Kenting Forest Recreation Area (FRA), Taiwan

 

View from the forest recreation area

so we woke up bright and early ready to enjoy the day. We lucked out with the weather which was forecast as rain and awoke to bright, crisp, hot, sunshine. We cleaned out the hotel room and headed down to free breakfast. Now the normal taiwanese free hotel breakfast is pretty damn cheap. They have no shame in giving out vouchers valid for 50nt equivalent a UK pound. Breakfast is cheap think two slices of white bread slapped together with  butter and pre made milk tea- you know its the powdered stuff. Or maybe it is just the kind of hotels I frequent. I guess if you pay more you get more for your money but more sometimes isn.t better. The hotel had laid out a spread of what looked like yesterday's leftovers. Definitely re fried in dashing metal pig swill containers.  I would have rathered had the simpler and tastier fry dumplings we got in green island, than this banquet for bums. 

Instead of heading to the beach which normal westeners do we went to the forest recreational area. It is the most visited place in Kenting but the most frequnelty missed by westeners who get stuck by the downwards drag in Kenting strip. Cheap coctails and lady boy shows and sun burns on the beach. The FRA is fucking awesome tho.  It is a forest built on an old coral bed, thrust out of the ocean by Taiwans ever turnbulent tectonic plates. Pretty awe inspiring, big old regal banyan trees twist and turn through the coral. The roots and the hanging vines claim stake on land, longer than any footsteps that may have been there. All with the comfort of an ice cream cafe right in the middle. 

 

Little Lizard Came too close

 

WTF

There's so much to see and do all nicely singposted off and with pebble stone paving. Its like iNdianas Jone's jungle for the Taiwanese- convenient. and they bloody do it well. The fairy cave is one of the best features. We were debating why they call it a fairy cave, were there fairies in ancient Taiwan. We were pleasantly surprised to find the fairy cave was inhabited with about 100 bats. They twitched and quivered and turn up their little pig noses when we came trapesing past their hideout. The whole forest is amazing with the garden of the hangin banyan, dragon cave - so tight it felt like rebirth, the viewing tower- complete with air con, palm tree walk with all manner of poisonous caterpillars, wasps, and gheckos. One little fellow came dangerous close to my foot and suffered a swift back crack as i tried to jump out of the way. I like to think he survived. 

 

Fairy Cave

Well it has to be seen to be believed and I definitely would go back there. Cruising up the winding raods to the forest is also enjoyable on the scooter. This was why I came to Taiwan.

The day after the pub quiz at Tin Pan Alley

 

Bonfires on the beach

 

I spy with my little eye something begginning with S - scooter scooters everywhere

 

Don't drink and drive

-->

 I had such a long day today I can’t believe it. I couldn’t sleep before my morning class. I had bloody lady gaga “telephone song” stuck in my head for hours I lay there tossing and turning to “stop calling, stop calling stop calling, I don’t want to talk any more” I had to wake up at 8 and I was still awake at 4.00am. Not to mention I woke up repeatedly in my meagre sleep. I can only blame myself I suppose for drinking all those free refill green teas at the Tin Pan pub quiz, which it is worthy to note we came second in. It’s on a Thursday night at one of the foreigner hangouts in Tainan. The food is pretty awesome, stonebaked pizza’s and deli sandwiches I thought I would get my moneys worth with the green tea and I sure did maximise that 50nt. But I guess that was why I was so wired. I think I drunk at least 6cups.

So any way I woke up feeling so tired and crappy and stumbled to the kitchen to whizz up my newly inspired morning smoothie. Newly inspired because I bought all these new ingredients from the 24hr shop and this was gonna be my healthiest smoothie yet.  It’s lychee season at the moment and they are so good the stone is pretty much non existence. I only had a half hour to take a shower, get dressed make breakfast, do my makeup and get my books together. So I stepped out of the shower realising my undies were in the washing machine. Our kitchen is lacking in plugs so the smoothie maker is sitting near the washing machine. In my haste I booted down the newly bought smoothie maker and all my breakfast and shards of glass dashed to the floor. FUCKKK echoed about the flat as I tried to maintain my towel covered dignity and scoop up the smoothie. I didn’t have time for this shit.

