| Dec. 25th, 2005 @ 04:43 pm The Much Anticipated... |
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So I'm finally back in the US now!
But that doesn't mean I don't have anymore to say about my glorious six months abroad in Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.
But before I get to the final conclusion of the trip, there is still more to talk about before I end this journal.
As promised, the following entry is written by my sister (the bold italicized parts are my own). See, like this... this is me, Dennis... It logs our last week in Taiwan together...
What a way to end the year... with a trip going to where my father grew up, going back to a place I hadn’t been to in 18 years, and going to place full of culture and wonderment. My trip to Taipei not only exceeded my expectations by far, but it energized me in a way I haven’t felt in a while.
And let me just add that I was quite happy to be there with my brother whom I hadn’t seen in six months.
12.15.05 - First Full Day
I walked by this bin and was completely in awe. Is it an apple? Is it a crabapple (what is a crabapple)? Is it even real? I was then told that they’re called wax apples and out of curiosity I ate a few slices and realized I was very allergic to them. I’m okay now. Luckily...
Here’s my first glimpse of a food street vendor. He’s cooking up some dumplings. They are excellently good!
Here’s another cart full of skewers. There’s a small grill attached to the other side and all you have to do is hand the lady the one you want and she’ll grill it up for you.
No explanation needed. Actually... I'd just like to say that I watched it and was lost the entire time...
12.16.05 - On Campus and Dinner
Here’s a picture I took as I waited for my brother outside one of the university’s buildings. This is just a small fragment of all the bikes there. I think Davis might actually have more bikes...
My brother and I at his class’ farewell dinner. Merry Christmas y'all!!!
12.17.05 - Din Tai Fung, Underground Mall & Night Market
On this morning, I ventured out as I waited for my brother to wake up, and found a side street full of small open cafes.
Storefront with lots of delicious pastries and buns…located next to Starbucks. Perfect! I told her not to get so much Starbucks... It's just not worth it in Taiwan!!!
Here is either a fruit or a vegetable that I have yet to figure out what it is. Alien pods???
My favorite, shiao long bao (小籠包!!!) My brother took me to a restaurant, Din Tai Fung (鼎泰豐), that’s well known for its shiao long bao and very big with the Japanese tourists. They literally come by the bus loads because it's a stop for their tour bus... Them crazy Japanese...
Some kids dancing in the underground subway/mall station. The underground mall is actually a fairly popular hangout for junior high and high school kids. They do anything from dancing, practicing yo-yo's, break dancing, and group games.
When we came out of the subway there was an outdoor band competition going on. This guy had the confederate flag on his guitar. I believe his name was Billy-Bob, Thurgood or Jebidiah.
This band was called Ham and Cheese Sandwich. They were actually very good. Very funk. I especially enjoyed his jumping around the stage like he was a pogo-stick.
At night we headed to Shilin Night Market (士林夜市), one of the largest and best night markets in Taipei. This picture doesn’t even do justice as to how crowded it was!
The night market houses tons of food vendors and clothing vendors… some indoors, some outdoors.
Escargot anyone?
Clothing being sold literally on the street.
I only recognize the tofu in the bottom left corner. Was it because of the "stinky" scent?
Side street and my brother on the right.
They’ll slice up the sausage for you, put it in a plastic baggie, and add fresh chopped garlic to it. Delish!
Another favorite…tzong yo bing. Actually this is called "cong zhua bing" (蔥抓餅). Oh how I will miss this...
My brother and I partaking in the fare. This was our ghetto dinner night. $140NT for both of us! That comes to a little over $3.00USD.
12.18.05 - Yang Ming Shan
Today we went to Yang Ming Shan (陽明山), an area located to the northeast of Taipei, to go hiking. It was extremely cold and rainy but we forged on. Not only is the landscape beautiful, but it has several fumaroles (a vent from which volcanic vapors emit), scattered around.
A fumarole.
Making the ascent.
We made it to the top! Dennis was hungry and lucky for him, I was prepared with food. YUM!
