198e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgpMtVJ3I/AAAAAAAABr4/o4ZCVdRWkJE/s400/DSCN0198e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497382924805547890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgooBCdaI/AAAAAAAABrw/lqs2SlJECFI/s1600/DSCN0202e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgooBCdaI/AAAAAAAABrw/lqs2SlJECFI/s400/DSCN0202e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497382914956096930" /></a><br /></div><div>The view was great and the cool mountain breeze was refreshing on a hot day.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgn-I_jzI/AAAAAAAABro/cQhyrgM282Y/s1600/DSCN0203e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 272px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgn-I_jzI/AAAAAAAABro/cQhyrgM282Y/s400/DSCN0203e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497382903715172146" /></a><br /></div><div>Taiwanese standards for "handicap accessible" seem quite low. Many of the ramps I have seen require assistance to be used. When I first saw the one at my office I wondered what it was for until I saw someone push a wheelchair up it. "Holy crap, that's a ramp?". This ramp might not be meant for the handicapped, but still, 'holy crap, steep ramp'.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgnSmpk0I/AAAAAAAABrg/x575sHH0C18/s1600/DSCN0216.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEqgnSmpk0I/AAAAAAAABrg/x575sHH0C18/s400/DSCN0216.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497382892028400450" /></a><br /></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-3650076739906562952010-07-17T08:21:00.000-07:002010-07-18T05:57:00.038-07:00[10] Black hair... why?<div>Anybody know why people in such a hot sunny climate would have sun absorbing colored hair? The weather has been scalp cooking of late. Perhaps I should give into the umbrella on sunny days practice... would feel strange doing so.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, playboy bunny? I see so many people wearing playboy apparel and accessories. My grandmother has nice grandmothery playboy pillowcases and towels. I can see how it could just be a cute bunny, but it still strikes me as odd. Do people know what it represents or does it just not matter? I'd actually like an answer to this question... but have not wanted to ask. </div><div><br /></div><div>Beware those long skirts! They were made to kill! Humorous chinglish doesn't usually stand out to me unless I'm looking for it. I saw this sign multiple times before realizing the english didn't actually make sense. My brain has transitioned to chinese mode:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHw-cU9I/AAAAAAAABrY/hyBfK1wkcOw/s1600/DSCN9897e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 310px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHw-cU9I/AAAAAAAABrY/hyBfK1wkcOw/s400/DSCN9897e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494906250239693778" /></a><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHw-cU9I/AAAAAAAABrY/hyBfK1wkcOw/s1600/DSCN9897e.jpg"></a>I always thought spoken chinglish was just something chinese immigrants to the US did, but I'm discovering more and more that english words are part of the language here. </div><div><br /></div><div>7/10/2010</div><div>11am</div><div>After a rather strenuous morning getting my visa for Shanghai figured out, and realizing that FedEx isn't quite the same around these parts, I went to a buffet with my aunt's family and a bunch of cousins once removed that I'd never met before:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHoM1NVI/AAAAAAAABrQ/CRlnrQz297s/s1600/DSCN9898.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHoM1NVI/AAAAAAAABrQ/CRlnrQz297s/s400/DSCN9898.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494906247884125522" /></a>One of the waiters accidentally dropped a glass and me and my aunt got sprayed with glass. After breaking a wine bottle and having glass get stuck in my foot last year, I'm a bit terrified of glass shards. No blood this time around. </div><div><br /></div><div>7/14/2010</div><div>This day was a wow. I haven't been too busy at the office so far, but busy in the architecture field is inevitable. After going out to buy lunch, I came back and halfway through my lunch I was whisked away to take some site photos. We went to a site in the Danshui District overlooking the ocean. I'm always amazed by the diversity of places within Taipei:</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHIpA4HI/AAAAAAAABrI/nhsCIhVKaWw/s1600/DSCN9904e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 233px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUHIpA4HI/AAAAAAAABrI/nhsCIhVKaWw/s400/DSCN9904e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494906239412396146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUG59rpOI/AAAAAAAABrA/NIcFTrd2Iqo/s1600/DSCN9923e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUG59rpOI/AAAAAAAABrA/NIcFTrd2Iqo/s400/DSCN9923e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494906235472553186" /></a><br /></div><div>The large roads running through empty properties gave the site a rather abandoned feel even though it was obvious that the area had not been inhabited except for the few random ramshakle houses that could only be discovered by following not so obvious trails. I can't help wondering if these are legally owned properties or merely claimed land.