So I mop it all up and dash my towel in the washing machine only to hear the tinkle of glass hitting the bottom of the basin. I couldn’t leave it there otherwise someone could put a load on and then the washing machine break. This all ate into my makeup time so lets just say I looked like crap as I left the house for work.  I grabbed a cakey looking thing from the shop which on the outside looked delicious until I realised the inside was not chocolate but bloody red bean paste. My least favourite of all the bean pastes.

So I was completely pissed off teaching my class and of course that energy rubs off on the students who were equally as restless. The classes were poops. My saving grace was a flashy powerpoint game I made which was great. Then for some reason it just decided to break. The hyperlinks didn’t work and it fucking went to shit so we couldn’t play the game and they were all bummed out.

You know my day hasn’t really been that bad in retrospect some annoying stuff has happened it was just amplified but that fucking lady gaga song which now haven’t written about, has gotten stuck in my head again.  Plus it is sooo hot like sizzling hot. AAAARGH

 

The Youth Mobility Scheme Visa (YMS) Visa for Taiwan applying from England

Anping wetlands green tunnel boat ride in the national reserrve. Get to the front for the best pictures.

 

Anping beach enjoying the sunset.

  

I remember when I applied for this visa there was pittance of information on the web. There's loads of stuff for Taiwanese nationals applying to go to England but it seems it is not very popular the other way around. It is relatively a new visa so I guess thats why.

The YMS visa is for young people aged between 18- 30 who live in England and want to work and travel in Taiwan for one year. It's essentially a working holiday visa. Unlike other working holiday visas that require you can only work with one company for three months this one doesn't impose such rules. You can stay with one company the duration of you stay. Of course the purpose is that you travel and work so don't rock up to the embassy saying you want to work the whole year. 

The whole process is pretty long winded but I think worth it for the flexibility that you get once you arrive in Taiwan. You can come and go as you choose, you can take a break from work, you can take any job.

You need to make an online application here 

http://www.roc-taiwan.org/uk/ct.asp?xItem=232492&CtNode=11274&mp=132&xp1=


You also have to do a long winded health check. This is mandatory for all teachers staying in Taiwan so this is to compensate for it not being done in the country. My friend got it done here in Taiwan and it was alot more straight forward than getting it done in England cos they are well prepared for it here. It involves chest x rays, mmr vaccinations, and some other things. The medical check form has to be stamped by a health professional. On the actual medical check form it says you need 3 signatures from some health professionals that don't actually exist in the UK health care - but are just a direct translation of Taiwanese health care professionals. The guy at the embassy completely understood and was happy with the stamp of the nurse from the travel clinic. 

You also need cash! you need to bring i think it was 1600pounds of travellers cheques to the embassy or bank statements to that amount. No paupers allowed in Taiwan. 

Well i hope that provides some info to people looking to apply. Once you arrive in Taiwan you go to the office of immigration and get an alien residence certificate. We were the first they had ever seen with this visa. But i have met one other who did it. you can go work in seven eleven if you fancy.

You might want to check with the UK embassy for more info there is i think 200 of these visas granted a year. At the moment not a concern but who knows maybe people will catch on to our secret of good weather and good wages. 

Tainan Olympics Anping Beach

 

The Long Jump

 

 

Award Ceremony

-->

Olympics

I haven’t written in a while, well that’s a lie, infact I did write but I didn’t want to upload it. I was feeling a little depressed about Taiwan mostly work pissing me off. Man can it be annoying. You just got to remember with the buxiban it is business over education. Bum’s in chairs means nt in pockets. But hey whatever that’s the nature of the work. We get paid well to take the shit. I prefer teaching in High school feels like real teaching not like the buxiban baby sitting.

Anyway that’s not what this is about this is about the Beach olympics drum roll. Its only been two years in the making but I forsee this becoming a big festival in future. Everyone gathered down the beach to do our own olympics. The creators were inspired by last years Olympic fever to make their own and this year they put in a lot of effort to make it better. The teams were south Africa, Europe, Asia pacific, and America. I was part of the Europe team surprisingly enough. The whole thing kicked off at 8.30am for cricket which was a little too early for me. I made down at about 11.30. Events included, swimming, penalty shoot out, cricket, rugby, tug o war, long jump and …was there anything else, oh yes sack race and three legged race. It was forcast to rain and rain it did for maybe 10mins. It was a welcome release from the strong sun. Lets just say there were a lot of red faces by the end of it all.

