In an attempt to not lose my apartment keys- I often leave my scooter keys in my scooter and go off somewhere (not on purpose, me being forgetful)- I separated my scooter keys from my apartment keys.
This evening I got home from work, and find I didn't take my apartment keys with me. I called Dave, who was in Fongyuan, a 40 minute drive away. Guess who had to drive to the Fong to borrow his keys? Yup.
But the silver lining, I had a scooter with which to drive there. I do have quite a few moments of really not enjoying being in Taiwan, mainly because of communication difficulties and working too much, but there are other moments when I love being here. I am lucky to have a scooter to drive about on.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Spirited Away
Renee and Geoff introduced me to Spirited Away, it's a Japanese animated movie...so it was weird but I loved it. I love Japanese movies.
In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures (copied from IMDB).
In the middle of her family's move to the suburbs, a sullen 10-year-old girl wanders into a world ruled by gods, witches, and monsters; where humans are changed into animals; and a bathhouse for these creatures (copied from IMDB).
Taichung Park
Today was a beautiful day! I met Renee and Geoff for brunch then we headed to Taichung park to hang out in the sun. It was great, I read in the sun while Renee and Geoff rented a boat to row on the mini lake. I had an observer, a man sat down a few feet from me and stared at me while I was reading. Then when Geoff and Renee joined me we were then of interest to a betel nut chewing local who tried to talk to us. He brushed grass off my back...that was the point where we thought it would be best to leave.
I don't mind talking to locals, and trying to is always interesting, but when they get creepy and touch you...I leave. But it didn't spoil my afternoon, just another experience in Taiwan.
Pictures from the park:
I don't mind talking to locals, and trying to is always interesting, but when they get creepy and touch you...I leave. But it didn't spoil my afternoon, just another experience in Taiwan.
Pictures from the park:
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Job's Tears
Dave and I did a huge shop of doom to replenish our empty cupboards, when looking at beans and grains I found this: It made me giggle...such things always make me think of the Bible. It is my go-to reference.
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Taipei City Hall MRT/Bus Station
In the basement of the Taipei City Hall MRT station is a Bus station. It was great to find it. It isn't big but it is nice and quiet. Even though we were in Taipei on a busy day over Chinese New Year there was hardly anyone there. It cost me NT$260 for a ticket to Taichung train station. It was NT$100 cheaper than my train ticket to Taipei in the morning.
There are a few bus companies that use it. I used All-bus. Check out the pictures to see what services are available to where. The people at the desk were helpful, I used the little Chinese I know to ask for tickets. They were really nice.
There are a few bus companies that use it. I used All-bus. Check out the pictures to see what services are available to where. The people at the desk were helpful, I used the little Chinese I know to ask for tickets. They were really nice.
Taipei 101 mall
After being at the zoo we went to Taipei 101 to check out a bookstore called 'Page one', I bought a couple of Superman comics :D Geeky I know but they bring me joy. So, for those who like to read comics and various graphic novels go to Page one in Taipei 101 mall. It's on the 4th floor.
Directions to Taipei 101:
Take the blue line MRT (Nangang direction) to Taipei City Hall. You can get on from the main station.
Walk outside Taipei City Hall MRT station (number 2 exit) and walk around the corner to the left, you can see it from there. Then it is a short stroll to the 101 building.
Alternatively get off at the stop before 'Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall' and enjoy that before heading over to 101. I did that last time I went to 101. I spent a long time walking around the gardens and I managed to be there for the changing of the guards. It was great to see that!
Directions to Taipei 101:
Take the blue line MRT (Nangang direction) to Taipei City Hall. You can get on from the main station.
Walk outside Taipei City Hall MRT station (number 2 exit) and walk around the corner to the left, you can see it from there. Then it is a short stroll to the 101 building.
Alternatively get off at the stop before 'Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall' and enjoy that before heading over to 101. I did that last time I went to 101. I spent a long time walking around the gardens and I managed to be there for the changing of the guards. It was great to see that!
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
The Year of the Rabbit
Today is the Eve of Chinese New Year...or as it should be called the New Lunar Year. The ticking of the clock will bring in the year of the Rabbit.
Happy New Year :D
The Story of the Chinese Zodiac
I copied this from a website (a slight logical flaw...how could the Jade Emperor have a birthday when there wasn't a way of measuring time?- Perhaps it is a flaw in the telling of the story).
Enjoy :) I love the part about the Cat and the Rat.
Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them.
All the animals lined up along the river bank. The rat and the cat, who were good friends, were worried because they were poor swimmers. Being clever they asked the strong ox if he would carry them across the river.
'Of course' said the kind ox. 'Just climb on my back and I will take you across.'
The rat and the cat quickly jumped up and were very excited when the ox soon took the lead in the race. They had almost reached the other bank when the rat pushed the cat into the river leaving him to struggle in the water. Then just before the ox was about to win the race the rat leapt on his head and on to the bank to finish first.
'Well done,' said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat. 'The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.'
The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac was named after him.
Shortly after the exhausted tiger clawed his way to the river bank to claim third place. Swimming across the river had been an enormous struggle for him against the strong currents. The Emperor was so delighted with his efforts that he named the third year after him.