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUGPJOQHI/AAAAAAAABq4/CZraVlK82uM/s1600/DSCN9938e.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px; " src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHUGPJOQHI/AAAAAAAABq4/CZraVlK82uM/s400/DSCN9938e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494906223978233970" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another site was in the Neihu District. Taipei 101 looks much taller from farther away.:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTPYhASGI/AAAAAAAABqw/flr4aFyDWwM/s1600/DSCN9987e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTPYhASGI/AAAAAAAABqw/flr4aFyDWwM/s400/DSCN9987e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494905281601095778" /></a><br /></div><div>7/17/2010</div><div>8am</div><div>I decided to go explore the more historic side of Taipei this weekend. First stop was Treasure Hill. I'm sure the name is much less pirate-like in Chinese. This was a basketball court I saw on the way up the hill. Not sure why, but I really liked this view with the lines of the bridge, court, and power at various depths:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTO-XPIKI/AAAAAAAABqo/3y5JloutCco/s1600/DSCN0017e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTO-XPIKI/AAAAAAAABqo/3y5JloutCco/s400/DSCN0017e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494905274580803746" /></a><br /></div><div>Treasure Hill was deemed as a must visit place by the New York Times. It was an illegal settlement and has the character of a favela. After seeing this <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5d/Treasure_Hill_Taiwan.gif/800px-Treasure_Hill_Taiwan.gif">photo</a>, I was pretty interested in seeing the area. Unfortunately the area is closed for renovation and the only thing open to the public is this temple at the entrance to the community:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTOXOjF7I/AAAAAAAABqg/ZDHUhu54GYo/s1600/DSCN0018e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTOXOjF7I/AAAAAAAABqg/ZDHUhu54GYo/s400/DSCN0018e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494905264075380658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTN_JsXTI/AAAAAAAABqY/9XGmWbLoK48/s1600/DSCN0021e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTN_JsXTI/AAAAAAAABqY/9XGmWbLoK48/s400/DSCN0021e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494905257612565810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTNMNlAsI/AAAAAAAABqQ/dcCPuyUFf3M/s1600/DSCN0027e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 372px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHTNMNlAsI/AAAAAAAABqQ/dcCPuyUFf3M/s400/DSCN0027e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494905243938652866" /></a><br /></div><div>On the way disappointed back down the hill. What is this space supposed to be?:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQWFenj0I/AAAAAAAABqI/6Ge_1BdXwRA/s1600/DSCN0029e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQWFenj0I/AAAAAAAABqI/6Ge_1BdXwRA/s400/DSCN0029e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494902098215014210" /></a><br /></div><div>9am</div><div>Next stop, the Lin Family Garden, built by the richest family in Taiwan some time ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Market on the way. I used to think outdoor produce markets were a thing of the Taiwan countryside, but it is most definitely also a thing of the city.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQVpNw_5I/AAAAAAAABqA/UmkDowINVPk/s1600/DSCN0031e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQVpNw_5I/AAAAAAAABqA/UmkDowINVPk/s400/DSCN0031e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494902090628136850" /></a><br /></div><div>The garden was so much better than a backyard. It reminded me a bit of the Engineered Picturesque in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont. It took me almost an hour to realize most of the rockscape was artificially made of concrete. Can you believe that this cliff in the Parc des Buttes Chaumont is <a href="http://entredeuxtrains.