Scoot around Jhongshing Village

I only have one class in the evening on a Tuesday, so I took advantage of the extra time and went for a scoot around Jhongshing village. It is a village that was built to house government employees. It is quite old now so most of the residents are retired employees. It has lots of parks and trees and open spaces. It is a great place to visit and relax in.





There was a pretty park with a path. The path ended nowhere :) I felt like Alice in wonderland. haha






A parliament building.




Statue outside of the library.


A cool building in Jhongshing village.




The next couple of pics are of a cool restaurant outside of Caotun.




A huge gecko.




This is a school. In the 1999 Jiji earthquake the last building was destroyed. A rich temple paid for the replacement, so you can see the architecture of the main entrance resembles a temple.


This is the view from a bridge when driving back to Nantou.


A pic showing the scooter lane.

Nuns galore!

After the waterfall, on the way back to Taichung, we stopped in at a temple. I have been there before but it was great to go again. Especially because a nun showed us around. She took us into the nuns quarters and showed us various 'temple' rooms that they have for private prayer. It was amazing! I took a couple of sneaky shots. Also, in one area there was a very nice nun who gave us some kind of fruit. We have no idea what it was but it was delish!

There was also a gift shop of sorts. They had lots of posters and books and CD's that are for folks to take if they want. I took a poster, a scroll thingy and a notebook (it can be used to practice my Chinese characters). I never normally take anything more than a postcard from temples. The poster is amazing!

The first few pictures are of a room in the temple that was closed off last time I was there. It was stunning.














You can just about see Shaun taking a snooze on the steps. I thought this was a brilliant picture. A chap relaxing in such a beautiful place. The best place for relaxation.










A sneaky shot of the nun. She was shy and didn't want her picture taken. She was so nice. She also gave us cookies (well biscuits).


The nun 'workout' area. haha.

Waterfall excursion

I had to work Saturday evening because the kids were in regular school during the day. Something about making up classes before the summer vacation. So I had my class later and finished at 9pm. I scooted through to Taichung to chill out at Dave's place. On Sunday Dave, Eileen, Shaun and I headed to the waterfall. This time we got to the top...as Dave had been before. It was a really sunny day, in beautiful surroundings...it was glorious.

There is a pic of a couple of chaps in orange outfits. Apparently they are safety officers taking pictures of the people jumping. It was said that people die at the waterfall. Don't worry, I didn't jump off the side. I just relaxed in the pools at the top.







Dave and Shaun getting ready to jump

Mundane life

Well today, work was work. Minerva (a CT) was sick today so I had to teach our class. They are a bunch that has a lot of energy and it's always challenging teaching them. I try and look at the silver lining of it teaching me on how to be a better teacher.

After that I jumped on a bus to Taichung, then a train to Chunghua. I hung out in Jonny's bar for a bit with Lisa, Matt and Danie. It was nice chilling for a bit. Then I collected the hire scooter and drove back to Nantou.

Tomorrow...an early start to return said hire scooter. Next step is sorting something with the one that is currently out of commission.

Goodbyes

Monday evening. Work was a nightmare. My first class wouldn't listed to a word I said and the second was the same. I also had a kid in that class who refused to do any work at the end because he couldn't find his eraser. After trying various methods to get him to do the work...after the class was over I might add...he eventually did it. Once I packed up his things I found the damn thing under his workbook.
So I was not in a good mood when I left work. So my original plan to get a bus and train to Chunghua was ruined because I would get there too late. But after scooting to Chunghua on my hire scooter I felt better, even though a stupid driver nearly knocked me down. grr.

Anyhoo. I got to Chunghua and headed to Jonny's to meet everyone who had joined for Zach's fair well. When he wanted to leave I drove him to his apartment on his scooter (which is now mine) and said goodbye.

It will be strange not having him around. He's been one of a few folks i've spent most weekends hanging out with. But I learned early on in my time here in Taiwan that goodbyes are part of life. You never know how long your friends are going to be around. Tis the expat life i'm afraid.

I'm never good at goodbyes. I find that other people get teary and I don't. I think because I've moved so much and it never feels real. I always feel like an observer at such things. Perhaps that's a defence mechanism, if so I like it, so I won't over analyse that :)

I then went back to the bar to hang out with the others for a while, had a good giggle then drove back to Nantou on my new scooter. I'll have to get a bus to Chunghua to retrieve the other one that I left there, then take that back to the scooter place in Taichung. Sounds like a lot of hassle but I don't mind. I needed a scooter these past couple of weeks, so it's worth a little extra effort.

On the way back to Nantou I was chased by a few dogs. It was on a dark road, I had to slow down because of a large bump in the road onto a bridge section (bad roads here) and a pack of dogs came out of the shadows and chased me. It certainly gave me a fright, but they were just having fun methinks.

I was happy to get back in and get to bed to sleep. I didn't get in until past 3am.

Dinner and Taichung Improv

Saturday evening was spent with many folks. It was Zach's final weekend in Taiwan so it was marked by dinner at a place called Fingas. The food wasn't bad. After that we watched a Taichung Improv show. Which was pretty funny this time. I think because i've been to a few shows it can get all samey. But this one was great!

Renee was dragged up on stage.


An emotions game.






Zach was volunteered for the final game. Anthony, the chap in the background in the blue and white shirt, joined the game too.