Dog’s weren’t allowed down the beach as there has been a dog disease, not exactly sure of the name of it I think it is Parvo disease. Someone dumped a pack of puppies down the beach and a foreigner has been trying to find them all homes. He found homes for three of them but then one of the people decided it was a bad decision. They then preceded to take the pup to the pound. It was then the original doggy crusader said not to take it to the pound where a lot of dogs gets put to sleep but to take it back to the beach so he can keep looking for homes. Unfortunately the pup got parvo virus in the pound and came back and gave it to the other pups. They all died and this disease apparently can live in the ground for a year so dogs weren’t allowed. A couple of guys didn’t get the memo and brought them down. Hopefully they’ll be alright. The bad thing is there is a fresh batch of pups down there they are really little .I saw a picture of them I want to take one but I can’t poor things probably won’t last long.

Anyway sports and beer was good fun. The south Africans won, maybe because they took everything far too seriously plus a lot of them are massive so gravity is on their side when it came to tug o war. But it was all together a really great day. Everyone was drunk by the end of it. There was one scooter accident a fractured skull so It is definitely wise to take a taxi down there.  Don’t forget Sunscreen aswell!

More pics to come of the olympics

 

Guanziling Mud Hot Springs

Fire meets water, a strange natural phonomenon means that natural gasses ignite upon contact with the water lighting an eternal flame. It was first discovered over 300 years ago by a monk. The flame is unfortunately dying and one day will no longer exist.

We went to Guanziling on Sunday for a relaxing day at the Spa. It was really good, really worth a trip. Its about an hour drive from central Tainan so not too taxing. We went with Mary I hadn't seen her in ages. The whole guanziling complex is based on a mountainside. Hotels and Spa sprawl up the twisting mountainous road. It was misty as we went up the winding serpentine road. the mountains faded into the distance like Japanese ink paintings. There were lots of stalls selling strange wares and foods. 

The famous fire and water natural phonomenom is at what seemed the top of the mountain. It felt really spiritaul and surreal. It looks like a natural hearth the flames dancing on the rocks. Its amazing to think the Typhoons don't put it out. We imagined what it would have been like to be that monk who originally found it. It must have been a roaring bonfire. We decided it must have looked like the gates to heaven or to hell. It is really mesmerising. 

After that we searched for a spa to go and relax. Octav suggested the police spa which is apparently the cheapest at only 100nt. The only down side is you have to be completely naked. We get enough stares being foreigners without my bits on display not really for me, we made a quick exit. Instead we opted for the nicest spa in the place at a cost of 450nt entry. Beware you need a swimmin cap and you can't wear boardshorts in there and as Octav found neither can you wear your boxers. The spa was really nice lounging in warm pools of thin clay and tea. They have the doctor fish which eat your dead skin on your feet, it really tickles. We tried it and my feet felt smoother but then Pra worried me about catching aids from them. I think that is just a rumour. I wonder if you fell in if they could kill you, a slow death that would be. I felt like I was back in 1940's Japan, the decor was very nice all Bamboo and flowers, It was called the 'the kings garden villa' or something along those lines.

On the way to the Guanziling village there are lots of chicken restaurants The area must be famous for this chicken or something. They cook it in a big pot like some kind of potted bbq. We tried it on the way back...delicious. it's like a big rottissery chicken. They serve it with chicken oil which you use for dipping the chicken and with a chicken soup aswell. decadence. the feast accompanied by noodles, rice, bamboo rice, veggies cost us 250nt each nt i couldn't not have stuffed anything more down. 

we kept the bones and gave them to a stray dog on the way home. At first Octav dashed the bones out of the car with the plastic bag on them. The dog just looked scared and bewildered. So I got out the car and ripped open the plastic bag the little dog looked like it was christmas. His expression changed from one of confusion to that of a dog hypnotised by the scent of chicken. 'yo, is that chicken?' We watched him devour the chicken and then drove off.

Green Island

The infamous puke boat 2minutes in and people were barfing.

Taitung harbor 

Green island beach near the lighthouse.

Coral sands

Local attractions include deer. Unfortunately most of them if not in the forest are tied up outside shops which sell deer meat. I guess what Bambi doesn't know doesn't hurt.