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/buttes-chaumont.jpg">concrete</a>?:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQVHAA6YI/AAAAAAAABp4/z7pirQSvCyg/s1600/DSCN0033e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQVHAA6YI/AAAAAAAABp4/z7pirQSvCyg/s400/DSCN0033e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494902081443654018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQUhS-uCI/AAAAAAAABpw/ulruOhfVd2M/s1600/DSCN0037e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQUhS-uCI/AAAAAAAABpw/ulruOhfVd2M/s400/DSCN0037e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494902071322654754" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQUAI7jiI/AAAAAAAABpo/uBgKj-snou4/s1600/DSCN0052e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHQUAI7jiI/AAAAAAAABpo/uBgKj-snou4/s400/DSCN0052e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494902062422134306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOhRlB36I/AAAAAAAABpg/du6Hfaxldv8/s1600/DSCN0067e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOhRlB36I/AAAAAAAABpg/du6Hfaxldv8/s400/DSCN0067e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494900091418435490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOg10pmmI/AAAAAAAABpY/B4qUfTuugLU/s1600/DSCN0068e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOg10pmmI/AAAAAAAABpY/B4qUfTuugLU/s400/DSCN0068e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494900083967760994" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOgTEsLlI/AAAAAAAABpQ/AExBxqrkta8/s1600/DSCN0073e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOgTEsLlI/AAAAAAAABpQ/AExBxqrkta8/s400/DSCN0073e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494900074639797842" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Those bricks are typical brick sized... This space was <i>small</i>. My head could touch the ceiling. Life was so much more interesting before code:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOf0FkxxI/AAAAAAAABpI/nVsBlgX9gMg/s1600/DSCN0075e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOf0FkxxI/AAAAAAAABpI/nVsBlgX9gMg/s400/DSCN0075e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494900066322007826" /></a><br /></div><div>Concrete and steel cage engulfed in tree:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOfRz37BI/AAAAAAAABpA/kkiJaT6ee20/s1600/DSCN0086e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHOfRz37BI/AAAAAAAABpA/kkiJaT6ee20/s400/DSCN0086e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494900057120959506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNTgjXOiI/AAAAAAAABo4/ZhsabhneXM8/s1600/DSCN0088e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNTgjXOiI/AAAAAAAABo4/ZhsabhneXM8/s400/DSCN0088e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494898755408181794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNS9AmHvI/AAAAAAAABow/jaVzj9QnBiE/s1600/DSCN0089e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNS9AmHvI/AAAAAAAABow/jaVzj9QnBiE/s400/DSCN0089e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494898745867116274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNSfajVMI/AAAAAAAABoo/yLnkXAxz0Y0/s1600/DSCN0092e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNSfajVMI/AAAAAAAABoo/yLnkXAxz0Y0/s400/DSCN0092e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494898737922921666" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNR70VH1I/AAAAAAAABog/0ETrhuuyK0w/s1600/DSCN0094e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNR70VH1I/AAAAAAAABog/0ETrhuuyK0w/s400/DSCN0094e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494898728367365970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNRNzsNZI/AAAAAAAABoY/mvUkIS-td18/s1600/DSCN0098e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHNRNzsNZI/AAAAAAAABoY/mvUkIS-td18/s400/DSCN0098e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494898716016653714" /></a><br /></div><div>12pm Longshan Temple</div><div>The devotion of the people who came to worship the deities here was impressive. It made me think of the time a Chinese friend came to church with me in the US and was impressed by Christian worship. Being at this temple made me wonder how he could find Christian worship so impressive. When I think about it though, good Christian worship is filled with joy, gratitude, and celebration. It is so different from the solemn, respectful and sometimes desperate pleading of worshipers towards these