12.19.05 - Danshui
We headed out to Danshui, a small city north or Taipei which during the 19th century was the center of shipping and commerce. Today, it kind of reminds me of a Fisherman’s Wharf or a Boardwalk with all its small side streets of food, trinkets and games.
A small temple located on one of the side streets.
A close-up of the roof.
We decided to get some ice cream just because... those are considered a size small! They're huge!!!
12.20.05 - Yehliu
This day was one of my favorites. We headed out to Yehliu (野柳), a cape about an hour north of Taipei known for its rock formations and its fresh seafood. Because the rocks are of sandstone and limestone, they are easily subject to erosion and weathering, which makes for some amazing figures.
It looks very much out of this world.
My brother thinks it looks like a heart. I think it looks like a whale’s tail. It's a heart I tell you!!! But I guess I'm just a lover not a mariner.
A fairy’s shoe.
The infamous Queen’s Head. It is said that her head will fall one day soon because of erosion and people touching her. My family and I visited this site 18 years ago and apparently I had visited it once before that but I don’t remember.
Sitting on my throne. Uncomfortably it seems...
Another hike... this one was absolutely beautiful.
A view from somewhere near the top.
Finished! Yay. Your feet seem happy
My brother graffiti-ed our Chinese names onto the table at the very top of the hill. It's supposed to be a giant 張 for our last name and then under it is my name, 敦年, and my sister's name, 心儀. At least I thought it seemed somewhat artistic...
12.21.05 - Museum and Taipei 101
Today was pretty relaxing. We went to the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Right now they have an interesting exhibition on the collection of the Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris that features works of Paris from the 1920s to the 1930s.
Uniformed school kids on a field trip to the museum. This is not a part of the exhibit...
So we weren’t allowed to take pictures in the museum, but I just had to sneak this one in because I just loved them. They are full-sized chairs.
You can tell I had to sneak this one in too. It looks much better in person!
At night we headed over to Taipei 101, the tallest building in the world... for now. It seems as if China is trying to outdo them by building one taller than this. Of course China has to beat out Taiwan.
The top section of the building. It's a Christmas Tree!!! How festive!
The 900-ton steel damping system that helps to stabilize the tower against earthquakes and typhoons.
At the top, the outside observation deck, on the 91st floor. It was very cold.
12.22.05 - My last day...
I actually had to leave early this morning. My flight was at 10:30AM. What will my sister do without me?!?!?
View of one part of the National Palace Museum. I wish I could’ve gone through the whole museum, but there’s just so much and about 2/3 of the museum is under renovation.
Statue of Confucius.
For those of you who are squeamish, I suggest not looking at this too long. For others of you who are more adventurous, see if you can find the three beetles. I took this picture in the window of a pet store.
And last... packing up. I didn’t have any room to bring back my new shower shoes that so protected me all week from whatever may have been brewing in my little shower and my towel Dennis let me borrow in place of the provided towels that were dingier than a pair of high school gym socks...
This certainly isn’t how I remember Taiwan, but it is a reminder of how lucky and fortunate I am to be where I am today and to have what I have today. I almost cried once on my trip... I went into a clothing store whose smell reminded me of my grandmother who passed away about 12 years ago. When I was younger, she would visit us from Taiwan and bring us lots of clothes and toys. Her gifts all had that distinct smell I recognized in the store. Not only was I missing my grandmother so much right then, but I realized how fortunate I am for having the opportunity to be thousands of miles away from my home, family and friends and still have a connection so close to my heart.
Lastly, I'll leave you all on a "Cindy" note... My favorite picture...
This little guy was just napping in one of the clothing stores in Shilin.
So there you have it ladies and gentlemen. This was basically how my sister and I spent the last week of our trip in Taiwan. But don't worry, that doesn't mean this journal is over now. I still have another entry left in me for the final conclusion of the trip. I've been gone for 6 months and I am now finally home. How have I readjusted to being in America? How do I see this life changing event of my life? Stay tuned for an update...
But until then... though we are nearing its last few minutes, I think I should say, Merry Christmas! It's been a while since I've had a family photo, and here it is!
Chang Family '05!!! |
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