Taiwan in Review

So, where did I go in Taiwan?

1. Shilin Night Market - Ate massive dumplings(yum!), fresh cranberry juice, smelled stinky tofu (I thought it was a sewer), and weird flavored grilled corn on the cob.
2. Taipei 101 - 2nd largest building in the world. Really fast elevator. Took us 37 seconds to get the top. Really amazing view. Went up at night, saw the city lights. :)
3. Chiang Kai Sheck Memorial - went with Michelle, she is Taiwanese and speaks English. We got along great. Too bad we could only get together my last day in Taipei.
4. Yangmingshan National Park - the only time I met and made friends with another foreigner while traveling through the city. Thought there would be some easy trails. I was wrong. Attempted to climb a mountain with my new friend Steven. Yeah, that didn't happen. Very pretty view though. And Steven made it to the top.
5. Wulai - went with my sister. Walked the pedestrian friendly path to the beautiful waterfall. Ate another massive dumpling (yum!), sticky rice stuffed inside bamboo, and a semi-solid gelatinous goo with strawberry topping(kinda yum). Oh! and a crazy, weaving bus ride to and from there.
6. Maokong - Tea haven. Tea growing country. I walked all over it. Tried to ask for an English menu to order some tea and the lady pointed me in the direction of the Gondola (which I took to get to the area). I don't think she knew what "menu" meant.
7. Taroko Gorge - Beautiful gorge where Tanya and I spent the weekend and did much scooter riding!
8. Kenting - another weekend with my sister at this city on the southern end of Taiwan with beautiful beaches, lots of tourists, and a music festival going on the same weekend we were there. I picked up a bit of a tan. :)

Today I will go...

well, I'm not sure. I made a list of places I want to go. It includes:

1. Shilin Night Market
2. Taipei 101 (worlds biggest building)
3. Yangmingshan National Park (lots of mountains and hiking trails)
4. Wulai (city to South of Taipei with hiking trail)
5. Caoling Historic Trail (to the East of Taipei)
6. Maokong (SE district of Taipei known for tea houses and hiking trails)
7. Hot Springs
8. Pinglin (has tea museum where they teach you how to make and drink tea, tea fields you can bike through)
9. Cycling around Taipei's riverside
10. North Cross Island Highway (I would have to take a bus down to where this starts, then rent a vehicle. Then stop randomly along the Hwy to check out the waterfalls and trails.)

Today I'm heading to Taipei 101 with my sister and her friend Esther once they're done with work. Until then, I'm not doing anything outside the apartment. That wasn't my plan for today. I did want to go rent a bicycle and cruise up and down the riverfront (there is an awesome bike/walk path set up along the entire river), but that didn't happen.

Why is that? I believe because yesterday I went to Yangmingshan National Park and attempted to climb a mountain. I made it to the park located about 2/3 of the way to the top, at which point the climb seems to get even steeper and I decided to head back while I still had water and functioning legs.

The path up is all steps.

Some areas steeper than others. I appreciated the challenge, but knew I wasn't going to make it to the top. So today is recovery. :)

What to Visit in Taiwan

Here are some interesting places to visit around Taipei that I found on my map of Taipei.
I think they're funny.

1. Museum of Drinking Water
2. Puppet Drama Memorial Museum
3. Miniature Museum of Taiwan
4. Taiwan New Cultural Movement Memorial Hall
5. Customs Museum

(they sure like their museums and memorials)

1. National Museum of History (to cover everything not mentioned in every other museum)
2. Taipei Youth Party (mind you, this is a place to visit; do they really party 24/7?)
3. Taipei Guest House
4. Taipei Eye
5. Porridge and Appetizer Snack Area

There are other museums, but they don't sound as interesting, just your run of the mill museums: cultural, art, etc.

More of what I'm doing to come tomorrow - when I'm not so tired. (I climbed a mountain today. kinda.)

I'm in Taiwan

But not as a missionary, I'm visiting my sister, Tanya, who has been here for 2 years now teaching English as a second language. Since so many people wanted to know what I would be doing, I'll record it here on my blog. And I like writing about my experiences, so this is great for me!