deities:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLgiuG4qI/AAAAAAAABoQ/QDkDVUMEZYM/s1600/DSCN0103e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLgiuG4qI/AAAAAAAABoQ/QDkDVUMEZYM/s400/DSCN0103e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494896780305162914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLgKYgbEI/AAAAAAAABoI/Rb1LxxU-9cs/s1600/DSCN0104e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLgKYgbEI/AAAAAAAABoI/Rb1LxxU-9cs/s400/DSCN0104e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494896773772110914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLfacPKgI/AAAAAAAABoA/Kuym-MT9xf0/s1600/DSCN0110e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 334px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLfacPKgI/AAAAAAAABoA/Kuym-MT9xf0/s400/DSCN0110e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494896760902855170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLe4qBzeI/AAAAAAAABn4/evXSAAwUZ0A/s1600/DSCN0111e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLe4qBzeI/AAAAAAAABn4/evXSAAwUZ0A/s400/DSCN0111e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494896751833894370" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLefzIKtI/AAAAAAAABnw/nNgGI_43R2c/s1600/DSCN0121e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TEHLefzIKtI/AAAAAAAABnw/nNgGI_43R2c/s400/DSCN0121e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494896745161173714" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>It's a new experience for me to be in such a superstitious culture. It's normal for people to talk about their trips to talk to fortune tellers and the directions received, fear of ghosts, contacts with dead relatives. I've gotten so used to being with people who belittle any sort of belief in the supernatural, it's actually hard for me to understand how people could so easily believe in a spiritual realm. This despite the fact that I believe in one myself.</div><div><br /></div><div>After going to look at traditional chinese buildings, I kind of wonder what happened? Traditional chinese architecture is so distinct and so elegant. The buildings going up in Taipei now are so typical, so square, and often tacky. Sometimes I wonder what the world would be like if different countries had never met each other. How would architecture have developed in different countries? Or what would transportation look like?</div><div><br /></div><div>I don't mean to say that Taiwanese buildings no longer have their own character. At the end of my trip I'll try to write a post on how I feel Taiwanese architecture differs from the US.</div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-57780072813627877242010-07-09T07:34:00.000-07:002010-07-09T08:17:20.967-07:00[9] I'm 24<div>I've aged just by switching sides of the globe. Must remember that I was 1 when I was born.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pics from 6/23. Out with some of the coworkers:</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1Sdk3sxI/AAAAAAAABno/f3CQiRPyu3s/s1600/DSC04128e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1Sdk3sxI/AAAAAAAABno/f3CQiRPyu3s/s400/DSC04128e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916861894800146" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1SBlFLLI/AAAAAAAABng/PCqYURDUpA0/s1600/DSC04133e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1SBlFLLI/AAAAAAAABng/PCqYURDUpA0/s400/DSC04133e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916854379490482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1R73NGBI/AAAAAAAABnY/jQpUpS49mwA/s1600/DSC04135e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1R73NGBI/AAAAAAAABnY/jQpUpS49mwA/s400/DSC04135e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916852844894226" /></a><br /><div>7/3/2010</div><div>Museum of Contemporary Art. Summer Holiday exhibit by the director of Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. A lot of the exhibit was video or in the dark, so it was hard to capture by camera. The exhibit was centered around a character called Lili, a mannequin placed into various realities through the use of photography, video, or stage sets. The mix of real and unreal aimed to question parts of existence or recall life experiences. Pretty interesting, although i would not have understood much of it without the written explanation. I'm guessing that's how most people look at contemporary architecture today as well except there is no caption</div><div><br /></div><div>Can't see it in the photo, but this figure was set up fountain like, with tears flowing out of its eyes:</div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1RXSuWWI/AAAAAAAABnQ/niuGMUdiKyc/s1600/DSCN9852e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1RXSuWWI/AAAAAAAABnQ/niuGMUdiKyc/s400/DSCN9852e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916843028207970" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1Qx9OjtI/AAAAAAAABnI/UzVxEJksrCE/s1600/DSCN9864e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc1Qx9OjtI/AAAAAAAABnI/UzVxEJksrCE/s400/DSCN9864e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916833005932242" /></a><br /></div><div>Nearby the museum. Confusing rebar.. it's like a sideways version of a typical Ghanaian building which often has rebar sprouting from its top. Also, IT'S HERE:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc06gGNn9I/AAAAAAAABnA/uAtgnGZlz4o/s1600/DSCN9865e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc06gGNn9I/AAAAAAAABnA/uAtgnGZlz4o/s400/DSCN9865e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916450254659538" /></a><br /></div><div>Walking south through the Zhongxiao metro mall one the way back from the museum:</div><div><br /></div><div>This pic will probably move to my previous post at some point to join my comment about Taiwan and scrunchies:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc054CLKfI/AAAAAAAABm4/u2FRiZE_Hg4/s1600/DSCN9867e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc054CLKfI/AAAAAAAABm4/u2FRiZE_Hg4/s400/DSCN9867e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916439500302834" /></a><br /></div><div>I like the Zhongxiao metro mall because it's full of strange non-mall like spaces. There's a big open area with mirrors where people hold dance classes or practice dancing on their own. There's also the underground book street and a bunch of exhibit spaces. This time I stumbled upon some grasshopper (computer program) projects done by some Taiwanese students. The display was titled Pet Ohmu (If you understand the reference, we can be friends.):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc05QVXIUI/AAAAAAAABmw/AVZj9FTMOCo/s1600/DSCN9868e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc05QVXIUI/AAAAAAAABmw/AVZj9FTMOCo/s400/DSCN9868e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916428843360578" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc045Zdu6I/AAAAAAAABmo/YMPuV02d30M/s1600/DSCN9869e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc045Zdu6I/AAAAAAAABmo/YMPuV02d30M/s400/DSCN9869e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916422686555042" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc04G6bLLI/AAAAAAAABmg/GjrhxYY24a4/s1600/DSCN9871e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc04G6bLLI/AAAAAAAABmg/GjrhxYY24a4/s400/DSCN9871e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491916409134591154" /></a>7/4/2010</div><div>Completely forgot that it was independence day until the day after. Still had fun. Potstickers with David C and friends for lunch (Plate of 10 for 4 NTD. That's a small meal for 13 cents!)</div><div><br /></div><div>Then went to the Taipei Exhibition Hall for their Stationary and Computer exhibit. There were some nice pens, but it was mostly cute and unimpressive:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Q7XK4TI/AAAAAAAABmY/E2XI_DTTsJg/s1600/DSCN9878e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Q7XK4TI/AAAAAAAABmY/E2XI_DTTsJg/s400/DSCN9878e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915736019034418" /></a><br /></div><div>Afterwards, went to Bitan (South of Taipei on a mountain by the river) and ate at a hut-like restaurant where the specialty was whole chicken. Note the chicken in the picture still has eyes. Proper serving technique was to put on some plastic gloves and tear the chicken to pieces:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0QBrnraI/AAAAAAAABmQ/WfZ_EVc-L4w/s1600/DSCN9880e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0QBrnraI/AAAAAAAABmQ/WfZ_EVc-L4w/s400/DSCN9880e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915720535551394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Ps_fr6I/AAAAAAAABmI/jXhc_Tw9Nnw/s1600/DSCN9886e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Ps_fr6I/AAAAAAAABmI/jXhc_Tw9Nnw/s400/DSCN9886e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915714981769122" /></a>These were some of the cauldrons over wood burning stoves that the chicken was cooked in. The chef looks quite professional, no?:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0PP5T3NI/AAAAAAAABmA/V1lk5ZnKEbo/s1600/DSCN9888e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 370px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0PP5T3NI/AAAAAAAABmA/V1lk5ZnKEbo/s400/DSCN9888e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915707171200210" /></a>7/8/2010</div><div>Waiting in line for the subway (zhongxiao fuxing station).<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Oi7VqMI/AAAAAAAABl4/LZoXMw8BpfQ/s1600/DSCN9893e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 186px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TDc0Oi7VqMI/AAAAAAAABl4/LZoXMw8BpfQ/s400/DSCN9893e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491915695100111042" /></a><br /><div>7/9/2010</div><div>There are way too many Italian pasta places around here. So far they taste terrible. </div><div><br /></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-40106792143160985562010-07-02T18:55:00.000-07:002010-07-02T22:13:25.421-07:00[8]<div>Heat index for today. High of 49 C. Translation 120 F. I am currently preparing to die.