Next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn't swum across at all. He hopped across on some stepping stones and then found a floating log which carried him to the shore.
'I shall be very happy to call the fourth year after you,' the surprised Jade Emperor explained.
Just then a kind dragon swooped down to take fifth place.
'Why didn’t you win the race, as you can fly as well as swim?' the Jade Emperor asked.
'I was held up because some people and animals needed water to drink. I needed to make some rain,' the dragon explained. 'Then when I was nearly here I saw a poor little rabbit on a log in the water and I blew a puff of wind so that the log would float to the river bank.'
'Well that was very kind of you and now you are here you will have the fifth year of the zodiac named after you.'
The next thing the Jade Emperor heard was the sound of the horse’s hooves. Just as he was thinking the horse would be the next animal to arrive, a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race. The poor horse had to be satisfied with seventh place.
Not long afterwards a raft arrived carrying the goat, the monkey and the rooster. They explained to the Emperor how they had shared the raft that the rooster had found. The goat and monkey had cleared weeds and pushed the raft to the shore. The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together. He said the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.
The next animal to finish was the dog.
'Why are you so late when you are one of the best swimmers?' asked the Jade Emperor.
'The water in the river was so clean that I had to have a bath on the way,' explained the dog.
His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.
Now there was one place left in the zodiac and the Emperor wondered when the last winner would come. He had nearly given up when he heard a grunt from the boar.
'You took a long time to cross the river,' said the Emperor to the boar.
'I was hungry and stopped to eat,' explained the boar. 'After the meal I felt so tired that I fell asleep.'
'You have still done well,' said the Jade Emperor. 'The last year of the zodiac will be named after you.'
As for the cat who had been pushed into the water by the rat, he finally crawled out of the water but was too late to have a year named after him. He felt very cross with the rat and since then cats have never been friends with rats.
From that day to this the Chinese Zodiac has followed this cycle of years named after these twelve animals.
Enjoy :) I love the part about the Cat and the Rat.
Long ago, in China, the Jade Emperor decided there should be a way of measuring time. On his birthday he told the animals that there was to be a swimming race. The first twelve animals across the fast flowing river would be the winners and they would each have a year of the zodiac named after them.
All the animals lined up along the river bank. The rat and the cat, who were good friends, were worried because they were poor swimmers. Being clever they asked the strong ox if he would carry them across the river.
'Of course' said the kind ox. 'Just climb on my back and I will take you across.'
The rat and the cat quickly jumped up and were very excited when the ox soon took the lead in the race. They had almost reached the other bank when the rat pushed the cat into the river leaving him to struggle in the water. Then just before the ox was about to win the race the rat leapt on his head and on to the bank to finish first.
'Well done,' said the Jade Emperor to the proud rat. 'The first year of the zodiac will be named after you.'
The poor ox had been tricked into second place and the second year of the zodiac was named after him.
Shortly after the exhausted tiger clawed his way to the river bank to claim third place. Swimming across the river had been an enormous struggle for him against the strong currents. The Emperor was so delighted with his efforts that he named the third year after him.
Next to arrive was the rabbit, who hadn't swum across at all. He hopped across on some stepping stones and then found a floating log which carried him to the shore.
'I shall be very happy to call the fourth year after you,' the surprised Jade Emperor explained.
Just then a kind dragon swooped down to take fifth place.
'Why didn’t you win the race, as you can fly as well as swim?' the Jade Emperor asked.
'I was held up because some people and animals needed water to drink. I needed to make some rain,' the dragon explained. 'Then when I was nearly here I saw a poor little rabbit on a log in the water and I blew a puff of wind so that the log would float to the river bank.'
'Well that was very kind of you and now you are here you will have the fifth year of the zodiac named after you.'
The next thing the Jade Emperor heard was the sound of the horse’s hooves. Just as he was thinking the horse would be the next animal to arrive, a sneaky snake wriggled out from around one of the horse’s hooves. The horse was so surprised that he jumped backwards giving the snake a chance to take the sixth place in the race. The poor horse had to be satisfied with seventh place.
Not long afterwards a raft arrived carrying the goat, the monkey and the rooster. They explained to the Emperor how they had shared the raft that the rooster had found. The goat and monkey had cleared weeds and pushed the raft to the shore. The Emperor was very pleased that the animals had worked together. He said the goat would be the eighth zodiac animal, the monkey the ninth and the rooster the tenth.
The next animal to finish was the dog.
'Why are you so late when you are one of the best swimmers?' asked the Jade Emperor.
'The water in the river was so clean that I had to have a bath on the way,' explained the dog.
His reward was to have the eleventh year named after him.
Now there was one place left in the zodiac and the Emperor wondered when the last winner would come. He had nearly given up when he heard a grunt from the boar.
'You took a long time to cross the river,' said the Emperor to the boar.
'I was hungry and stopped to eat,' explained the boar. 'After the meal I felt so tired that I fell asleep.'
'You have still done well,' said the Jade Emperor. 'The last year of the zodiac will be named after you.'
As for the cat who had been pushed into the water by the rat, he finally crawled out of the water but was too late to have a year named after him. He felt very cross with the rat and since then cats have never been friends with rats.
From that day to this the Chinese Zodiac has followed this cycle of years named after these twelve animals.
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