Kings of the hill.

It has been a great weekend, unfortunately I came back with a sore throat and a headache. I can only blame myself for drinking so much and walking for 5hours in the rain. Where did we go I hear you ask? Why green island.

Green island is a tiny island off the East coast of Taiwan. It’s a 50min ferry ride away from the mainland and the port in Taitung. The ferry is infamous for it’s ability to make people puke. I am lucky in the fact that I rarely get motion sickness, infact I have never been seasick. It’s not so much the size of the ship but more the motion in the ocean. 2minutes in and people were puking. There are puke bags at a handy for every passenger and you can see puke encrusted on the bins. I took seasickness tablets and was okay, my friends who also took seasickness tablets were not so lucky. I can still envisage my friends puke sliding into that sea through bag, that’s enough to make anyone hurl. But not me with my stomach made of steel. The boat speeds through the waves aswell, I am not sure if going slower would help or only prolong the suffering. You know that feeling when you ride a rollercoaster and your stomach is still in the air as you drop, imagine that feeling for 50minutes. It’s worth the pain tho as Green island is awesome.

You can drive the island in 30mins on a scooter which is the preferred method of transport. Normally you can rent one without a license but due to a fatal accident of a young westener we were left lumbered with bicycles which turned out far more enjoyable, when they weren’t breaking down. We took our bikes around the island and stopped off at every opportunity. There was a cool cave called ‘swallow cave’ which should have been renamed goat poo cave. There was a dead goat on the beach which must have died from childbirth because two Taiwanese tourists had found her baby and were cradling it. Very cute- the baby goat that is. We cycled to the lighthouse which has a nice little sheltered area for swimming. We were the only ones in the water and I got a tan in seconds even though I was wearing suncream. When we  bumped into our Scottish friends we saw the damage of fair skin without suncream they were two toned and sore. There is a really nice walkway out into the sea which is great for snorkelling just past the lighthouse. Snorkelling came free with our package and was really fun. There were fish of all colours and the guide threw pieces of bread into the ocean and all the fish swarmed around us so close you could touch them. We saw a grim looking sea snake which could have been one of Ursula’s babies, but it stayed away from us. The snorkelling is very over protected and reflects the Taiwanese love of the sea or not. We had full on wetsuits to protect us from poisonous bites, lifejackets to protect us from waves and had to hold onto a series of floating rings as the tour guide pulled us along. We soon let go and did our thing in the water which he was not happy about and swiftly told us off. The fish are beautiful and the diving is very good there, we didn’t try but our friends came back with awesome tales. I want to learn soon.

The weather pissed it down on Saturday but we thought we would take the opportunity and Bear Grylls style do the Ancient trail in the forest 5 hours later we had made it through the other side

We did take a detour up this path for a view on top of a mountain. I was way out of our route but worth it I think this was the best part as the view at the top was awesome. I couldn't take any photos as it was too wet at that time. We found an all you can eat bbq place 250nt on Nanliao well worth it. 

All in all wish I could have stayed longer. if you wanna book you can do through www.greenislandadvntures.com

Food glorious food

Uncle Chicken shit's favourite flip flops cheap, plasticky, blue and very sexy.

Festivities at the Heaven and Hell temple Tainan.

Scooters in the rain.

Try your skill with BB guns at the night market.

We went to an all you can eat bbq and shabu shabu restaurant. Shabu Shabu is hot pot, a big bowl of stewing water heated underneath. Inside you boil all kinds of vegetables and meats. The soup was 'herb' on the menu and contained goji berries, astragalus and other strange things but certainly felt very healthy. But we didn't really go there for the hot pot we went there for the all you can eat bbq and all you can eat we did. There seems like there is quite a few of these all you can eat places around town but this one was definitely the best value. Infact I can't imagine how they make any profit because we definitely got our moneys worth. It cost 450nt which is about 10punds with limitess sushi, sashimi ,beef, prawns, fish, squid and scallops to throw on the BBQ. Delicious. We went with Lisa our landlady and she ticked 1 of everything on the menu. It was a feast and all the protein i would need in a week. I would deifintely recommend it to a friend. It was the the stone bbq on Jhonghua road. Theres always a line so book ahead.