</div><div><br /></div><div>(I have the dates from the past two weeks all mixed up in my mind so I'm just gonna call this whole mess) 6/20/2010</div><div><br /></div><div>The Taiwanese seem to think their Shanghai pavilion looks like a toilet. What does that make the US pavilion?</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been working on housing plans for the wealthy. The maid quarters are kept seperate from the family quarters so that their paths do not cross. The maids even have their own entrance and bathroom. In one sense it seems luxurious. In another, it's like segregation. Are there homes in the US like this?</div><div><br /></div><div>I love that the culture here is still a farming culture. People are always bringing in produce from their family's farms to share with everyone at the office. Lychee, peanuts, mangoes... mangoes!</div><div><br /></div><div>Watched cloudy with a chance of meatballs on DVD with my aunt and cousin. Wonder how the nerd stereotype works for people in Taiwan where seemingly scrunchies are still in style. [Insert photo of entire stores devoted to scrunchies filled with fashionable youngsters].</div><div><br /></div><div>I walked through the National Taiwan University campus. It's a pretty nice place to walk, lots of trees, green spaces, and ponds. With all the joggers, walkers, and families hitting around baseballs, it reminded me more of a park than a University. </div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bxSBaihI/AAAAAAAABlw/GoUJQmY3V1w/s1600/DSCN9779e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bxSBaihI/AAAAAAAABlw/GoUJQmY3V1w/s400/DSCN9779e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496266764880402" /></a>Their palm tree boulevard reminded me a lot of the one tree conservatory in Ghana, except paved and with cars.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6blYcMZkI/AAAAAAAABlo/gOzBBLlGoAA/s1600/DSCN9781e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 258px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6blYcMZkI/AAAAAAAABlo/gOzBBLlGoAA/s400/DSCN9781e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496062329382466" /></a>Drunken Moon Lake</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bk7mr1GI/AAAAAAAABlg/6v9Yt_0x3K8/s1600/DSCN9793e.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px; " src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bk7mr1GI/AAAAAAAABlg/6v9Yt_0x3K8/s400/DSCN9793e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496054588757090" /></a><div><div><div>At the Gonguan subway station outside of the university. The building is covered in a piece of work by some artist. It changes colors depending what side of the building you're on. </div><div><br /></div><div>I asked my aunt if red cars had higher insurance in Taiwan. Apparently it's the white cars that are the reckless drivers here. white? really? </div><div><br /></div><div>Jingmei nightmarket takes over the streets of the daytime produce market. </div><div><br /></div><div>6/23/2010</div><div>Sushi out with the coworkers. I was deemed the second biggest eater. Also, my first time drinking Taiwan beer. Pretty terrible. It's also strange being in a country where pretty much everyone has lower alcohol tolerances. I feel like they would freak out if they saw the way Americans drank. A lot of people were feeling sick the next day at work. All the people who hadn't been drinking, that is. Beer isn't enough alcohol to kill of germs is it?</div><div><br /></div><div>6/25/2010</div><div>Is it a bad sign for stinky tofu when I walk through a night market and can't tell if I'm smelling food or sewer?</div><div><br /></div><div>6/26/2010</div><div>Went back to Baisun for a visit. The cousins' family came along. They stayed at a hotel so they could bask in the a/c. How Taiwanese homes survive without a/c on all the time in this heat is beyond me.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bkYNt46I/AAAAAAAABlY/vsHmbhEhEPI/s1600/DSCN9796e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bkYNt46I/AAAAAAAABlY/vsHmbhEhEPI/s400/DSCN9796e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496045088793506" /></a>Cat house at the hotel</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bjsUX5yI/AAAAAAAABlQ/yGNLUZ5zEco/s1600/DSCN9797e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bjsUX5yI/AAAAAAAABlQ/yGNLUZ5zEco/s400/DSCN9797e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496033305552674" /></a>Garden area surrounding the hotel. Also, look I took a people picture! Those are my cousins.