I have to admit, I never had a desire to visit any country in the Orient, but when your sister lives in one of those countries, it's too great an opportunity to pass up. And now I am here.
Even before I finally flew into Taipei, I wanted to sleep. I just can't sleep for more than 20 consecutive minutes on planes. Once the sleep had been remedied, at Tanya's lovely 9th story apartment with an amazing view of the sunrise through a wall of slightly dirty ceiling to knee high level windows (I watched the sunrise over the mountains today since jet lag had me up at 4 am), I devoured the Lonely Planet guide to Taiwan. All the stops I want to take I have mapped out on my metro map of Taipei and today I went to the beautiful suburb of Danshui. (Tanya's apartment is in Zhuwei, which is the 3rd stop from the top of the red line. The very top of the red line is Danshui. I know, metro map isn't readable, but now you know where we are in relation to the city.)
Because Tanya still has to work while I am here, I will be exploring on my own during the day and then meeting up with her at night. Last night we went out for Indian food with her friend Tanya. I thought it was funny too that she is friends with another Tanya. :)

Anywho, I spent many good hours in Danshui. Walked the riverside walk, visited historic Fort San Domingo, saw the Longshan Temple and the Fuyou Temple, and now that I'm reading the guide, realized I wanted to see the Yinshan Temple too, but missed it. Ah well, I can always go back. Even had lunch at a riverside restaurant- a lovely pumpkin cream soup with a latte. :) The waiters were so cute about serving me and using their English. (Thankfully the menu had English translations. In fact, most everything in Taipei has an English translation :)

The "morning" market was still in full swing after my lunch, so I walked all over that and just absorbed the atmosphere, and made a few purchases. I forgot how much I love open markets like that! I didn't barter though. All the items have clearly marked prices and in El Salvador, when there are no prices indicated, this means bartering is okay, but when there is a price on the item, that's the price, no bartering allowed. And I couldn't take my cue from other conversations because I have no idea what is being said. Very bothersome. I'll ask Tanya to show me the ropes of bartering here. I did come across some Spanish speakers, didn't speak to them, but it was cool to understand something being said around me. :)

Yea, I love this city so far.

My First Presentation

And you all thought I was never going to post again.
Well, the thought had crossed my mind. But then last night happened. I gave my first presentation about my experience in El Salvador! Very exciting.

My dad scheduled me up to speak at the local Lions Club (of which he is a member) and I did last night.
I felt I had the information well organized and when I started talking it only took 3 minutes or so and the questions started coming. And that is how it went the rest of my talk; they asked a question and I answered. We did this for an hour.

When I wrapped up at the end, every point I had intended to cover had been hit by their questions, and then some! Their interest in the topic definitely encouraged me and I can't wait to present again. I even had an invitation from one member to present at another group he attends.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the next Lions Club board meeting results in a donation for the school!

Adjusting

What have I been doing now that I'm home?
- throwing my toilet paper into the toilet - not the garbage
- driving my car
- singing along to English music
- missing Spanish music
- eating everything in the fridge! Had a sandwich for breakfast, because I can!
- talking a lot (English is so much easier than Spanish)

That's the fun stuff. Otherwise I've been making lots of appointments and have been shocked twice now by the cost of 1) a haircut, and 2) toiletries at Walmart. sigh. I'm going to have to start working at this rate.

OH! And I have not put any bug spray on since I have been home!

I'm Home

My flight out of El Salvador would be leaving at 7:45 am. I woke up at 4, we (2 Sister's, Gina, and I) left the school at 5. Arrived at the airport at 5:50. Airport doesn't open until 6. Became flustered at my missing guitar, but relieved when Don Francesco (the driver) brought it to me after forgetting to unload it with my other luggage. Said my goodbye's to Gina, Sor Guillen and Sor Olinda who gave me a souvenir plate with the national bird painted on it and some coconut candies which they both know I love!

As I passed through security, the Immigration station told me I had to pay a fine for being illegal. The officer was trying to break it to my easy so I just told her that I knew about the fine and explained why I didn't have a Visa. She only charged me $60 instead of $114.29 saying that since I had volunteered without pay she wouldn't make me pay the whole amount. :) Needless to say, I like her.

A series of 3 flights, customs, checking and rechecking my baggage, and running around airports followed, until 10 hours later I found my mom and gave her a bear hug!

I woke up this morning in my own bed. It felt normal and decidedly weird as well. I ate breakfast with my pajamas on - a luxury I had forgotten about. I also did what I have been avoiding for the past 6 months - I weighed myself. 15 lbs heavier! Well, that gives me something to work on now that I'm home. :)

Deep thoughts to follow.