Went clothes shopping yesterday it was fun, for me that is, not for Pra who moped around between the railings playing the part of the bored boyfriend very well. The only problem is the size, everyone is so bloody tiny here. I managed to squeeze literally squeeze into a few things so I am happy with my wares. Infact I plan on doing more clothes shopping. Clothes here are cheap but the quality can also be poor too. 

It's Easter today not feeling very Eastery tho. Had a late one in Armory infact the stragglers came tumbling out of the doors of Armory drunkenly singing at 8am. Then we had spicy beef for breakfast. 5 hours kip then we met up with a friend called Bell who cooked us some traditional Turkish food it was really tasty. I made my very easy Salmon and cream cheese surprise. The surprise is that it is minimal effort with maximum taste. Belle has an oven so we could make it in there. It's just a little tiny thing but it gets the job done I would like to get one. Belle's really sweet. She was telling us how she is the only foreigner on her course at university and she finds it quite lonely. :( She's very good natured so I am sure we will see more of her. And a good cook. 

I've got to plan lessons now loooooooooong!!!

Earthquake

Cleaner in Taipei

Green spider we found at the hot springs.

Waited in line for a panda's butt. He doesn't look impressed.

If you don't want to pay for the hot springs, dip your toes in the ward river. It is fed by a boiling hot lake so is nice and warm.

Golden Buddha

Its almost the end of the week yay. We had an earthquake yesterday was the strongest I have ever experienced. I was lying in bed semi conscious just dosing not wanting to wake up, when boom I was being shook awake. It was surreal not knowing if you have been jolted awake by some plunge in a dream or if it that shaking feeling is the end of the world. I turned to see Pra groggy, puffy eyed looking at me replying with the same gormless face that I was giving him. The panelling on our tatami style sliding door was rattling and the whole bed was shaking violently. Before I have experienced a few tremors which was like the swaying of a hammock or something like that. But this one was next level I almost had a heart attack. Which as I have heard before can be one of the biggest killers in earthquakes- those without much damage but with enough shock factor to kill you without ruining your house. As soon as it came it was gone only lasting a few seconds. I came out to see R patz in the kitchen looking as shook up as me. We later heard that it was a 6 on the ricther scale and originated in Taitung. You forget about earthquakes until they hit you boom. It's strange living in a country with natural disasters. England is a nice safe country no killer spiders/ snakes etc. 

Just a short one today feeling pretty tired out. nothing left to report.

TCRC bar Tainan

Night market scene.

Chikan towers at night.

One of the many graveyards dotted around the island. The richer you die the better your tomb.

Calming Koi carp.

The green tunnel Anping.

The week begins again, time is flying. Had a good weekend went to the beach and ate some yoghurts, laughed at the willy shaped cloud and swam in the sea. Many Taiwanese have told us that it is dangerous to swim in Anping sea. It seems so shallow tho I can't imagine it being dangerous. Our landlady told us that there is a month when no one goes near the sea as it is ghost month. During ghost month you should not partake in any dangerous past times such as swimming, as a ghostly hand could potentially drag you down to join them. She is very superstitious not something I particularly believe in. Met up with H man, this cool sudanese guy. He was very messy from the night before. He's my broken arm twin. We share the same scar on our arms. 

Everything is sorted out for our trip to Green island. i am really looking forwards to it. Got the Wednesday the 3rd off from school which is good. Some girls we know tried to book the train but it was too late and they were all fully booked. They seemed peeved I didn't book it for them but I can't be held responsible for booking 9 peoples holiday cut me a break.

Went to TCRC a little bar tucked down a side alley. Its really unnoticeable, even when you go in you don't realise that it opens our into a bar round the back. They lovingly make you any coctails. They are a self professed no menu coctail bar so you can ask for whatever you want. I didn't rock the boat and requested a mojito. it was lovingly made in about 30mins but was worth the 250nt. It was delicious, big and strong just the way I like my coctails. i felt tipsy after just the one. I saw other tasty looking coctails floating around the bar, one in a wine glass with lots of fresh fruit, very girly. The bar itself is small and cosy but very nicely decorated it's like stepping back into the 1940's. Behind the bar there are big long wooden shelves practically up to the ceiling with every booze you could possibly imagine. They have those cool sliding ladders so they can climb up and go get a bottle. Octopus showed us the place and introduced us to the manager. Would like to go there again but not sure how they would cope with a busy Saturday night. 