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bjM0kgEI/AAAAAAAABlI/yUxgx5EFyCY/s1600/DSCN9802e+copy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 177px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6bjM0kgEI/AAAAAAAABlI/yUxgx5EFyCY/s400/DSCN9802e+copy.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489496024850661442" /></a>I liked the way the ground was 'paved'</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aHACs3yI/AAAAAAAABlA/tmHH65KLsFE/s1600/DSCN9804e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 239px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aHACs3yI/AAAAAAAABlA/tmHH65KLsFE/s400/DSCN9804e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489494440872304418" /></a>I stayed in the guest room at my grandmother's house. Bamboo mats are rather excellent for keeping cool at night. I kinda want one.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aGkrqrkI/AAAAAAAABk4/BMFO5PYrmxY/s1600/DSCN9808e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aGkrqrkI/AAAAAAAABk4/BMFO5PYrmxY/s400/DSCN9808e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489494433527934530" /></a>My uncle looking inspired on the cable car at Sun Moon Lake (possibly Taiwan's biggest tourist attraction) close to where my grandmother lives.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aGH4Lm-I/AAAAAAAABkw/NMkjZ9rxUBo/s1600/DSCN9812e1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 126px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aGH4Lm-I/AAAAAAAABkw/NMkjZ9rxUBo/s400/DSCN9812e1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489494425795795938" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aFZT7N_I/AAAAAAAABko/-JPU-EjHdg4/s1600/DSCN9815e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aFZT7N_I/AAAAAAAABko/-JPU-EjHdg4/s400/DSCN9815e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489494413295695858" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aE0dD10I/AAAAAAAABkg/oZfR8f9uGrY/s1600/DSCN9816e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 298px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6aE0dD10I/AAAAAAAABkg/oZfR8f9uGrY/s400/DSCN9816e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489494403401897794" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZPNxSLGI/AAAAAAAABkY/i4-cN4lHI_0/s1600/DSCN9823e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZPNxSLGI/AAAAAAAABkY/i4-cN4lHI_0/s400/DSCN9823e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489493482484673634" /></a>Owl trying to blend in with the buses. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZOGeB4VI/AAAAAAAABkQ/g8B8zO0nIj8/s1600/DSCN9825e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 261px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZOGeB4VI/AAAAAAAABkQ/g8B8zO0nIj8/s400/DSCN9825e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489493463344996690" /></a>Sun Moon Lake is a park displaying the cultures of the Taiwanese aboriginals. It's also an amusement park but the rides weren't worth taking pictures of... lame.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZNUNCJcI/AAAAAAAABkI/dETwIo1Z0IA/s1600/DSCN9828e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZNUNCJcI/AAAAAAAABkI/dETwIo1Z0IA/s400/DSCN9828e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489493449851938242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZMhD0ZEI/AAAAAAAABkA/kEWgVFiaH5Y/s1600/DSCN9832e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZMhD0ZEI/AAAAAAAABkA/kEWgVFiaH5Y/s400/DSCN9832e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489493436123079746" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Also, the last thing i expected to be taking a picture of, but rest stop ftw? American rest stops are like stinky bathroom plus gas station plus mcdonalds and maybe some vending machines. This was more like let's sell really high quality, fancy, and expensive foods in a really decked out building. Oh, and why not hold some concerts upstairs too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZMEC_EuI/AAAAAAAABj4/rVeVcgIzLYA/s1600/DSCN9845e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 202px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TC6ZMEC_EuI/AAAAAAAABj4/rVeVcgIzLYA/s400/DSCN9845e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489493428334957282" /></a></div></div></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1968379359740492695.post-55286214713924409452010-06-19T08:34:00.000-07:002010-07-02T20:05:20.070-07:00[7]<div><div>6/10/2010</div><div>Apparently people here think limes are yellow and lemons are green... unless, of course, they play restaurant city. Then they know.