3.29.2011
1.09.2011
Hallelujah, It's Christmas!
I talk about my family with pride, my appreciation and love for them goes beyond what I can conjure. We have grown up, expanded out and in numbers, and as a result now meet as a nuclear whole less often than all of us would prefer. So it goes, a Friesen Christmas.
The little one, who's littledom has been usurped by a littler one.
Shae!
Two Grandmas
After present train wreck
After train wreck card games
The little one, who's littledom has been usurped by a littler one.
Shae!
Two Grandmas
After present train wreck
After train wreck card games
Beijing Minute
I arrived in Beijing, where I was to layover for 23 hours, anticipating draconian cramps and full-body plastic chair induced vertigo on account of having to, well, spend 23 hours in the airport. I learned at customs, however, that I was granted a day-visa, making possible a saucy sojourn downtown; realizing a long-time wish to return to the mainland. In a mad dash I stowed my bags, recovered a lost bag, exchanged yuan for RMB, found a place to stay, and hopped on a downtown bound bus, all in the span of a couple hours.
It happened quick, with nightfall pressing and little time to lose, my hot minute had begun.
What was to be my prison, now a wisp of transience.
On a macro-level, and by the same way that most houses can be characterized by a particular smell, so too can cities in China. Beijing smells good. Maybe it is just the smell-memory I have associated with the elation of my first visit, but something about the city is olfactory paradise. 'Earth Gourds' as they are literally translated, or potatoes to the layman, are being baked atop charcoal filled tin bins on almost all streets, their musk trumps the smog. I walked from the bus terminus further inland to the epicenter.
TianAnMen Square. The atmosphere is thick here: residual political animosity, power struggle, revolution, and the tread of tourist feet weigh in heavy.
I found this hostel largely by chance, with my idea of its whereabouts being tenuous at best I walked for nearly two hours before arriving.
The Chinese couple who runs it are very genuine.
Roofs that dot the windy HuTongs, or alleys; a Beijing must-wander.
It was the perfect amount of cold in Beijing. Dry and nippy, grey and dusty, the concrete jungle never felt so good.
'LanZhou' Muslim restaurants usually have these great pull-noodles, this particular restaurant was just mediocre though. I went because I couldn't find any in Taiwan, where as far as I know is nearly entirely void of Muslims. Despite being really cold outside and in, and 8:00 in the morning, it is tough to pass up 50 cent beer!
Then things got mega Chinese, Red Army Chinese. I caught these soldiers in-training training.
The imperial housing of bureaucratic giants.
Well, now it's just for tourists.
Heavy artillery
Few places have gripped me the way Beijing has, and this less than 24-hour stay proved to again ratchet that feeling.
It happened quick, with nightfall pressing and little time to lose, my hot minute had begun.
What was to be my prison, now a wisp of transience.
On a macro-level, and by the same way that most houses can be characterized by a particular smell, so too can cities in China. Beijing smells good. Maybe it is just the smell-memory I have associated with the elation of my first visit, but something about the city is olfactory paradise. 'Earth Gourds' as they are literally translated, or potatoes to the layman, are being baked atop charcoal filled tin bins on almost all streets, their musk trumps the smog. I walked from the bus terminus further inland to the epicenter.
TianAnMen Square. The atmosphere is thick here: residual political animosity, power struggle, revolution, and the tread of tourist feet weigh in heavy.
I found this hostel largely by chance, with my idea of its whereabouts being tenuous at best I walked for nearly two hours before arriving.
The Chinese couple who runs it are very genuine.
Roofs that dot the windy HuTongs, or alleys; a Beijing must-wander.
It was the perfect amount of cold in Beijing. Dry and nippy, grey and dusty, the concrete jungle never felt so good.
'LanZhou' Muslim restaurants usually have these great pull-noodles, this particular restaurant was just mediocre though. I went because I couldn't find any in Taiwan, where as far as I know is nearly entirely void of Muslims. Despite being really cold outside and in, and 8:00 in the morning, it is tough to pass up 50 cent beer!
Then things got mega Chinese, Red Army Chinese. I caught these soldiers in-training training.
The imperial housing of bureaucratic giants.
Well, now it's just for tourists.
Heavy artillery
Few places have gripped me the way Beijing has, and this less than 24-hour stay proved to again ratchet that feeling.
12.20.2010
Bike Stations
I told my brother Graham a long time ago I would post some pictures of the bike fixing stations that they have around the city; here is the one on campus.
They are really convenient, if you ever have a flat or loose brake cable or any problem really, one of these stations is usually not very far away.
They are really convenient, if you ever have a flat or loose brake cable or any problem really, one of these stations is usually not very far away.
Atayal Grounds
Last weekend I went on a solo bike-trip to WuLai.
This is XinDian, almost the halfway point of my journey, as soon as you leave here it is all mountainous terrain.
Ended up in the valley about two hours later.
This river is actually a natural hot spring, people come from all around to bathe in it.