Anping Beach

Stinky Tofu, smells well lets just say stinky and tastes, lets just say stinky. Is Taiwan's national dish, I tried it when I was hungover not the best plan willing to give it a second go but not my favorite dish I am sad to say.

Taken at the same temple with all the Buddha statues.

Three little duckies.

Up past cloud level.

The heaven and hell temple Tainan.

Well, it's been about a week since I last wrote something been super busy my time is flying past, almost 6months since i arrived a freshie off the plane. Went to Anping beach this weekend with Nat, Stickler and Bboy was really hot, so much so that Pra sunburnt his back. Boys are not very good with suncream. The taiwanese ladies looked at me and Nat in astonishment as we brazenly strolled down the beach in our bikinis and jumped in the ocean. They sheltered their fair complexions behind unbrellas and long sleeved tops. It's funny how no nation seems to be content with their skin tones. In England everyone wants a tan and in Taiwan everyone is bleaching their skin and going to extreme lengths to avoid the sun. I look forwards to the day when we can all be blue pink and green. It was a relaxing day at the beach, Anping beach is no Thailand beach it has dark sand and some trash. But the ocean is warm and frequently you can see flying fish skimming over the water. Apparently Brandon saw ten. The sand is soft and really hot and a good place for a bbq/ some impromptu fireworks/ or a sunset. Anping is a really cool place to visit, there are loads of old alleys and eateries to explore. There is the place called the tree house which is an abandoned building overgrown by impressive banyan roots. Its fantastical but busy on weekends which slightly spoils the atmosphere. Everyone has got a camera so you will be sure to see some photoshoots there. Then there is the big fort Zeelandia which is cool but not my kind of thing, after the thrill of the banyan tree i got bored by the historical ness of the place. I think it was made when the dutch colonised the island. I feel bad saying that it is boring it is a really impressive building but give me a water fall or a forest any day and i am far more happy. But I love love anping one of the coolest places in Tainan. 

We got lost again in the Taxi with the four tones it is so hard to get any where. went to KAiana lu instead of Hai an lu. The guy was so nice that he didn't charge us, very decent of him. Hai an lu is another really cool place in Tainan lots of restaurants and bars. It has a really arty feel the buildings are painted and decorated one being completely blue like a blue print. There's a market there and other cool things to find. Had some BBQ food was a little pricey tho!

Dropped into Armory to look for Hancock our buddy. It was 12pm the morning after the Irish themed st patricks day night before. It was grim in there. There was about 10 people still left gurning and singing bad karaoke they looked sweaty and sallow, the place looked like a crack house, complete with large black lady asleep propped up against a wall. We soon left.

Better go, I have a Chinese lesson tomo with a friend Poppy and it's getting late.

Armory Bar Tainan

Flowers at the hot air ballon festival. Unfortunately the hot air balloon never made it into the sky due to bad weather.

Overlooking traffic from the HSR station Tainan with obligatory horde of scooter.

Cute husky dog at Betiou hot springs Taipei. Huskies are popular even though it's so hot.

Beitou hot springs, here is a pool of inviting, steaming turquoise water. Don't jump in tho its boiling as in bubbling and will steam you like a leek dumpling. horrific ending to a nice day trip.

Panoramic view of that big museum place in Taipei 

I haven't written in a few days been busy with the weekend and working. Had an awesome weekend went out to a few bars, Armory, The Underbridge and met up with some cool dudes. Brandon and Natasha are this nice American couple, Natasha is infact an angelic appearing Russian, big blue eyes and long golden hair. Brandon is an ex soldier has served in Afghanistan. He told us one drunken night just how depressed he was after leaving the army and that Natasha saved him from himself. Natasha also had her demons to fight so  i guess they fixed each others broken wings, thats what Natasha says anyways. I am happy for them. Also Katy and Graeme this scottish couple they can drink like fish and smoke like chimneys. We hung out watching funny youtube videos I really like katy I can tell she's got a big heart and would be a loyal friend to the end. It's funny out of the two she definitely wears the trousers.  