</div><div><br /></div><div>6/11/2010</div><div>Rather dislike being called shy. It's not that I'm scared to speak, it's just that I'm terrible at thinking of things to say... even more so in chinese. I disliked being called shy so much today that i ended up making it a point to make the effort to talk more and am now much more comfortable with my coworkers.</div><div><br /></div><div>6/12/2010</div><div>Went to the Taipei Underground for real today. In the US if I see something decent for $5, I buy it. Here, there's whole stores of decent clothing under $5... I initially had to stop myself from compulsive buying. Taiwan must be the only place I've been where I actually "crave" shopping because it's so affordable and everything fits! Not a big fan of the pants sizing; everything only comes in three sizes: S, M, L. Also not a big fan of shop owners following me around while I shop, giving suggestions, pushing stuff in my face, and encouraging me to buy. Used to shopping in peace in the US with help offered if needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Shida Night Market. Snowflake Ice. Nom nom.</div><div><br /></div><div>6/15/2010</div><div>Tempted to never take the bus on a Tuesday again. The driver gets on my nerves, makes for a very long half hour drive.</div><div><br /></div><div>6/18/2010</div><div>Sushi! Paid for by mahjong money. (Not my mahjong money)</div><div><br /></div><div>6/19/2010</div>Sort've mind boggling seeing international students back in their natural habitat.</div><div><br /></div><div>Huashan Creative Park (Preserved historical structures. Originally abandoned warehouses/factory that were used for wine production during Japanese occupation, this area was later discovered by artists and thespians and reoccupied for its tall open spaces.): </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztJopu_dI/AAAAAAAABjY/8MBEoeBSfqI/s1600/DSCN9745e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztJopu_dI/AAAAAAAABjY/8MBEoeBSfqI/s400/DSCN9745e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484519196017491410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztJCpjDLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0QAjFSGQCzQ/s1600/DSCN9749e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 204px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztJCpjDLI/AAAAAAAABjQ/0QAjFSGQCzQ/s400/DSCN9749e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484519185816161458" /></a><br /><div>I need a place to put a potted plant... hey look, i'll just cut off the top of this tree and then it can have a stand! :<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztIZVXODI/AAAAAAAABjI/wgZXMjeYp9g/s1600/DSCN9763e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 243px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBztIZVXODI/AAAAAAAABjI/wgZXMjeYp9g/s400/DSCN9763e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484519174725646386" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsOM5uWVI/AAAAAAAABjA/J6wxWFAOnHw/s1600/DSCN9766e.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsOM5uWVI/AAAAAAAABjA/J6wxWFAOnHw/s400/DSCN9766e.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484518174956083538" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsNoOMSzI/AAAAAAAABi4/et2c7M3Vspg/s1600/DSCN9769e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsNoOMSzI/AAAAAAAABi4/et2c7M3Vspg/s400/DSCN9769e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484518165109820210" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsNF3BdmI/AAAAAAAABiw/gslAIqX5hfk/s1600/DSCN9771e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsNF3BdmI/AAAAAAAABiw/gslAIqX5hfk/s400/DSCN9771e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484518155885835874" /></a><br /></div><div>Outside Huashan on my way to food. Sign made of circuit boards announcing the beginning of the Bade Shopping District. Whole street just selling electronics. There's also a shoes street and camera street somewhere... saw the book street today too:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsMWEoGUI/AAAAAAAABio/aKW_Ty29XN8/s1600/DSCN9777e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsMWEoGUI/AAAAAAAABio/aKW_Ty29XN8/s400/DSCN9777e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484518143057992002" /></a><br /></div><div>Another random building that caught my attention for being outside of the Taiwanese norm. (Not the orange one, the one next to it):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsLdmldeI/AAAAAAAABig/VjRvcRbUgNs/s1600/DSCN9778e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8sQ8_kZYPhQ/TBzsLdmldeI/AAAAAAAABig/VjRvcRbUgNs/s400/DSCN9778e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5484518127899604450" /></a></div>s.x.chttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06172971184059251750noreply@blogger.com3