Set up my tent in a clearing just beside a hiking trail.
Went back to the hot springs at night to soak.
Ate some steak, then went to bed.
If by reading this blog, it seems that I am just lollygagging and camping my days away, you would be a very astute observer. That is in fact exactly what I am doing, and I do not wish for it to stop. Unfortunately it has to stop.
This is XinDian, almost the halfway point of my journey, as soon as you leave here it is all mountainous terrain.
Ended up in the valley about two hours later.
This river is actually a natural hot spring, people come from all around to bathe in it.
Set up my tent in a clearing just beside a hiking trail.
Went back to the hot springs at night to soak.
Ate some steak, then went to bed.
If by reading this blog, it seems that I am just lollygagging and camping my days away, you would be a very astute observer. That is in fact exactly what I am doing, and I do not wish for it to stop. Unfortunately it has to stop.
12.13.2010
Day 6／7: JiaLeShui to JinLun to Taipei
This is the infamous surf beach, you can kind of see surfers near the top right getting tubular.
On our way back to return the scooters we stumbled across 'White Sand Beach'.
Enough time for a five minute dip
Wreck
When we were done with our scooters, we hitch-hiked to a nearby town to catch a bus. This here was our 'worst' hitch-hiking experience as the crusty coot, 'unfamiliar' with the principles of hitch-hiking, tried grifting us a cool 200NT just before he dropped us off. We gave him a few coins.
Our next pick-up was fully legit though, a 'FrogMan' in the Taiwanese Marines, straight business. He took us to his home in JinLun where a hot meal was waiting for us (including Rat soup...), and he found for us a place to camp out.
The spread!
He also took us to some hot springs.
Our hideout
This was our last hitch-hike, to TaiDong, where we got on a train back to Taipei. A note about hitch-hiking in Taiwan, it is remarkably easy. Of the total eight or so pick-ups we had, we never had to wait more than ten minutes, it's great.
I found out when I returned home that I actually had strep throat for most of the trip. Near the end it was interrupting my sleep, but I had so much fun on the trip that I was able to disregard it most of the time.
On our way back to return the scooters we stumbled across 'White Sand Beach'.
Enough time for a five minute dip
Wreck
When we were done with our scooters, we hitch-hiked to a nearby town to catch a bus. This here was our 'worst' hitch-hiking experience as the crusty coot, 'unfamiliar' with the principles of hitch-hiking, tried grifting us a cool 200NT just before he dropped us off. We gave him a few coins.
Our next pick-up was fully legit though, a 'FrogMan' in the Taiwanese Marines, straight business. He took us to his home in JinLun where a hot meal was waiting for us (including Rat soup...), and he found for us a place to camp out.
The spread!
He also took us to some hot springs.
Our hideout
This was our last hitch-hike, to TaiDong, where we got on a train back to Taipei. A note about hitch-hiking in Taiwan, it is remarkably easy. Of the total eight or so pick-ups we had, we never had to wait more than ten minutes, it's great.
I found out when I returned home that I actually had strep throat for most of the trip. Near the end it was interrupting my sleep, but I had so much fun on the trip that I was able to disregard it most of the time.
12.12.2010
Day 5: KenTing to JiaLeShui
Our campsite in the morning.
Traveling with these two jokers is no joke.
Yes, this is easy to get used to.
Kensuke took a dip with his non-waterproof cameroon, big mistake. Luckily the memory card still works.
We rented scooters to explore the national park, about $10.00 a day per scooter.
The rock near the top left of this picture is called 'Nixon's Head', for reasons that have stumped geologists for millennia.
It was windy as all get out near the Southern tip.
Can't complain about the view though.
This grassy clearing is right next to the most popular surf spot in Taiwan, JiaLeShui.
We chatted with some of the locals, asking where to get food. They all told us that we were too far removed, everything was closed. After fifteen minutes passed, one of them came back and surprised us with three chicken steaks and boxed lunches, thanks dudes! Mega tubular.
There is dry driftwood on the beach at all times, fires going at all times, a good spot to have some eats.
You could see the stars so clearly (not pictured), something that is not possible in Taipei city.
Traveling with these two jokers is no joke.
Yes, this is easy to get used to.
Kensuke took a dip with his non-waterproof cameroon, big mistake. Luckily the memory card still works.
We rented scooters to explore the national park, about $10.00 a day per scooter.
The rock near the top left of this picture is called 'Nixon's Head', for reasons that have stumped geologists for millennia.
It was windy as all get out near the Southern tip.
Can't complain about the view though.
This grassy clearing is right next to the most popular surf spot in Taiwan, JiaLeShui.
We chatted with some of the locals, asking where to get food. They all told us that we were too far removed, everything was closed. After fifteen minutes passed, one of them came back and surprised us with three chicken steaks and boxed lunches, thanks dudes! Mega tubular.
There is dry driftwood on the beach at all times, fires going at all times, a good spot to have some eats.
You could see the stars so clearly (not pictured), something that is not possible in Taipei city.
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