Went to Armory bar and actually ate there instead of drank and the food was damn good. It was kind of surreal being there sobre I noticed all of the twisted artwork they have on their walls. Like the 'depressed smoking man' or the 'hands for fans' or the 'Picasso is kicking you in the head' There's loads of cool and weird decor in there that goes unnoticed by the endless supply of drunk people. All the windows on one side are covered in crazy drunk pictures. My mark is there. I drew a face with an equally as wasted Taiwanese guy about a month ago with eyeliner. Its not very good to be honest. I tried some Hakka salty pork it was orgasmic. I need to get my hands on some more aboriginal foods if that salty pork was anything to go by. There are quite a lot of aboriginal tribes around Taiwan, I learnt about a few while I was doing a project at work. I really want to go and spend some time with the tribes and eat more of their salty meats! They are mostly on the East Coast though so I will have to plan something.
We are trying to plan a trip to green island in April I hope there are still vacancies. Taiwan is so densely populated and lacking in vacation, you have to jump on these national holidays to get anything booked plus all the popular places are gonna be rammed so you have to organise trains early etc. It looks beautiful fingers crossed. 


My tutorial wants me to buy him a Birthday present. He was like teacher are you going to give me my present next lesson. Ha ha He has been behaving himself especially well. Might get him a kinder egg or something! 

The weather is so nice at the moment, perfect. I know it's not gonna stay this nice and get unbearably hot but right now its about 27 with a nice breeze. Can't help but laugh at all those poor sods back home. Headline reads, no more early spring as Britain face -7 degrees. Early spring my arse it's still march. Looking forwards to this weekend gonna hit the beach!

Night Markets

 

Fancy lights in the elevator in Taipei 101

 

The weighted ball in Taipei 101 stops the building falling down in an earthquake.

 

The modern toilet restaurant, if you fancy poo shaped breads, urinal dishes and poor service.

 

Cakes for the lonely and hungry lady.

 

Shilin night market the biggest night market in Taipei.

 

 Panoramic shot of Shilin night market.

 

The metro in Taipei.

I am so tired I have taught for 7 hours today including breaks. I signed up for extra hours teaching high school students. They are all pretty well behaved, a few stroppy ones but thats to be expected with teenagers. And I was armed with my greatest weapons, powerpoints and candies. It works! These kids are very studios not like the murderous teenage youth we have in London. So in comparison any kind of strop they give you is pretty tame. For example I said what's your favorite sport and one of them said 'I don't care' so I handed said person a piece of chalk and they wrote it begrudgingly on the board. So the rebellion is not like the London riots or anything. In my sub lesson I got a chance to read diaries of some kids they were pretty depressing they were all like ' I wish I could play ipad tonight, but I have too much homeworks' non of the 'got wasted in the park drinking a bottle of cider' from what I can remember from my youth.

I went to Catiya's restaurant for a nice lunch in the sun, one of my arms now has a tan. I need to even that stuff up. Me and Gene bumped into Rams Horn. Rams Horn is an American girl I met in Tin Pan (bar) She's nice but a can be intense. She has these piercing blue eyes and is a bit of a weirdo, she has started taking peyote with some hippies in the mountains and now talks about chakras and intrinsically, sliding, metamorphis... all those kinds of adjectives. She is a lyricist, she demonstrated her mc-ing to me while drunk in the park and she is really really good. You know whatever floats your boat. 

ALso bumped into a guy called Oscar Sun a photographer, he told me about a film festival where you have to make a 5minute film in 32 hours sounds cool I might give it a try. 

Found those willy cakes in Shilin night market, they are pretty hilarious. I love the night market culture here, its a perfect place as it is so hot infact you start feeling yourself become a night person to stay away from the overbearing heat. The nightmarkets are always rammed with old and young as they meander through the crowds sampling culinary delights. They're pretty dirty so don't go there with a squeamish friends, you may see a rat or some kind of a grotty grill. But they are so vibrant, Thats one thing I love about Taiwan their society is inclusive. In England it is almost taboo to get old. You have to sit indoors with your slippers and a yorkshire terriers and a blanket because you can't afford the heating, cowering away from hooded youths on the bus. But here everyone can get out into the nightmarket, old people still have a voice, they go to concerts with young people. I miss London but I definitely don't miss that, plus when I'm an old lady I don't want to be scared to go out at night.